CD direct to monobloks?

What she said. Digital volume control has no impedance matching vs analog volume control. Listen first to it without a pre-amp. is the resolution and detail what you like? You eliminate a set of interconnect cables and a pre-amp if you go direct. I'm all for this approact as long as there is no impedance issues. But, since you were considering a pre-amp, go "borrow" a few from a good dealer in your price rance and A/B them vs CD direct. You can do this anytime.

enjoy

A quality tube preamp is the most important component in the audio chain.

Thank you all for your responses! It seems that I got some experimentation to do, which is part of the joy of this hobby. Thanks again!

With regards to digital volume controls, I have some info that may be of value. I have been a long time Wadia user and have had several players; all of which have dig vol. I wanted to really find out how big the difference in sound quality is when lowering the dig vol. I went to my local dealer and set a Wadia up with the best components I could find in the store and started listening. Also, I wanted some input from someone besides me, so I had 2 people from the store and 2 reviewers from audio magazines listen as well. (I believe one reviewer was from TAS and the other from Stereoplile). In the end, not one of us heard any difference no matter how much we lowered the volume. I don't know if you will get the same results with other brands, but I would at least listen before I made a final judgement.