cdp digital volume control or preamp?

This seems like deja vu....this seems like deja vu...
Lots of opinions on both sides of this coin, search old threads. The only way to know for sure for your tastes and in your system is to try it both ways. Some seem to believe that a preamp may improve body or dynamics. Then you add passive preamps to the equation...

In my opinion, a digital volume control contradicts an audiophile's goal to conserve all of the source material. I think the digital waveform on the CD/SACD is modified to decrease the volume, "and that ain't right!" I'm sure someone will let me know if I'm wrong about this.

Thanks for the responses so far. I've searched old threads and found many references, but not one thread specifically devoted to this debate. If you can find one, put a link to it in this thread. Thanks.
I've read that the digital volume control does exactly what you say it does, Bufus. If so, then I don't like it. I can tell you this. For redbook cd I can run the Maverick's digital output into my Birdland Odeon-Ag DAC which has a good old analog volume pot, and the sound is far superior to me. Unfortunately, I can't do this with SACD, so I'm hooked up directly and using the digital volume control.
I am surmising at this point that a pre-amp might do for SACD play what my Odeon-Ag does for redbook...

How about some pre-amp choices? Around the $2500 price point.

Cheers.