Tube preamp vs Tube cd player

My uncle's sweet sounding set-up was your first choice.

1) "SS" cd player, tube preamp, "SS" poweramp

I like having Tube sources (CDP or DAC and even a Tube Phono) to a SS preamp to SS power amp.

It is a matter of preference IMO.

What gear are you using right now?

No 1 all the way. I have an amp that though SS, sounds like a very good modern 120 tube amp. Van Alstine Synergy 450.
Used with either my AVA Pas4i tube pre with phono stage or my 8 tube Eastern Electric Avant I'm happy.

I avoid tube amps because they are a PITA with inferior power tubes from Russia and China . Putin not my favorite person either.
Anyone who thinks they sound good never heard Amperex 6550's in full cry.
A

Tube CD players only make sense as an easy (Not the only or even best) way to introduce some tubes into your digital initially.

So 1 all the way. Make the SS amp Class D. And tubes done well a nice option but not a requirement for the pre-amp.

The real alternative is tube amplification all the way. That usually means a different set of speakers to choose from as well in order to achieve the best possible results.