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

I'm not at all saying I could design the thing by a long shot.

That's about the most honest thing you've said, enough putting**** on what Nelson Pass says about passives.

Cheers George

@georgehifi , kosst claims his system sounds almost the same, with and without the preamp section of his ancient Marantz receiver, when he experimented with the bypassing of the Marantz. This should tell you something about him. Let him be, let him rant, he is an annoyance to many people. He just needs to be right, that is all. No wonder he is afraid to try an upgraded power cord, as he fears he will not hear a difference, let alone an improvement. I must admit that I do enjoy the 2 of you going at it, as it is very comedic. I wake up every day and wonder who is kosst fighting with today, and yes, there he is. Look at the recent Focal thread. Hilarious. BTW, I am wondering if the F5 that kosst built would pass UL certification, which Nelson’s does.? Enjoy ! MrD.

@mrdecibel 
Na... I'd much rather make friends than not. I kinda feel bad seeing George lose his mind because he doesn't know how a thing works. I'm not afraid to play with cables because I've made my own to see. I just don't indulge in snake oil. You, George, and few others seem to enjoy attacking me for learning, building, and restoring some stuff. Kinda sad really. Sounds like bullying to me. I'm not doing that to people. George and you are going ape for what? Because I'm waiting for Ralph to explain the Aleph L to George? That doesn't seem like a crazy over-reaction? And I'm hardly the only one who thinks the few harsh critics of the Kanta 2 are way off base. 

Because I'm waiting for Ralph to explain the Aleph L to George?

If he does, it better be the same as what Nelson sent to me a couple of days ago when I emailed him about it, otherwise your both out there with the fairies.

Just go and have another drink, and stop being such an agitator.

Cheers George 

@georgehifi 
I'm sorry. I really am. I really feel bad you're this worked up. I think you've got an idea of how the thing works burned into your mind that doesn't reflect the circuit, the reality, or what the man has said. If I'm wrong I'd really like Ralph to set me straight. I've listened to Pass speak for hours and read gobs of his articles and writings. I'm imagining him saying what you've posted him saying with a big projection of that diagram on the wall behind him. I'm not getting the understanding you seem to. I really just want you to understand what you're looking at in that schematic, hear what the man is saying, and think it through on your own. You're missing the understanding of the circuit! If I had the money I'd pay you to build the thing just so you'd learn it!