Digital gain vs analog gain

DAC = Digital to Analog Converter. If it has attenuation, it can be done mathematically before DA or post DA with digital attenuation or simply a pot, hopefully buffered.

As far as -10dB for 16 bit or -20dB for 24 bit being hinge points, that is utter nonsense.

In any system, matching gain structure is paramount and is best determined by inspection [listening or noise measurements].

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?

You should run the power amp with no attenuation and use your preamp as your volume control - that's what it is designed for.

I don't understand the reference to changing the gain on your iphone in the context of a feed to your preamp unless the Schiit has a built in DAC. If that is the case, you should be running the output from the source at a fixed gain of 0dB.

FWIW. My dCS Bartók DAC is set at .2v output gain, the volume control is set at 0db ( all the way up) Roon is also at 0db. Volume is controlled by volume pot on Backert preamp. This gain staging was recommended by Backert’s Andy Tebbe. I would swear that brought about an improvement having the digital gain ; streamer and DAC all the way up.

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.