does it make a difference if the source or the amp is at max volume?

[outbackjack]

currently have the volume on my pc at max and use the dac/amp to change the volume, is there any difference if i were to leave the sound knob on my amp at max and use my pc to change the volume?

 

[cossix]

You want to max the source and use the amp volume knob. Having the amp twisted to almost full volume is a bad idea because it introduces distortion and can't be good for the amp anyway. This is true of all amps also, it's standard practice to keep the amp volume as low as possible. You can max the source volume with no issue, and you can max a DAC volume if the unit has one.