How do you know when to use ANALOG vs DIGITAL?

There really is no such thing as an "analogue" or "digital" interconnect. When someone refers to a "digital" RCA based interconnect, it is typically assumed that the cable maintains a nominal impedance of 75 ohms. As mentioned though, this is "assumed" and NOT set in stone as ANY interconnect can be called whatever the manufacturer wants to call it. As far as "analogue" interconnects go, anything goes so long as signal flows through it completing the circuit path.

Having said that, "digital" interconnects would typically be used between a transport and a DAC or from a DVD player to a Pre / Pro when using the DAC's inside the surround processor. Most anything else would be considered "analogue" turf, including connecting the output of your CD player to your preamp, etc... Having said that, digital cables will typically work fine in that type of location as they will pass the signal while maintaining their 75 ohm nominal impedance. The reverse is not always true though, as some analogue cables can't be used as a digital interconnect. This is because they will not allow the digital source to lock with the device receiving the signal due to increased jitter and / or severe vswr problems. As such, connecting a digital source to a DAC can be far more picky than connecting any other type of "analogue" devices to each other.

I hope that you were able to follow along with this. It can be kind of tricky as a CD player IS digital, but the output from the built in DAC's of the player are "analogue". Sean
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Source to preamp is also analog. Digital would be from a transport to a DAC. If you use a pair of cables (L+R channels) it's analog. Digital is carried by a single cable.

Pre-amp to Amp is analog

Not sure about digital amplifiers

DVD to Pre-amp would be single digital cable unless you are using the 5.1pre-out on the DVD to the 5.1input/SACD/DVD-A connection which uses 6 analog cables.

CD to preamp would be anaog if you are using the standard output (2 cables), if you want to use the fiber-out or coax-out then it would be 1 digital cable needed

Pre-amp to subwoofer would also be analog

hope that helps!

Seans thorough answer to a somewhat simple question is just one more reason I for one am so glad he is back posting on the Gon . He takes the time to educate many of us in areas many highly educated members would not give the time of day to . Not because THEY are lazy but because Sean is so generous. I personally have sung his praise so often now that I guess some may think he and I are neighbors when the fact is I know him through these forums only . I just keep running into his posts everywhere in areas I am trying to gain knowlege. ONCE AGAIN , thanks Sean for giving.