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

@basement I totally agree !.....Enjoy ! MrD.

atmosphere, all I could find on the Baxandall was math and schematics. What good is that?

  mrdecibel
@georgehifi I might be ready to try an LDR unit, so what do you think ? Enjoy ! MrD.

By all means Flick me a PM with your email address listing your components, and I'll send you all the relative info on the Lightspeed Attenuator, even a diy circuit if you've got the electronic skills and test gear.
If all the impedance's and good, 90% of systems are,  I guarantee you'll never look at an active pre the same way again.

Cheers George 
  

George , I tried to PM you, w/o success. If you could PM me, that would be great. I have had a few passives, but none were exceptional. The particular room and system I would be using it in would be : CD, mostly redbook, modified Sony SACD player, into a modified Adcom GDA 700 D/A converter, into a Nuforce STA 200 amp. I might use my modified Klipsch Lascalas, but have a pair of modified Heresy IIs, with some subs. I believe the Adcom into the Nuforce would be " ideal " together. Enjoy, MrD.