Starting out I would stay with the same brand of amp and preamp. Compatibility problems can drive you nuts and take your money. You can have the best amp, best preamp and best speakers ect. Each recommended by a different person and each right - for their system. Put them all together and it sounds bad. Kinda like replacing your video card with the newest and greatest in your state of art computer. Might have compatibility problems with motherboard or soundcard ect., or might not.