I can totally relate to your post. I have an Audio Research SP-10 preamp that really brings out the best in my turntable setup, but IMO it isn't as strong when it comes to digital playback (a fair amount of bloom and color). Conversely, my ARC SP-11 does a great job with digital playback and while it's "correct" with my analog gear, I find myself more emotionally moved by the SP-10. Fortunately, they're both in the racks close to each other so it's not too much of a fuss to occasionally move speaker cables and ICs around if I find myself focusing on one format more than another for an extended period of time.
The audio equivalent of having two wives...? LOL
The audio equivalent of having two wives...? LOL