Mr. Mackwood, I have to ask if your comments about cartridges, and ignoring of differences among turntables, are based on personal listening experience. As for pre-pros, my personal experience has only been with different analogue preamplifiers (Dynakit PAS-3X, Adcom GTP500, and Outlaw 990). The Dyna unit was used with the Dyna Stereo 70 (no surprise there) but both solidstate units have been used with the Adcom GFA535 power amp, and the Outlaw is now driving a pair of nOrh Le Amp II monoblocks via a Yaqin tube buffer.

It certainly seems to me that I have heard differences in the sound, though I know perfectly well that it is impossible to rule out suggestion effects, short of a double-blind A/B comparison which virtually nobody is in a position to arrange - nor I think do most people really want to.