Remote volume control for preamp?

Since I just use a CD player, how about a CD player with a volume control? I know some high end units have this, but any companys in the under $750 range?

Used Cary, Linn Genki, or Resolution Audio. I recently got a good deal on a Resolution Audio CD-50 with remote volume control. I know it's overused but with the CD-50 I swear I hear new things in my favorite cds. I actually find myself replaying sections to verify what I think I'm hearing.

The Placette remote volume control works very well. It offers something like 128 discrete steps and the manufacturer can set the level of the initial "on" step to match your needs. It does not have provisions for setting balance, but it does track extemely well between the two channels.

I have a linestage with a built-in welborne remote control of volume, balance, input selection and mute. It offers 60 steps of attenuation. While the differences between steps are just about right (i.e., not too large), the total range covered is not enough for me. The lowest level is not low enough and the highest level is WAY short of what I need to drive my Stax headphone amp. The Welborne is also sensitive to high DC offset at an input and locks up and refuses to operate whenever I select a phono stage that has a bit of DC offset. That said, the builder of my linestage selected it because he thought it was one of the best sounding attenuator of any type that he has auditioned in his design.

Perhaps you can sell your non-remote Audio Research pre and replace it with a remote Audio Research pre?

I use a Placette RVC in series with my CAT SL1. It works very, very well with no degradation I can tell and almost an infinite array of volume levels. Once you get used to this fine control it is hard to go back. For a sinlge source and with the right cable capactance, input sensitivity and input impedance of the amp, you may even prefer the Placette to any active line stage -- it is that good. They offer a 30-day trial, so you can play with it and see if it does the trick. Again, not cheap, but exceptionally good.