Sound quality impact - preamp vs power amp?

I chased this power pre perfection and was never really happy
Had an ATC P1 recommended stereophile had tron and croft valve pre and harbeth speakers... Good but something missing. 

Eventually got my speakers sorted.. Tannoy which matched with what I loved and then Luxman class A integrated and perfect synergy.... 

Maybe if u had time and a lot more money it could be improved... But I just want to enjoy the music. 

I upgraded in stages as well and I think I have a good dialed in synergistic system. I would like your opinions. Bob Latino st-120 amp, Vincent sa-T7 pre, music hall cd/dac, bluesound node 2i, thorens td 125 w/Hana eh. Bob Crites cornscala speakers with wireworld oasis 8 speaker cables and interconnects. Furman power conditioner. I think it’s a modestly priced system that punches way above its weight class. I figure I’ve got about $10K invested all together.

I have a tube preamp and amp that works well with my speakers. They have good tubes.

I have a good integrated solid state amp that works well with my speakers.

Here’s the comparison I did. Keeping the DAC and the source the same:

(a) SS-Tube. When I run the solid state integrated as a preamp only through the tube amp, it sounds ok.

(b) Tube-SS. When I run the tube preamp through the integrated’s amp section only it sounds much better.

So, in my particular setup (only!) I can conclude that the preamp makes the bigger difference.

My tube and solid state are at similar price points. I realize that my tastes, impedance matching, etc. could be factors here, but I do hear a clear difference. Preamp more important in my setup.

hilde45 Interesting observation and something i dont have difficulty to figure out....

If i upgrade my audio system i will buy a Berning ZOTL tube amplifier that can also work like a pre amplifier with my Sansui AU 7700 which can work like a separable or like an integrate power and/ or pre-amp....(Sansui Au 7700 is one of the more flexible amp ever designed )

For this reason : tube for pre amp and S.S. for power amplification...

I feel no urge because the pre-amp section of the Sansui Au 7700 is already very good... For sure the Berning ZOTL would be better tough....

Merry Christmas...