Tube and SS pairs

Regarding the previous post, all that experiment demonstrated was the SS preamp had a better quality than the built-in pre I the integrated. Nothing more. Try that same experiment and insert an ARC Ref 6, for example, instead of that SS pre and the results will be significant different. 

Thanks for everyone's contribution. As most conclusions are, it seems to depend on specific equipment synergies. It must be nice to be a dealer of multiple high end brands :-)

I was mainly looking for some simplification of perhaps an enhanced "tube-like" quality that would reflect on the final product as a result of using a tube amp as the final component in the signal path. It would seem that this generalization cannot be made.
Thanks again

@recluse  It's simple, but we audiophiles excel at overcomplicating (myself included). 

Let us know what you end up figuring out and choosing.

Over the past two months, I've been struggling with the very same things you mention in your opening post. Do I go with separates, both tubed, both solid state, a mix of each, etc. 

I chose to go with a solid state integrated solution after considering some representative options (all tube, all solid state, a mix, and separates vs integrated units). What I learned is that there wasn't an ideal choice; there is an overabundance of terrific gear; the options and pairings really are endless; and final choices (imperfect though they are) have to be made. 

What I learned is that there wasn't an ideal choice; there is an  overabundance of terrific gear; the options and pairings really are endless; and final choices (imperfect though they are) have to be made.

Yep, unfortunately nothing, absolutely nothing, replaces auditioning; especially auditioning a component in our rigs. As much as we would like, because it’s easy and involves little effort, we can only believe little if anything, we read. What we can do, is add what we read to our knowledge base and continue building that, until a personal experience proves our tentative conclusions. But until we find someone with our exact same system and we know that our audio priorities are similar to theirs, making conclusions, especially buying ones, isn’t recommended. But unfortunately because of logistics, it’s understood that buying unheard, can't be prevented.  

If an audio store isn't nearby, attending an audio show (albeit not great conditions, nor easy to judge what a specific component is doing in the chain), provides a highly recommended learning experience.  

As a long-term (read old) audiophile, I can't tell you how many times my preconceived ideas about brands, component types (ss, vs tubes, analogue vs digital, digital direct to amp vs pre-amp to amp, cones & domes vs panels vs horns vs open baffles etc.) have been modified, crushed etc.... Thus, with all things audio (and life in general) one should always try to maintain an open mind. If that is done, surprises and forehead slaps abound and great finds and experiences will be the result; these will be in place until another surprise avails itself and we again learn and decide to move on…and so it goes.