Matching Gear matter to you?

I have had two occasions where the amp and preamp were from the same manufacturer and in each case they sounded better when i made a change .

First time i had a Mc Intosh C15 and 7100.  I took the C15 out and replaced it with a McCormack RLD 1     That combo was pretty good,  but I wanted to have a matched amp/pre so I bought a McCormack DNA 125 and it was even better.   As good as it was ,  I thought the preamp was the bottleneck, so I demo'd a Conrad Johnson Classic 2SE ....   the c-j / mccormack combo was really a great combo, in fact selling that DNA 125 was one of my big audio regrets.   

I still have the Classic and am driving some 40w Quicksilvers and I think Im at the point of diminishing returns .   That said if I were spending big $$$ to upgrade I would probably audition matched gear and would even consider a high end integrated, elimiinating preamp / amp matching altogether.

Like many who have mentioned above I had really tried to use components of the same brand. Not just for aesthetics but for system synergy. You would think they would be tested together by the manufacture.

Alas, many times the other equipment in the manufacturers line are just not as good so I sought out the best I could afford.

Today I have no two pieces of equipment from the same manufacturer. But, I do have all silver for my audio (except amps) and all black for my video / home theater equipment.

ozzy

I fee like I win either way. I’m told both are very good and I’m coming from a very humble starting spot. Once I get confirmation on a single detail I’ll pull the trigger. It would be my first component bought this calendar year (other than a Topping D30). 
3 years in and I’d have 2 components bought. But this is why I decided on separates, to build as I go and replace the old with the new. That’s maybe one of the few life decisions I actually got right haha.

I reread this thread and realized I never mentioned which preamp I was contemplating. Duh

It’s the Quicksilver Line Stage Preamp