So where should the tubes be?

Started with a Yamaha A-S501 solid state integrated amp. Good sound.
Put a Xiangsheng 728A tube preamp in front of it. It was a firm change from the good SS setup to a setup that had musicality, if that means anything.
Dropped both and went to a Quicksilver Audio Integrated tube amplifier. I cannot imagine more musical reproduction. I can imagine more of a you-are-there sound, more separation of instruments (as if I ever cared about that in a club or concert hall), but not more musicality. And then I'd need a new listening room and new speakers, too (Focal Aria 906's throughout the above).

I like tubes everywhere 19 total in my system, Dac, preamp, and amp. To me the big aha moment was my first tubed preamp so I would start there if I was dipping a toe into tubes for the very first time.

So there you go. Use tubes wherever you want music.

some of your audio idols like Fremer and Lavigne love their SS amps and believe they actually produce music.  Why so polarizing and disenfranchising of so many people at every opportunity? (rhetorical question)

Three Easy….he doesn’t know a FET is solid state

21 tubes in my reference system and 19 in the condo. i do know where all the FETs are…

to the OP phono stage or DAC would be my first pick.