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

@georgehifi 

Give him a break? You're banging on as if this thing is audio divinity. Like so many things he's designed, it's a quirky component with a narrow appeal. Like the Zen amps. Like the F series. Like the SITs. Pretty much all of those products are ideal examples of something for someone, but their use must be carefully considered. The J2 might be a great amp. I'll never buy one because it would sound like garbage with my Focals. I don't think the Aleph L would be a particularly good pre-amp with my F5. .x% distortion would be an insane amount though that amp. 

Like so many things he’s designed, it’s a quirky component with a narrow appeal.

It’s one of his pride and joys as he’s stated, and said it’s a wonder it hasn’t made him filthy rich, not that he’s not already.

Give him a break? You’re banging on as if this thing is audio divinity.

Your searching for anything to put it and him down, and nothing is correct, as I have to post what he says and has measured in published in specs, to counter now 3 times what **** you’ve said.
The reason you don't like it and keep putting *** on it, is because your F5 only has 15db of gain and you need a preamp or source with huge voltage gain, and this is not it. 

I WOULD RATHER BELIEVE HIM THAN YOU, AND THAT’S A FACT!

Cheers George

@georgehifi 
You look at the schematic and draw conclusions that don't reflect the reality of the circuit you're looking at. And then you make stupendous claims about how magical it is. There's no way to avoid the fact that anywhere on that ladder you're getting a mix of direct signal and gain signal. I'm glad you like it. I'm sure it sounds awesome if you give it just the right home. 
 The service manual clearly says .2% with .02% typical. I'm sure it's virtually all second harmonic because that's what single ended MOSFETs make, and I'll bet it's also negative phase distortion, too, which sounds really neat. That's still a lot of distortion and color and limits your amp options. 
I'm not sure why you keep bashing the 15dB of gain my amp has. I'd much rather make voltage gain in a pre-amp than a power amp. It's just a better place to do it for all kinds of reasons. 

" Like so many things he's designed, it's a quirky component with a  narrow appeal ". I honestly cannot believe this has been said. NP has shared with the diy community most of his designs, which were all labors of love, not to make a dime. Give me, and everyone else a break !