CDPs That Have Volume Control +Variable Output

FYI, you should consider that when using an inexpensive CD players with a volume control, that the volume control will also be inexpensive. And typical inexpensive volume controls tend to operate digitally, which will affect the sound more than a high quality analog volume control.

Just something to think about.

(This is one of the reasons that some people, including myself, use high quality preamps, as the volume control is also high quality. I have a Resolution Audio Opus 21 CD Player, with a fairly high quality analog volume control built-in, and even though it is pretty good, it still sounds better going through the direct output to the preamp, rather than through the outputs with the volume controls directly to the amps.)

My two cents worth.

You can pick up a Quad player that would meet your needs nicely. They show up on Audiogon pretty frequently.

Correct me if needed, but I think the Adcom's vol control are analog right ?

It makes me wonder, how a preamp can make it sound better...isn't less caps/resistros/transistors better ?

Less is better only if the quality of the components used and the skill of the designer are superior to the one who designed the pre amp. Pre amps are designed specifically to handle the low level input signals from your source components and deliver them faithfully to the amplifier.