Digital gain vs analog gain

…aaand, knowing just enough to be dangerous, it seems that too little gain can hurt signal to noise rstio?

Understood. When playing streaming music from my iPhone I can control the final volume of listening by changing the output level of the app (which I assume is digital) or changing the analog output level on my Shiit pre-amp to my analog amp or change the amp attenuation.

I’ve running my old Crown at 100% but am wondering which of the other gain sources is best to maintain clarity of signal. As I understand things excessive gain in the digital realm creates clipping and excessive analog gain creates distortion. How can I avoid these pitfall?

Very helpful summary…and on the money to my learning curve. Since I enjoy my Wharfedale Lintons and ample vintage Crown power at different volumes in our cozy bungalow, am I correct in saying that using the final attenuator knobs on the amp are the safest choice to preserve signal quality at various listening volumes…as opposed to lowering the gain from my digital music source or the preamp?

To be clear yoyoyaya, I'm using a BlueMe Bluetooth Receiver from my iPhone as a DAC, with its output going into an un-powered Shiit with a volume pot. I've been keeping my old Crown PS200 amp at 100% attenuation and am experimenting with varying the iMusic output levels to the BlueMe and the Shiit pot to control the overall volume of the rig.

This is probably not at the level of most systems discussed here but it sounds very good for my level of interest - with a REL T5i sub and a pair of Wharfedale Lintons.  Just interested in making sure I'm not mucking up overall signal quality by playing too much with the input gain.

Apple Lossless is an interesting direction…although when I read their FAQ, they seemed to note that their format works via Bluetooth, but the benefits are not applicable?

Boom!

Already useful. Had a little time today for some ear tweaking. iTunes slider at 0dB, preamp analog pot at 12 o’clock, Crown attenuators at 8 o’clock. As compared to my previous setting, Wharfedales were more forward, tweeter a bit brighter, bass tight and rich. Unscientific impressions were that the signal was more complete without noticeable distortion. Less relaxing but more engaging LOL

My initial question is well solved thanks to this discussion. The practical info about gain helped. With the analog preamp pot at 50%, iTunes slider at 0 db, and amp at 25% attenuation everything was more forward at a final volume comparable to before my question. Before, with the slider low and preamp pot way down so the amp could run at 100% it seems I had it all backwards…starving things out and pinching the signal to noise ratio.
 

Biggest proof? The amazing difference from my Wharfedale Lintons that I can induce at this new setting just by sliding the iTunes level between 85% and 100%. Volume changed just a little, but mid and treble imaging exploded in a good way every time I took it back to 100%!

Two things.

First, my listening enjoyment on a system costing only $2K between a recapped old Crown PS200 and the new Wharfedale Lintons, a Bluetooth DAC and unpowered preamp switch with a pot has benefited from all this info. 

Basically, pushing in higher level digital and living with analog attenuation of 50% at the preamp and 25% at the main amp has pleased the clever Peter Comeau designed heritage speakers and delivered more detail to my listening. So thanks!

Second, I’m interested in the issue of lossless iTunes format from Apple. My little BlueMeHD Bluetooth DAC combination is a well reviewed accessory for older amps, and seems to compare well to the more expensive TASCAM CD400U rack Mount in my other stereo downstairs in our living room.

My best reading so far, however, sounds like Apple does not say that their format survives Bluetooth transmission. I have a couple iPads snd I could potentially rig one of then as a hard connected high speed WiFI input device. Is that worth a new thread?