good CD player with variable output?

I guess when I meant "high-value", I meant more along the lines of "value for money", or "bang for the buck" Can't see myself putting $6k or more for an Audio Aero Capitole for the garage!

How about something under $1k new or used?

Any used Resolution Audio CD 50 or CD 55

I love the Theta Digital Miles. Especially the balanced version. Should be available for around $1200 used. Beware though, they are discontinued. Also, they use the discontinued Pioneer stable platter mechanism. All this aside they sound fantastic.

Check Upscaleaudio.com, and get an Ah! Tjoeb 4000. Transformed my system. $579.00 new. Lots of great tweaks and a clear upgrade path.

Why not just get a standard CD player and add Ric Schultz' EVS volume attenuators onto the inputs of your amp? I think the Nude Attenuators are only like $250 or so, and they sound great. Not for the lazy true, as you must walk over to the amp and adjust the volume by hand, but you claim to want good sound for minimal $$ and drive the amp direct, so this is a very good option for you. Team up with something like the Arcam Alpha 9 or a Bel Canto DAC1.1 with mass-market DVD player, and you'd have GREAT digital sound for around $1000.