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

I believe what Nelson Pass is indicating, is that with many sources, and in a perfect world ( system match ), passive would be ideal. However, he knows, as most of do, the perfect world does not exist. Just my interpretation of all my readings. Enjoy ! MrD.

Thank you mrdecibel, and that's exactly what I post  "system (impedance) match" whether it's direct or with passive, which today is more the norm than the exception.
 There are just some here that are protecting their interests, like a dog with a bone.

Cheers George

@georgehifi 
Yeah... Because I've got all kinds of money on the line. Like mrdecibel said, the perfect world doesn't exist. Nobody understands why you think 90% of component matches are perfect when they aren't. The technical reasons don't require an engineering degree as even I can figure them out. You accuse everybody of having a profit motive when the subjective and technical merits of their approach are obviously superior. 

kosst_amojan
Like mrdecibel said, the perfect world doesn’t exist.

Don’t cheery pick mrD, a perfect world does exist if the impedance’s are good, low output and high input (>1:10 ratio), and in most cases they are.
Go away now, you are so annoying.

@georgehifi
Oh... I didn’t realize the typical amp input impedance was between 100kR and 250kR. I didn’t realize input transistors have no gate or base capacitance either. Ten to one is really more of a minimum, not the ideal. And since a passive is all over the map, that’s hardly a given ratio.
Can you just go away so I can stop correcting you? 
And by the way, I didn't cherry pick. My statement captured the essence of what he said.