How much do I need to spend to get a preamp that sounds better than no preamp?

As you probably already know, there are so many variables that are factored into each sound system that trying to nail down one preamp for your use can only be determined by testing several in your own environment.  Sound is so dependent on amplification, speaker system selections and placement, room acoustics, etc.  I have always purchased equipment based on reviews.  I have had inexpensive preamps (under a grand) installed that sounded good and had others costing upward of several grand sound poor or not to my liking.  Go figure.  Part of the enjoyment in my eyes of always seeking that best sound.  Good luck with your search and when you find one, keep it and enjoy it for a life time.....

@csmgolf "Clearly the answer is no, he @georgehifi is not man enough."
You're right, Cris.  He answered the question clearly.  All he needed to say was that I was mistaken.  Seems as easy as falling off a log, and yet...

Did you notice how he got so flustered he quotes me as responding with a statement I made PRIOR to his fuser question?  He didn't know whether to scratch his watch or wind his butt.
On the positive, he seems to have finally turned into a civilized person here instead of routinely attacking everyone in front of him.  Who knows if it will last, but let's hope, as he's actually an obviously intelligent guy, and the Lightspeed Attenuator a worthwhile technology

@almarg Thank you for your perspective, Al.

As always, you raise an excellent and most salient point in regard to rectifiers.

As I considered what you said, I HAVE noticed the differences between types ("normal diodes" vs HexFred, 5AR4 vs 5U4 vs 5R4 vs 5Z3 vs 5Y3 vs...) far more prominent than variations within those types. I’m sure no one will say that’s noteworthy. While I have clearly observed the differences in voltage drop between them, I now realize I’ve been a bit too sloppy to not have more carefully measured the variation within a type. Thank you for providing a new rabbit to chase down!

Difficult question, I admit, and you could maybe just chalk it up to tubes in general, and why folks compete for valued ones, but do you have any opinions on why different tube rectifiers of the same type exhibit not much difference in performance, yet such wildly different tone? By that I mean, even friends who love to tell me, "Oh, I could never have a decent system because I’m just not good enough to ever be able to hear the differences..." can easily discern changing out a Sovtek vs Shuguang vs JJ vs Mullard 5AR4

@trelja

His answer is only partly true. He couldn’t even bother to wait for JA to post a response to his question, he had to immediately come here and post a click-bait thread on the subject. There was a not quite half-hearted mea culpa near the end of the thread.
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/stereophile-no-more-bench-tests
What kind of a person does that? There are plenty of designers and manufacturers that post here and do so respectfully, even when they disagree with another poster. Several even chimed in on the fuse debates. They stated their point and moved on, only replying again if they were directly questioned. Not this guy, he has multiple pages of the same reply over and over, never adding value beyond the first several posts. He apparently doesn’t realize that all members here are potential customers in an ever shrinking market. Why would you ever treat a potential customer that way? Disagree if you must, but be respectful, then leave it at that. No matter how great his product is, I would never give him a dime of my money for just that reason. I would suspect that I am not the only one. Seriously, if that is his method of marketing himself, then he is deranged. And no, I am not a fuser either. My position more closely follows what you believe, Joe.