I have been down this path for the last 2 years. I had two cd players with volume control: Marantz CD63SE and CAL CL15 Balanced. If you only play cds forget the preamp. The Wadia is a good option but I found the SONY SCD-777ES SACD player running in custom mode (100K bandwidth) and using the EVS attenuator hooked right to the back of the amp the low cost best performance ticket. I paid $2725 for both. Much lower cost than the Wadia 860 or 850. SACD disks sound like nothing you have heard. Do your self a favor and power the cd player with the PS Audio P300 ac generator for another $990 and you will really blow away the Wadias.
CD with volume control/ no preamp.
I have a CJ 11a amp, Audible Illusions L1, Adcom CD player (about 6 years old), and new MSB DAC al with high quality MIT cables. When I run the system with no preamp using the cheap volume control on the CD player, the soundstage is wider with more detail. Do I get rid of the preamp/DAC and maybe upgrade to a better CD player with volume control, like wadia or resolution audio. Or do I try a better Transport/DAC? Which path should I head down for best sound?