How about the Emotiva XDA-2?

Tonyangel;

My experience tell me that you are best off with an analog preamp, and in my prejudiced opinion, a tubed preamp like an Audio Research.

I own the XDA-1 and agree it is excellent for the cash and is a good DAC. I don't think that even an improved (XDA-2) will outperform your NAD C162 as a pre-amp. The NAD is an excellent unit for the money and has a good phono stage if you ever get into vinyl. For under $400 I don't think you could beat the NAD. I also agree with Levchappy about analog pre-amps..

Thanks guys. I kind of suspected what you stated above. As nice as the XDAs are for the money, I really do believe that they need a true pre amp. My XDA-1 doesn't put out nearly enough juice to drive my amp correctly.

I have been giving a tube pre amp some thought for quite a while. Unfortunately, I just don't have the setup (space) to get into tubes right now.

I recently ran across an Aragon 28K MkII pre amp. I really don't know what my fascination is with Aragon gear, but I've always wanted an Aragon pre to go along with my Aragon amp, so I grabbed it. It should be here tomorrow.

My present system has turned into such a budget build that I'm thinking that when I get to move into a listening room, I may just put another system together based on a tube pre amp. I've been wanting to try some Class D amps too and don't want to get rid of my Aragon.

Tonyangel: I used a Conrad Johnson PV3 with the emotiva dac and it sounded wonderful. I just set the volume to a good level on the CJ pre, and then used the Emotiva remote for "fine-tuning" the volume settings depending on digital source. I think you should go the tube pre route like you mentioned.

has anyone compared the xda1 to the xda2 --dac to dac.

i heard the xda1 and it lacked body, somewhat on the lean side.