My preference increases chronologically. I love the post-1964 stuff the best, the early Impulse stuff 2nd best, and the Atlantic stuff 3rd best. I *enjoy* the pre-1959 stuff but I wouldn't say I *love* all of it outside of the stuff w/Miles and some sideman appearances (Monk, Dameron). In a finite lifetime, would be fine never hearing the pre-Giant Steps Coltrane-led albums again.
I agree they sound quite different than the 1965 music. Not sure which I prefer, Interstellar Space, Stellar Regions, and Sun Ship are among my favorite Coltrane, so lumping it all together is very convenient