CD direct to monobloks?

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.

As far as I know:
First of all, a CDP with variable output doesn't necessarily mean that the volume control is implemented in the digital domain.
Second of all, volume control implemented in the digital domain in a unit working internally on 24 or 32 bits, and Wadia is such an example, doesn't mean sacrificing resolution when the attenuation occurs. Lots of least significant, zero-padding bits to cut into before degradation occurs.

Like Xxqq250 said above,if you already own all this, what do you think?