Which is better?

Yes.

The one that costs less.

The two options aren't comparable since (1) lists a power amp and (2) an integrated stereo amp. In any case a pair of small bookshelf 8Ω speakers hardly calls for a pre- and power amp combo.

Neither.

What I have done instead:

AVR+KEF300+ Paradigm 12" Subwofer

...except I'm not lucky enough to have KEF300s. I do have Q15s.

The Music Hall will allow for analogue upgrades later if you want to go that way. A turntable, or whatever.

With the XDA as a pre into a power amp, you're kinda limited. Also, doesn't the XDA have a suspect volume control?

Begin *all competently built modern amps/preamps/integrated amps/AVRs sound sonically transparent* argument subroutine, followed by subjectivists knocking down their straw man position that *objectivists claim all amps sound the same,* supported by anecdotal evidence, and sometimes some charts of inaudible measurements subroutine.

Ask a bunch of questions premised on audiophile myths.

Get a bunch of conflicting answers.

Endless loop.

Congratulations, and welcome to AVS.

P.S. You win some really spiffy 99.99999% oxygen-free silver interconnects. PM mcnarus or arnyk or jj to redeem coupon.

Price/performance.

I just put myself through the exercise of incorporating a 5.1 AVR into a 2.1 system. The costs were amazingly low and the results were even better than expected.

You can treat a modern AVR like a tool kit. Hook up 2 speakers, put it into stereo mode, and it equals the best integrated amp.

Later on, add a subwoofer, and its just a matter of turning on the subwoofer output and changing the settings for the mains to small, set the volume control on the sub to what sounds good, and set the crossover on the sub as high as possible. You can now control and refine all of the subwoofer parameters with your remote control.

Want an equalizer for system tuning? They are already there in the AVR. Depending on which AVR you get, it can even set itself up with a measurement microphone that came with it.

People complain about things like channel tracking and cross talk between components. The DSP in the AVR handles all that, with performance that exceeds expensive analog volume controls.

I want you to have the best for music. That's why I risk criticism to present the facts I see.

The idea that an AVR is somehow substandard for listening to music is an audiophile myth. I keep asking the proponents of this idea to explain their viewpoint, and all they seem to be able to do is repeat the basic myth over and over again.

I have a collection of separate amps and preamps on the shelf, that I don't use in my main system because the AVR is simply the better tool for the job.