Tube pre- or amp: does it matter?

To try and answer your original question... If you are going to go with just one, the general consensus is to go with the preamp. Reason being that the amp can only "amplify" the signal it is sent - so you can induce tube goodness with a pre. Beyond that, a s/s amp offers tighter bass control.

From a practical perspective this does two things for you:

#1 - you can spend less - look at the AES AE-3 for about $400 on Agon

#2 - you don't have to worry about how much poop you need for your speakers, the speaker impedance curve etc if what you already have works well. Also as Gunbei notes, a big tube amp throws lots of heat which may or may not be an issue for you. Since the only way to get more power is to use more or bigger tubes...

Maybe these comments arrive a bit late but... Like with any system when it comes to synergy of components I would tread cautiously in matching speakers and power amps, yet to my mind that may well evoke the most rewarding musical result in adding tubed components in one location of a system. A tubed Pre is maybe better added to tubed power amps for many reasons IMHO. Although I differ with some on what is THE most important single component, my choice being the source, hands down. If you don't recover the music, how can one amplify it? That said, the recent addition of Atma-Sphere OTL’s to my system was profound and astounding. Best of luck Holderlin with your search.
Happy Listening!

I started with ss Symphonic Line RG1 with Klimo tube pre amp.Very nice.Then switched out SL for Graff GM100 OTL and more magic.Then I went to another higher level with Chapter Audio SS amp followed by their Preface pre.I truely could not beleive SS could sound so good(and beleive me I love tubes)

Holderin,

What preamp choice did you ultimately make and how are you liking it? I've just gone and done nearly the same thing as you--bought a tube amp (Air Tight ATM-2) on impulse ahead of choosing a preamp. Now, I'm shopping for a preamp and looking at these--Air Tight ATC-3, Herron VTSP-1, Modwright SWL 9.0 SE, Supratek Chardonnay, Acoustic Masterpiece C101, and EAR 834L. I'd have the Cary SWL 98 in there too, but I already have a Cary intergrated system that gives me a warm, "romantic" sound and I'm assembling this 2nd system for, theoretically, a more linear, transparent, and balanced presentation.