I recently aquired an Echo Darla 24, and everything is installed fine with the latest Win2K drivers, 6.08. Using Vegas 4 for audio and video, and Cool Edit Pro 2, all are configured correctly. Output is great, best I ever heard from a PC. I'm used to recording FM and vinyl into a Revolution 7.1 and Santa Cruz on my other systems using tape-outs from a Dennon receiver with good results. Input levels are more than high enough from the tape outs from the Dennon, and pre-outs from an old Technics amp. Just bought the Technics amp with pre-outs, hoping that the signal from the pre-outs would do the job, but no. On the Darla, I set the input mode at -10db as recommended in their driver manual for "consumer" level gear. The problem is I can't get any higher than about -12db in with tape outs from the Dennon, and no more than about 6db from the Technics amp using it's pre-out jacks and volume at max. The +4db "pro" setting in the Darla driver gives lower levels, as expected. I've tried both WMD and Pure Wave settings in the Echo console, with Pure Wave giving slightly better results.

My question is, before I buy any more audio gear, can anyone recommend a good tuner/preamp combo, or pre-amp only that will drive the Darla at acceptable levels? I'm considering a used NAD tuner/pre-amp with 6 discreet inputs so I can do 5.1 with Vegas in the future. I'd really appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.

JLK