El...the best upgrade for you for nothing! read on
Your X-A1 although it's very good being liquid smooth and wall to wall soundstage, the pre out however lack authority that would make the most of Epos prat (pace, rythm and timing) nature.
Solution: Your X-A1, when use as one box machine is something of a classic but as you know, turn the volume up near 11 o'clock and it loose composure plus the gorgous looking oval boxes refuse to go any louder! You are going on the right path by adding 2 mono blocks which should make system sound more lively.
but the clever money is on MF Pre V3 which on 2nd hand market value is very low due to MF over produced the units. It has a very similar sound to the almighty "Nu-Vista pre" but with a little more expressive treble. This pre will be a certain upgrade in your system, I will put my head on the block here.
X-A1 on Ebay will fetch around £250 which is the same re-sale price of Pre V3 (a lot newer unit, rrp £800) to me it's no brainer!.
Thaiman,
Had a look at the MF PreV3. The specs says it uses the similar Nuvista technology. But with this model, I cannot bi-amp my EPOS. Will have to go back to single wire. Not sure would want to go down that road.
Hifi: Marantz CD6002, SONY MDSJA20ES, MF X-A1,X-A50,X-DAC, Epos M12.2, ATS stands
AV: Samsung LA40N81B, SONY BDP-S1E, Pioneer DV-400V, Yamaha RX-V795aRDS,Philips DVDR 7300H, Infinity Primus Center, Wharfedale WH2 Rear, SW15 Sub, Mission M34i Front