You bet you can. The preamp simply feeds a full signal to the crossover cards in the amps. It doesn't matter which brand of preamp you use as long as it has the proper voltage to excite the amplifiers. As I said in my previous post I've used a Supratek Syrah. This was loaned to me as I was installing a low output moving coil cartridge for a friend and my Linn preamp didn't really have enough gain to do this cartridge justice. The Syrah will handle any cartridge. When I put it in my system it was a genuine jaw dropping experience. It didn't just change my system for the better. It transformed my system. I still am in awe of the benefits.
Of course, I don't have enough free money to buy such a preamp so I have tried to do it on the cheap. I've succeeded somewhat but not at the level I experienced with the Supratek, but then the Supratek retails for about $3000 for the remote version I used. I picked up an Audible Illusions Modulus II manufactured in 1985. I bought some new tubes from AI. Total investment is about $360. I'm pretty satisfied with this but still would like to step up to a better preamp.
I feel pretty darn lucky to have learned this lesson. With a great preamp I was also able to hear the huge differences between cables. Previously, I could hear the differences but would never have used the term "huge" to describe the effects. When I replaced the black, Linn interconnects with the Ridge Street Midnight Silver's Gen. II's the effect was like replacing another component.
I hope you have audio friends that will allow you to audition a tube preamp in your system some day.
I still have my Wakonda but it's not being used. The rest of my system is an LP12, two LK100's Aktiv and the Keilidh's. I've owned a Genki and loved it but don't have enough digital software to justify having a CDP.
