Matching Gear matter to you?

Matching gear matters to me as long as it is the color black. The new gear blends in with the old gear. No need to explain the new piece of audio equipment to the powers that be. 

I have an integrated amp and a CD transport/DAC/CDP from the same manufacturer. They are from the same series and are a cosmetic match. They share one remote, which is great. They also happen to have great synergy, so I've got that going for me. These electronic components are from a manufacturer who also makes turntables and speakers. I could go with a single manufacturer for my entire system, amplification, control, digital, analog TT and cartridge and speakers. However, haven't gone that far yet. But it has crossed my mind......

NO! Though I suppose I could get a Quad preamp to go with the four Quad amps (303,405, 50 mono pair) that I have on hand for my 57's!

Interesting. The preamp is your most important component in many ways. If it is tube based, you have some flexibility in the sound profile and it is a little cheaper to roll tubes than in a power amp.

the one other question I have is all the equipment balanced or unbalanced?  In general I would say my current preamp is better than my prior preamp but it is single ended and my old system was balanced. When I swapped it straight into the balanced system it was not better.  

Fully balanced equipment always works best in a system that is fully balanced. And by fully balanced I mean end-to-end, not just a single ended unit with XLR connections added in.

you have no idea what will sound better to you, the only way is to try and pick the best combination no short cuts.  overall you won't go wrong either way but the same brand's set could sound better and than you lose nothing except some money. my preamp looks like something portable and it's silver and made 30 years after the power amp which is black and much larger like most home components, so what? the modded look gets more respect and it's good for the ego to match components not from the same brand so you can brag on audio forums about your matching skills !