Sound quality impact - preamp vs power amp?

Thanks @co93 I’ve been thinking about picking up a used SIT-3 as I work at home all day and listen to music. I realize I’ve been putting just a ton of mileage on the tubes in my SET tube amp in 2020 and perhaps drawing more power than justifiable throughout the day when it’s mainly background music.

With limited funds and with out a doubt the preamp is where you spend the money because you can fudge on the amp till you can afford a better one.

Sound quality impact - preamp vs power amp?

Well.. what will make your car run better? 

Cheap gas and using quality oil?
Cheap oil, and running quality gasoline? 

If the preamp is not right, the amp will not sound as good as it should.. and visa versa.

It was not a good question.  It was a "hoping it were that simple" type question. ;)

Emergingsoul, I want to to tell you before you eventually get indoctrinated here and lose your common sense, I agree with you on the use of tubes and their application..

They are so much different tubes amplifiers , they are so much S.S. amplifiers also...

They are so much different pre amp and different power amp....

How can one may devise a solution or a choice applicable to all?

In audio all these debates and wars about tube/ S.S. or digital/vinyl, power amp/pre-amp, are meaningless because there is not one choice applicable to all...

In audio tough there is a rule universally applicable:

We must learn how to control and treat any audio system mechanically, electrically and acoustically...

This is the key for the creation of real audio experience....Any other solution which pretend to be the best solution for all ,is only  fetichism, habits, marketting conditioning, tastes, money throwing, ignorance.... Sorry....

Happy new year for all of us....A better year will be great....😊