clipping and max rated watts/max volume

Clipping has very little to do with the volume control position and everything to do with how strong the signal is.

So you can't rely on the position. If you hear the amp distorting, turn it down.

Depends on the system of course; with power hungry speakers you could go past noon. I've read tho that clipping starts before it's audible, and not near as loud a setting as you'd think.

Huh? Is there no correlation between pre amp output and amp input sensitivity? This is what ultimately determines volume control position in reference to max power output, no? I mean generally speaking, if my pre puts out 2v and my amp has an input sensitivity of say, 1.5v, won't the pot be at around 12-1 o'clock? Is this not a typical scenario? OTOH, would I not be using up the entire pot if I have 2v out and 2v in?

Peter (Csontos), keep in mind that what the preamp puts out is what goes into it plus its gain (which is defined based on its volume control being at max) minus the amount of attenuation the volume control is set to provide.

And what goes into the preamp depends on both the source component and the source material.

So if the amp clips when its input reaches 2 volts, the position of the volume control that will result in the preamp putting out 2 volts will depend on the source component, the source material, and the gain of the particular preamp.

All of those factors can vary widely. So the bottom line is as Ralph (Atmasphere) & ZD stated.

Best regards,
-- Al