Value of a preamp?

 So then, an active preamp is actually 'adding something'  to the signal, (whatever that something is) but a passive attenuator is not.

So when all the impedance values are matched up correctly with a passive attenuator, then a more true to the source sound is being heard.

Really then, active preamps can be like tube rolling when you actually think about it !

I have my phono stage plugged into my Tortuga Audio LDR attenuator then out from there to my amp.

Very clean and transparent and it`s pretty easy to hear changes made to the system, like swapping cables/interconnects or rolling tubes.

Plays as loud as I would ever want too....Pure as Light 👍