Digital gain vs analog 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?

If your power amp has input level controls, as some vintage Crown amps did, I would suggest attenuating them to allow your analog preamp volume control to operate with normal listening at the noon mark or a bit above, and your DAC or source unattenuated (-0dB).  That way you avoid the loss of resolution from the source, and the nasties that most VC pots exhibit near full attenuation…at least try that and judge for yourself.