What makes more sense?


I was thinking about my next upgrades. What makes more sense:
Tube preamp with ss amp
ss preamp with tube amp.

I want to introduce tubes into my system, but I do some hometheatre also. My speakers are 87db sensitivty.

Thinking about getting a SF line one and a Musical Fidelity A3.2CR power amp.
What do you think?
Currently have sonus faber speakers, B&K reference preamp.
musiqlovr
Personally, I did not like a tube pre with SS amp, hated it actually. I highly suggest picking up the Musical Fidelity A3.2 preamp, you'll love it. The Musical Fidelity A3 amp may not have enough power for your speakers (it didn't with mine, also 87dB sensitivity, but I play very loud, dynamic and bass heavy music), unless you can run with 2 of them, in which case I suggest you pick up the amps as well and prepare to be impressed. I would also highly suggest the Odyssey Stratos amp as well, 2ch or monoblocks.
While mating a tube pre with a solid state amp has the advantages previously mentioned, it should be noted that you will have a greater challange matching impedances with that combination. It can be done.
IMHO, the tube preamp with the SS power amp worked very well in my system. I needed the current of the SS amp to drive my B&W speakers. I own both the BAT VK-30SE tube preamp and the Pass Labs X-1 SS preamp into a Pass X-250 SS power amp. Each preamp does it own thing (and amp also), the BAT has a darker sound as reviewers have described and the Pass has a more upfront sound but slightly less warm than the BAT. Both matched up well (I also did my research on the matching before buying the stuff and did extensive in home auditions).

I am not a very big fan of the lower priced MF power amps, nice sounding but not enough details for me. The per was nice in its price range but it did not wow me either. If you like the MF stuff buy the Nu-Vista integrated combo. Not my cup of tea.