Volume Control?

Check out the Creek OBH-10 or OBH-12. The 10 is a single input volume control. The 12 is a small passive preamp with 3 inputs and a tape loop. Both are extremely quiet and can be controlled by a remote. I think you can find the 10 used for about $200 and the 12 will be a bit more.

Goldpoint also makes excellent stepped attenuator units.

Hello Sturbo2000, why would anyone want to use an attenuator ? Or passive preamp ? I've always encourage, or suggest to connect direct from CD player and use volume control from the CD player. But anytime you add anything in the middle of the chain the sound will degrade or change ! So you might as well add a full flesh active preamp and have all the convenience to go with it, until your budget allow for a CD player with volume control. There are full of active preamp, that is affordable out there. Use common sense, enjoy, and don't think too much.

Regards

No offend intended

ISTT

Bent Audio sells a kit for a Transformer Volume Control which avoids many of the traditional problems with passive pre-"amps". If you don't want to build yourself Bent Audio can build it for you.

I haven't heard this one yet, but I do plan on building one when finances will allow it. Responses from other people have been uniformly positive.

Evidently you don't have your SACD player yet. Why ask about an external volume control until you know whether your SACD player will have one? But if you end up without one in your player, and don't want to spend as much as a Placette would cost--I've never heard one but still believe they must be very good--Goldpoint sells an SA-3 passive built around Elma ladder stepped attenuators, much better than any series stepped attenuator (uncontroversial) and arguably better than potentiometers, except maybe for super expensive ones. The SA-3 is $389 assembled and $309, I believe, as a kit. It can be seen at www.goldpt.com. You won't do better at roughly that price, IMHO. A lot of passives at around that price compromise quality at one point or another, but this one is high quality all through. I did see a used Placette on Audiogon recently--you might try a Search.