Solid state to tube

Yes....tube pre with SS amp is your best sound IMHO.....Audio- gd tube pre with PT GaN 400 has my Pendragons swinging wildly. Love the combo.

Again this comes down to the manufacturer.  Now all products provide the same sound quality.  You need to determine first the sound you are looking for.  There are many different tubes that all have different sound and there are different amp designs such as Class A, etc.  Your budget also have something to do with it.  

 As far as comparing SS to tubes, you will get similar answers on the differences here, but in reality, a good tube amp design will be equal to SS in terms of dynamics and slam.  Tubes in general can offer a longer decay of notes and more of a 3D soundstage that SS cannot provide.

You need to do your research and listen to different tube equipment and learn why they sound different.  There are plenty of custom designers around if you want to go that route also.

As far as reliability, sure there is heat but that is where the design comes into play.  Point-to-point wired?  Bias adjustments?  Tubes wear out sure - so do capacitors and resistors.  I do not agree with less bass impact comments.  It comes down to the tubes and the design.  SS has limitations that IMO compromise sound quality.  

Happy Listening.

I have been enjoying tubed integrated amplifiers and separates from Octave, Ayon, Audio Hungary, for many years now. I also have had in my stables SS integrated amplifiers and separates from Simaudio, McIntosh, Ayer, Bel Canto, Norma, and others over the years.

I have enjoyed each for their specific attributes, slam is not one of them (think the term in audio speak is a joke). I have only ever felt deprived of midrange using SS.  I like to accentuate the positives and I feel that depending on all the other components in the chain one needs to be careful in their foray into the tubed world. 

I would consider doing what I did transitioning from SS to tubes and others have recommended here, hybrid integrated or a tube pre with ss amplifier.

Just keep an open mind and you may need to try a few combinations of components before you find the synergy your are seeking.

Tubes vs SS, Ford vs Chevy...who cares it is what makes you happy! 

@emrofsemanon - probably not.

I'd think you'd be the only one who could decide that as everybody else will have varying opinions which may or may not line up with your response. There are no 'absolutes'. 

Find someplace where you can listen to tube gear and bring along some music of various genres, and it should be a fun experiment....

The Backert line of preamps are all absolute gems. They use two 12AU7 tubes which are auto biased . Tube rolling is easy and the results of rolling  with this preamp are palpable. Decware, despite the wait makes wonderful low power tube amps. Wyetech Labs is in the process of selling their remaining stock of ferociously incredible SET mono blocks due to the death of founder Roger Hebert. These are all tube based products very deserving of investigation.