Maybe this is a dumb question but it can fill a knowledge gap for me. There are pre and power amp seperates and integrated. I have receivers where the pre section can be seperated.

Could 1 power amp serve several pre's?

Is the sound quality more pre than power?

Or do we have to contend with matching and esoteric judgements such that 1 power amp will help a pre or conversely screw up the character and quality of the pre?

Does it have to be quad matched pairs or can anyone suggest a general workhorse? What would happen if a valve pre and SS power was mixed?