Cd player direct or through preamp?

Do you have a volumn control on your CD player? Are CD's all you listen to? If so, you should be fine. This will simplify the signal path and save money. Just be sure to have the volumn control set at minimum on power amp turn on and turn off.

There's certainly been quite a bit of discussion on this previously. I would suggest doing a search in the discussion forums for: Resolution Audio Opus 21, which happens to be a CDP with variable out.

And, I agree with Tom if you're simply going to be using CD's and don't want to add other components (tuner, turntable f/ex) then a CDP with variable out should be just fine. Shorter signal path, less expensive.

My system consists of the Resolution Audio Opus 21 direct to Paradigm Reference Active 40 speakers. The setup sounds fantastic! I borrowed a demo BAT tube preamp (VK-31SE) for comparison, and I'll tell you...the difference was negligible.

Advantages can be better transparency,openess,detail.By eliminating a component from the signal chain you remove the extra signal path,volume control,gain stage.In the case of a passive control you eliminate the extra volume control resistor ladder or variac.Simpler signal chains can be benificial.The pre-amp gain& buffer stage can improve the signal for better component match en`route to amp(s).This can yeild better dynamics,control,pace.Passives and active allow more source components like a tuner to be run in system w/o cable shuffling.A preamp with phono stage explains itself,and a multi input passive can allow selection of tuner,phono with phono preamp to be selected by remote or manual switching.If you have a cdp with internal volume by all means try it out maybe post what your amp(s) and cdp are,asking if others found synergy in that combo first if you have doubts of buffering which I understand is of more possible concern in tubed gear.