Rodge, not necessarily. The output required from the amps in the receiver doesn't depend only on the setting of the volume control, but also varies with the sound level of the program material. For example, if the receiver has been calibrated with the test tones so that about 80dB is experienced at the listening position with the master volume control at 0(and putting out about 1 watt), if a quiet program is being played the sound level with the volume control at 0 might be only about 60dB and about a hundredth of a watt would be used, rather than 1 watt. In that case turning the volume control above 0(even all the way up to the maximum)might only get the sound level back up to 80dB and the use of 1 watt, which of course wouldn't result in increased distortion. On the other hand, very loud program material(louder than the test tones), which really wouldn't need even the 0 setting to achieve a comfortably loud listening level, could result in increased distortion on peaks if the volume control was for some reason set above 0.
