ARC's are lean, and you have a SS preamp, I don't get it? Personally, I would never have a SS preamp, but I could go with a good SS amp. For the tube sound, the logical place to start is the pre. Manufacturers who make tube pre amps, also make SS amps, but never the others way around. While ARC is the best amp, I still don't get it for the ultimate sound, which will be almost SS because ARC is so lean.