Jayctoy, I do have an opinion on the volume pot in the player subject, but it will step on some toes....ah, who care...I'm a bit stupified by audiophiles wanting a volume control in their CD players, when they turn their nose up so quickly at integrated amps, essentially amps with volume pots. Makes no sense to me at all. Digital volume controls, which most CDPs use, sound horrible to me, at least until you get into the mega buck player range. Analog volume controls are passive, act like a passive preamp in line, and sound like it too: lacking dynamics, no musical drive, lacking prat and sound thin, though some like the supposed added "transparencey" I'll do without it, not worth the tradeoff to me. You can tell I'm a bit biased on the subject :) I like a good active preamp in the mix. I've tried the alternatives but always liked what an active line stage did for the music, irregardless of the stereophonic hi-fi illusion aspect.
