Regardless of the price point, it’s all about balance. Like anything else, it’s all about the weakest link. So strive to have all the links (relatively speaking) the same strength. Its also about minimal returns. For a mid-price system, A+ cables don’t make sense. And I’ve found that regardless of specs (and the risk of overanalyzing specs), having an amp that matches up (sonically) with the speakers need to be objective #1, then an electronic match between a preamp that has the features you like with the amp is objective #2. Then let your ears decide past that. I have a ARC ref 5 pre-amp on one system that is a match in heaven with my Ref 75s3 amp, but I would never match it up with a First Watt SIT-3 I have in another system...
