Digital gain vs analog gain


Is there a rule of thumb that guides the balance between digital input level, analog pre-amp input level and analog amp attenuation for reach your desired listening volume? 

128x128retrocrownfan

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.

 

If it's analog a rule of thumb is no higher than 50%. Digital is messier if the attenuation is done digitally rather than in the output analog stage but the 0 db point mentioned throughout is also a good rule of thumb.

@ieales : Just because you don't understand something doesn't make it automatically "utter nonsense". Please! 

Maybe the following article can shed more light on the topic although it doesn't explain everything that could be discussed here.🙂There are different results  based on practical listening tests and not everyone has to agree with everything even if it's mathematically correct (like the 24bit signal and digital volume control ).

 

 

@apogeum 

As a legislator once said on the house of the Texas legislature,

"I can explain it to ya, but I can't understand it for ya."

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?