Preamps can color sound considerably. Surprising?

It‘s funny how people argue about this subject. Attenuation and amplification are fundamentally different and the simple fact of the matter is that dacs only require the former. So what may be useful in amplifying a phono signal with rare exemptions become distorition when a dac is used.

But one can also just use an amp as a buffer to change impedance.
If the DAC does the volume, and not other things need to be switched, then one does not need the attenuation nor the amp.

One of the rare exceptions is to drive the cables better to the amps, should the output be driven to very low listening levels. If the OP is not using horns and a high gain amplifier, and not listening at a low level, then they have less to consider.

But which arguments were you referring to?

More than anything else a good active preamp will provide a more 3D soundstage.Of course they have to synergise with the power amp to do that but when you get the combination right it can make the difference between a good sound and a really great one.It is simply sounds more involving because it is revealing more of the stereo effect that is encoded in the recording.It is higher resolution.

Some active valve preamps will add tonal colour and some are tonally neutral.Some SS active preamps add tonal colour too.It is just a matter of finding the one you prefer.

I have found the Supratek 6SN7 based preamps to be tonally neutral.Very clear and open and 3D but neutral.I have heard SS preamps that sound very similar but they are very high end Swiss designs that cost 4-5 times as much.

I like a little salt on my steak.

Your pre-amp and your speakers account for most of the systems SQ.  The "Tone" of a system can be changed with different cables...power cords....and power conditioners. That's why we are always Tweaking.....

BAT preamps are my reference. I’ve had 5 of them, and never had a bad one. I appreciate the “color” of a BAT. Same with a Threshold T2 and T3 Preamps. Old school I know, but they were very good products. I’m stuck in the past.