Is there any advantage to not using max volume?

Most chipsets have a volume control where 100% is in fact a x2 amplification factor: the real 100% may be around 50%, ie the sound is not amplified.
The advantage is when the incoming sound is too low, then boosting at 80% or 100% alow to ear it.
The drawback is generally awfull sound when played on good loudspeakers.

The same rule often apply to the volume knob of exteal speakers: the non-amplified volume is around 25% or 50%.

The volume control inside Youtube and other web apps is generally only a decreasing factor: at 100% the output is only 100%.
Then the sound will pass in the chipset, where it can be amplified or not, depending of the volume settings you have in Windows/Linux/whatever. Then the sound will pass in the exteal speakers (if any) and can again be amplified.

Each amplification can lead to more cliping, knowing that most music are already processed to clip reduction because the "dynamic" is to wide for usual loudspeakers.

The usual rule of thumb: put the sound control at 25% or 50% in Windows and for exteal speakers. Put the sound at 100% inside webapps/VLC/whatever.
If you want louder or lighter, use the Windows or exteal speaker knob.

I'm not sure I'm clear. Fell free to modify this text.

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