Whether feeding directly into the amp is the best way to go-this is often false, unless you have a very good output stage with analog volume on the CD player. Depending on the CD player, it is likely that the gain stage in the YBA is much superiour than the cheap op amps in the output stage of the CD player. Second, if the CD player's volume control is digital, you will be reducing bits by lowering the volume from "full," loosing some resolution. The best way to find out, of course, is to test this with our own ears. Good Luck
CD Player volume control
If I (appears that I have caught the digital bug, again) decide to go with a cd player that has a volume control, (yes, I realize feeding directly into the amp is the best way to go, but cannot afford that now) I was told that turning the volume up (12 step attenuator a real positive in this case for bypassing preamp) on my YBA Passion Integre until it has reached it's limit (run out of steps so to speak) then run my cd player through its' own volume control would be an excellent, judicious compromise. What are your thoughts my fellow audiophools? thanks in advance always. warren :)