Quite some time ago, but the Joule Electra LA-100 completely dusted preamps I had at the time (including a beastly two-box First Sound Presence(?)).
The Joule was just warm and sweet and dimensional and organic and ’set the notes free’ vs. the clinical sounds of most of the $2500 preamps at the time. Made me realize that the preamp may be the most important component in a system.
I still have two of the units (picked up a spare I found for cheap) which I circulate in an out of a couple of systems. True music making boxes. RIP Judd and MaryAnn.