CD player with volume and digital input

The Emotiva ERC-4 has digital input but no volume control

If you are trying to get out of owning a preamp. It is unlikely that you are going to get great sound quality. The unit must basically have a high end preamp built into it... not just a digital volume control or it is going to sound detailed but soulless. Many have tried it. However there are lots of great CD/DACs.

I used an AI to get this, so check it. 

• Cambridge Audio Azur 851C

• Cambridge Audio Azur 851N

• Naim CD5 XS (with DAC/pre functionality)

• Audio Research CD9 / CD9SE

• McIntosh MCD550

• McIntosh MCD600

• NAD M51 (DAC/CD-hub hybrid use)

• Esoteric K-05 / K-07 / K-03 series

• Oppo BDP-105 / 105D

I own an Audio Research CD9SE. It is an incredible unit. No volume control. But I directly compared with the more expensive Berkeley Alfa Reference 3 DAC and preferred the ARC... a touch more musical. Highly recommended. 

I use the McIntosh MCD600 as my source and preamp.

Straight out to my amps.

Best sounding system I've ever had.

I have a nice sounding Mark Levinson 390s cd player.  It has a RCA SPDIF input and an analog volume control.  It was upgraded from a Mark Levinson 39.

It’s out of production, but maybe a used one can be had inexpensively.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/mark-levinson-no390s-cd-processor