p.s. There is a full review of the TEAC UD-701N streaming D/A preamplifier in the December '24 Stereophile.
The Esoteric N-05 XD and N-01 XD have volume controls but do not spin CDs. They are called Network Players. Here’s a link to a column in Stereophile about a TEAC CD transport. The matching Streamer/DAC/ Preamp is called the UD-701N and it’s written up in the recent email - newsletter I got from Stereophile. Theres a section on the volume control copied below in italics. I’m sure you know that TEAC is the pro side of Esoteric, but I’ll say it anyway. This sounds like what you’re looking for.
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The XD series does not have a volume control. There is a volume up/down button on the remote, but the manual says it's for use with Esoteric amps. There is also an app, Esoteric HR Audio Player, to play audio files on a computer. It may have a volume control, but I don't think that's what you're looking for either. I would look into the Teac players. They may have volume control. | ||||