I think that there is a misconception regarding what I referred to as "excessive gain". I do not think that overloading the input stage of the preamp is of particular issue, though it is possible. I think the problem is that the volume control can easily end up being operated in the least linear part of it's range. There is certainly a sonic cost to this, as well as the ergonomic inconvenience. But Al has had good luck with adding a preamp, so it seems worth a try.
I also agree with Newb that nothing short of buying tube gear will get you all of the way there.
Though I can't agree with Mechans that it is because the X-10D is designed as a buffer as being the reason it would have less tube magic than a tube pre. After all, the only reason to use an active preamp in most modern systems is either as a buffer, as many systems have more than enough gain architecture to use passive preamps, or to add various colorations be they tube or solid-state. As far as the circuit of the buffer goes, it will be the same as the final stage of the preamp, cathode follower or not, so sonically it would still add some tube sound without having extra switching and gain stages in the signal path.
I also agree with Newb that nothing short of buying tube gear will get you all of the way there.
Though I can't agree with Mechans that it is because the X-10D is designed as a buffer as being the reason it would have less tube magic than a tube pre. After all, the only reason to use an active preamp in most modern systems is either as a buffer, as many systems have more than enough gain architecture to use passive preamps, or to add various colorations be they tube or solid-state. As far as the circuit of the buffer goes, it will be the same as the final stage of the preamp, cathode follower or not, so sonically it would still add some tube sound without having extra switching and gain stages in the signal path.