help plotting a pdf to pdf

[oompa_l]

when i try to plot a layout or modelspace with a pdf xref'ed into it, to a new pdf, the resulting pdf is illegible - first off it becomes rasterized even though it's a vector document produced from word, and secondly it is extremely low quality. I have looked far and wide for settings that might help with this but I have come up empty - can anyone suggest anything?

thanks!