The ups and downs of tube vs. SS...

I was wondering about a tubed buffer stage between source and amp?
If one was to go with either SS, or tubes, will it make a huge difference? Or, is it just a waste of money?

If you don't need the gain a tube buffer is a good idea. You will loose some voltage with a tube buffer (as it will be a cathode follower); to minimize that and to decrease distortion a mu follower is not a bad idea. The reduced output impedance will allow you to run longer cables and will reduce the sonic qualities of the cable.

We've optionally built buffer circuits in our preamps that have direct-coupled balanced outputs.

Anyone that says tubes is better or Solid State is better is full of baloney. I’ve own both though out the years and they both can sound great and horrible too. Every system will sound best with either a SS or Tube designed amp. So you just find what you like and enjoy. I have a bunch of EL34, 300b, 6550, and SS amps and I enjoy them all. 

It isn't "baloney " If someone prefers tubes compared to solid state,  just as it isn't baloney if the preference is for solid state.  It isn't baloney if someone says that they enjoy tubes and solid state  equally.  Subjectivity allows all of these preferences to be perfectly valid (and expected).

There is no substitute for tubes. Solid state can do some things extremely well, but cannot beat tubes for harmonic structure integrity and seductive sound. Solid state is cardboard or paper mache. Tubes are liquid and human sounding.

"Solid state is cardboard or paper mache. Tubes are liquid and human sounding."

That was my (subjective) opinion as well until I heard the Pass XA25 a friend just purchased last week. Paired with his floor standing Omega speakers it sounds lush and gorgeous, even with his Pass SS preamp. 
It sounded even more captivating when we switched in my Aric Audio tube preamp but I thought it got a bit too syrupy for my taste. Really liked that XA25...