Just thinking about my old setup for a while today which results in my leaning toward Acoustic Research preamps with Thiel over Balanced Audio Technology, PS Audio, Musical Fidelity, and a couple of passives I'd ran through the Pass amp.
To my ears the ARC didn't color as much even though the other pre's mentioned couldn't be said to be "colored", either. Had the ARC pre's had a remote I may have never considered others. If - and I do mean IF - I decide to return to separates in the near or distant future ARC will be my choice in preamps.