Tube Preamps that work well with SS amps?


I'm looking for a tube preamp after years of strictly SS. My amps will remain SS. Which tube preamp(s) in your experience mated well with a SS amp? I'm trying to avoid the odd phenomenon where tube preamp + SS amp = slow, soggy sound in spite of benign impedance characteristics

greg7

I would have started a new thread too without using "The Force" (...LOL).

Anyway I was an Transistor Guy, then tried All Tubes but to my ears. Tube input/GaN FET output has been my best combo. PS Audio DirectStream DAC Sr. feeding a BAT VK50-SE driving an Orchard Audio Ultra Amplifier. Maybe not to everyone's liking. But I'm done searching. 

Speakers are next.......No Vinyl....No Problems

I’m using a JJ 243 tube pre amp with a Pass Labs XA30.8 and like it very much.

I have EAR 868 with Threshold SA1 monoblocks powering Focal 1038 and the end result is quite good for my ear. 

I have an ARC Ref 5SE as pre and two MBL Noble N15 as monoblocks. The amps are class D and was pleasantly surprised with the combo once I installed new tubes in the pre amp and silver plated interconnects to get the right (to my ears) balance of detail and warmth