FYI, you should consider that when using an inexpensive CD players with a volume control, that the volume control will also be inexpensive. And typical inexpensive volume controls tend to operate digitally, which will affect the sound more than a high quality analog volume control.
Just something to think about.
(This is one of the reasons that some people, including myself, use high quality preamps, as the volume control is also high quality. I have a Resolution Audio Opus 21 CD Player, with a fairly high quality analog volume control built-in, and even though it is pretty good, it still sounds better going through the direct output to the preamp, rather than through the outputs with the volume controls directly to the amps.)
My two cents worth.
Just something to think about.
(This is one of the reasons that some people, including myself, use high quality preamps, as the volume control is also high quality. I have a Resolution Audio Opus 21 CD Player, with a fairly high quality analog volume control built-in, and even though it is pretty good, it still sounds better going through the direct output to the preamp, rather than through the outputs with the volume controls directly to the amps.)
My two cents worth.