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

About $3 - 4 K on the used market

What exactly do economies of scale have to do with heatsinks? This is just one more of those companies that bolt their circuits into superfluously over-wrought chassis and passes the expense on to you? 

Another soap box rant, a blind man can see the fins are there for looks, they look a lot better than a plain square box.
http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=151232

Cheers George

@georgehifi 
No joke! I'm pretty sure that's what I said, isn't it? I'm pointing out the foolishness in the assertion that any economy of scale has anything to do with some superfluous heatsinks, especially when their amps have sinks made from custom extrusion dies that not only aren't designed to do their job most effectively, but say the name of the brand in the profile view. I'm pretty sure their not doing that to make it sound better, move more heat, or cut the cost. 

I’m pretty sure that’s what I said, isn’t it?

No you were putting ****on the fins, and I wasn’t.
I like the fins, as I said
" they look a lot better than a plain square box."!!!!
http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=151232

Geesh!#! read first, think, pause, then react.