Went with matching preamp for my amp(s) under recommendation from the amplifier manufacturer and designer of the amp(s),...and I happened across a NM cond. one used for a fairly good price. Nothing too fancy, amps, preamp, descent cables, speakers (I) love
2 very good Sources. (Cd players)
if it sounds great to you , who cares what others think, play music and have a dram and some trail mix.
Used other preamps, tiny minuscule audio differences between preamps, but the matching one sounds amazing!