Preamps can color sound considerably. Surprising?

With every component of every preamp being different of course they will all sound different.  Just as tube rolling changes the sound so do capacitor’s, transformers, resistors etc.   And today, SS preamps can sound so amazing close to tubes it’s scary!

I’m not sure if this matters but if you think about it, a typical preamp amplifies millionth to volts so a thousand or so times but an amp just takes volts and amplifies less than 100. The pre amp does more “work” & is more susceptible to distortion & extraneous noises because the signal they deal with is so much smaller. 

@ozzy62 

"...But when compared to a good passive, it's just no contest..."

I've tried the Creek OBH22, which provides great clarity and resolution - because I wanted to go direct to an amp, but with a volume control with remote.  It did provide greater clarity than my preamps. 

But... what passives do you suggest?  Townshend?  Others? 

I realize this is not focused on passives, and that there are other threads that do - but - just wondered what your experience has been in this regard?  

If you want a better chance of hearing what the audience heard listen to live recordings in a multichannel system. Studio recordings for the most part are sewn together like pieces of a puzzle into a sonic quilt. It isn't the same as a live recording. An audience at a concert isn't listening to "stereo" and are "immersed" instead. If you want to get a good preamp get a multichannel preamp and "immerse" yourself in live concert recordings.

The cleanest sounding preamp to me is my Tortuga Audio LDR, total clarity and measures poorly according to ASR 😎