How do you know when to use ANALOG vs DIGITAL?

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.

Brent: What can i say other than "Thank You" for your kind words. I do what i can, when i can. Hopefully, others draw their own conclusions from my posts and understand that i am only providing one source of information, albeit "tainted" with my own experiences and level of understanding. As such, they should consult multiple points of view on any given subject, sort through each response and then form their own opinions based on the diversity of thoughts on the subject. W

While i do have very specific thoughts on most subjects, that is only because i've tried to follow that same path when trying to educate myself. With that in mind, NOBODY has all the answers, hence a compendium of references always comes in handy. That is why such places as Agon and AA are so vital when it comes to bettering our understanding and systems without going broke ( not that i'm not broke already : ) Sean
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Sean;A guy whom would ask such a question doesn't understand much of what you say. It reminds me of asking someone what time it is; and they tell you how to make a clock.---You need to 'dumb-down' your response. To be more to the point; in terms 'he' might understand.