coming from a cath lab background, the pre is the Brian’s of your system and the amp the heart or power. Pre makes decisions and the amp will follow. But in the end, who cares what normanclature you use to describe your system, just enjoy and follow what your looking for in the end.
Is the preamp the “heart” of the system?
For many years my preamp was a passive devise. I was in love with the transparency. Then one day I to try an active one. With so many Stereophile “the best at any price” rave reviews I decided to go with the Audible Illusions M3B with the John Curl phono boards. I was thrilled! Finally I understood. They sound finally had meat on the bones and a musicality that I was missing. And it was just as transparent! I guess the preamp IS the heart.