cdp digital volume control or preamp?

Hello,
As a follow-up, I thought I'd let everyone know that my Blue Circle BC 21.1 pre-amp is in. The sound is way better than the digital volume control on the Music Hall Maverick, and it's not broken in yet.

Cheers.

Thanks for the responses so far. I've searched old threads and found many references, but not one thread specifically devoted to this debate. If you can find one, put a link to it in this thread. Thanks.
I've read that the digital volume control does exactly what you say it does, Bufus. If so, then I don't like it. I can tell you this. For redbook cd I can run the Maverick's digital output into my Birdland Odeon-Ag DAC which has a good old analog volume pot, and the sound is far superior to me. Unfortunately, I can't do this with SACD, so I'm hooked up directly and using the digital volume control.
I am surmising at this point that a pre-amp might do for SACD play what my Odeon-Ag does for redbook...

How about some pre-amp choices? Around the $2500 price point.

Cheers.

So, Lousyreeds1, a pre-amp is the way to go?

Something else to chew on... this is my upstairs system and there is only one source component. Since I don't need the source switching functions of a pre-amp, is there another alternative to the digital volume control besides a pre-amp?

Funny you should say that, Lousyreeds1. The Birdland DAC even says "24/192/SACD" on the front panel! Birdland was hoping to provide an upgrade path someday, but it's not likely forthcoming.

I would appreciate any information about an audiophile quality analog volume control.

The Dehavilland Verve and Ultra Verve are on my list. Also, the Blue Circle BC 21.1.

Thanks for your input, everybody. I'm gonna go with the Blue Circle BC21.1. I'll let you know how it sounds.

Cheers.

It seems to me that the digital volume control direct into an amp, in this case, is a little too bright and harsh. I am currently playing through my Birdland Odeon-Ag DAC with far more satisfying results. The drawback, as I have said, is that I can't play SACD in this configuration. I've played SACD's using the digital volume control, but can't stay in the room very long for all the harshness of the sound. If I play the redbook layer through the DAC, I'm happy to listen for hours. I'm hoping that the pre-amp will allow me to get the resolution of the SACD without the harshness.

Cheers.

Hi Lousyreeds1,
No, I didn't. I thought, if the the prices for good ones were high enough to put me close to the price range of a good line stage, so why not just get a line stage? Even though I only have one source, I can now add another, if I want.

Cheers.

The BC 21.1 is an active pre-amp. It uses two 6922 tubes.