CD Player w Volume control-Suggestions?

I think you are on the right path. If I had a cd player with a volume control and enough output, I would drive the amp directly. By putting another piece of equipment between the cd and amp you are introducing an entity that may color the music. To my ears this is not a desireable thing. When it is time to upgrade I will try to buy the most transparent amp I can afford and if I can not find a good CD player with a volume control I will add a good set of attenuators between the CD and amp.

See if you can audition the Theta Miles. It has a nice and punchy rythem, good seperation on instruments and is very musical. If you like your sound not quite as much "in your face", then check out the Resolution Audio models 50 and 55. I use a player/DAC combo, but only did so due to budget restrictions. An all in one player is less hassle and can sound just as good or better, plus you don't have to juggle more cables (tone controls) in your system.

I recently pulled my Audio Research preamp out of the chain since all of my listening is digital and I am now running my Wadia 850 directly to my Mark Levinson 331 via Harmonic Technology Pro Silway Mk. II Balanced. When comparing the Wadia's w/out a preamp make sure the internal DIP switches are set to match your systems sensitivity. I recently adjusted the internal DIP switches in my Wadia 850 in order to maximize its output level. I am now listening between the 70-90 range comparred to the 45-65 range. This allows me to operate the 850 well beyond the top half of its range and the resolution and overall weight of the presentation has been incresed dramatically. Also, with the exception of some of the best preamps available I have found the Wadia's to always sound better w/out a preamp

I'll save Carl some time and tell you to check out Resolution Audio's CD50 (or maybe the new CD55). I think the Birdland DAC may have volume control?? The EVS Millenium DAC2 has it as an option (two added attenuators), but it doesn't seem like Ric Schultz is in much of a hurry to get those done (I've been waiting 6 months). Info at www.tweakaudio.com

my brother-in-law woodn't consider running his res-audio cd-50 straight-in to his a-r 100.2 amps driving his proac 2.5's - he sez it's better run thru his a-r ls-16 preamp - more relaxed, less etched & fatiguing, w/no loss of detail. he'd rather run his alchemist cd-player thru the pre (~half the cost of the res-audio) than run the res-audio straight-in. matter-of-fact, he sez there's wery little diff between the two when run thru the pre, & only noticeable on a direct a-b comparison.

i a-b'd the same alchemist cd-player w/my ~$500 nad cd-changer thru my melos pre, & there was *no* difference whatsoever between the two...

so, while intellectually, it may seem that putting a pre between the cd-player & amp will degrade the sound, in reality this is not always the case.

regards, doug