CD Player into amp?

I've had many CD players with variable volume control connected directly to power amps. If you have a single source system (CD only) it can be a very economical way to go. You obviously save the cost of an extra interconnect cable and pre-amp. I've always enjoyed the added transparency that this type of setup has provided. However, added transparency may not be a good thing if you listen to a lot of CDs that are not well recorded.

The downside typically mentioned is that many people feel that a quality pre-amp adds an additional level of dynamics to the sound. This may or may not be needed depending on the type of music you typically enjoy on your system. I would think it would be most important with classical, but I don't listen to much classical, so I've never wanted for added dynamics.

A good friend of mine has a very highly resolving system using CD-direct to amp. He recently built a simple tube buffer to place between his DAC and amplifier and he swears that it is one of the biggest improvements he's ever noticed in his system. So, if you try CD-direct and the music seems to need more drive or dynamics, maybe a tube buffer would suffice. I've never used one, but I often see the Musical Fidelity tube buffers for sale here on the 'goN.

Enjoy,

TIC

Dave,

I've previously owned a Cary CD-308. The volume control on the remote did control the variable output of the CD player. I would test it to varify that it works, but I'm fairly certain you are "good to go" with the remote variable volume control.

Enjoy,

TIC

RW,

You are correct. The Oppos have remote controlled variable volume. However, I believe it is a digital domain volume control which drops bits in order to decrease the volume. Digital volume controls have generally been attributed with losing some amount of resolution once they are turned down more than a couple of steps from max.

I own an Oppo 970 with level 3 mods from EVS. It is a very good player all around and I do use it connected directly to my power amps using the built-in digital volume control. I haven't noticed any major sonic degradation when playing it a lower volume levels, but I do sometimes feel that it is giving up a bit of resolution at lower volumes.

I believe that the Cary uses an anolog domain volume control. Same with the Theta Miles, Quad 99 CDP and resolution Audio Opus 21 players that I also owned and used CD direct to amp. These units control volume in the analog domain, so they do not lose resolution as the volume is lowered.

Enjoy,

TIC