var13 said:MDA is also produced before synthesis of MDMA...
TheDEA.org said:MDA is not normally produced as an intermediate before making MDMA.
Le Junk said:MDMA is made by first producing MDA.
Looks like you're out voted there TheDEA.org

I think while there is a route through MDA to MDMA, I don't think it's often used. As the reference above points out, both usually share the common intermediate MDP2P.
If I had a theory it would be that the next step, the reductive amination of MDP2P, is what gives rise to the mixture of MDA and MDMA. To make MDMA, you need methyl amine. This is often made by heating formaldehyde and ammonium chloride. That reaction is probably incomplete leaving a mixture of both methyl amine HCl and ammonium chloride.
Evidently, the aluminum amalgam reduction done with methyl amine to make MDMA also works with ammonium chloride to make MDA....i.e. you don't need sodium cyanoborohydride to make MDA. Hence you tend to end up with mixtures of MDMA/MDA depending on the ratio of methyl amine HCl/ammonium chloride used in that last step.
I just can't see people 'compounding' pills like a pharmacist for better effect. I'm sure it's done sometimes, and I think I recall the hypothesis that the combination of ketamine and MDMA in pills was intentional due to specific effects. But by and large, I figure they'll stick anything in pills that might give a stimulant or 'trippy' effect to cut costs.
But not MDA, I think that's an artifact of the chemistry I've described.