CDP directly into amp?

The least expensive solution would be to pick up a used Marantz CD63SE or better yet the CD67SE with remote. The remote has a volume control, and the player is certainly of high enough output to do exactly what you are looking to do. These are excellent players, esp for that kind of $. Used should set you back no more than $200-$250, and that for a player in excellent shape. New MSRP was $500, often discounted ca $425. There are probably other units w/volume controls, but not usually on the remote feature. Finally, with the Marantz players, they power up to full volume, so you will want to leave the player on all the time unless you will remember to lower the output before playing music. HTHelps.

How handy are you with a soldering iron? I recently direct wired a very good quality stepped attenuator into my CD player. I mounted it inside the chasis with a long shaft to a volume control knob on the face plate. It is directly fed into a CJ amp. Works very well and I am very satisfied.

The cons can be mismatched impedances, which you can prevent and elimination of future flexibilty in your system. But this process is reversible should you want to go back to a preamp.

The "CD Player" I'm using is a Denon DVD-1600, it's combo CD / DVD / DVD-A unit. The audio output from it has received quit a bit of good press. It doesn't have a vol. control. I've been happy with it using a pair of Silver Serpent audio cables into my Yamaha receiver. I guess my next question /decision is do I buy a dedicated CDP or go with a pre-amp. Here is another thing that dawned on me after I wrote the original question. I would like to use my M&K sub in the two channel environment as well. With that in mind does that mean my only choice is going with a pre-amp?