combination tube amp and ss preamp?

Why would you want to do a horrible thing like that? got a cheap one lined up?

Almost joking here.

Most people do it the other way around a tube pre with a ss power amp. That way you get the warmth from the tubes but still have the bottom end grunt of a ss power amp. I have one system setup that way and it works very well for me. I have never even thought of going the other way....

Agreed with Joekapahulu. Since the pre is the heart of your system and generates the signal that will ultimately be reproduced by your speakers, having a tube pre makes more sense.

I respectfully disagree...well not THAT respectfully...in any case, I use a SS preamp with a tube power amp simply because I want the cleanest and most accurate possible signal going to my Greasefest Overdrive Special power amp where it's electrons are blasted about by various cathodes and anodes before eventually reaching my fat head in the form of happy little music blobs. Works for me, and makes plenty of sense. That little signal shouldn't have any "tube tone" anyway as it's not overdriven or expected to be tainted by tubiness to trickle tawdry tone transference toward the tuneful transponders. Besides, I don't currently want to have to tube roll another pile of Mullard/Psvane/Phillips/NOS/nonstock/woodstock glass unless I really have to.

I respectfully disagree...well not THAT respectfully...in any case, I use a SS preamp with a tube power amp simply because I want the cleanest and most accurate possible signal going to my Greasefest Overdrive Special power amp where it's electrons are blasted about by various cathodes and anodes before eventually reaching my fat head in the form of happy little music blobs.

Hmmmm, wouldn't the same philosophy apply to not having tubes in the amp? If you want the cleanest and most accurate possible signal, then why not an SS amp as well?

My own experience is that I can get far more 3D performance with a high performance tube preamp than with the tube amp which for me comes later as such works best with my Electrostatic speakers. And the result with that preamp alone gives me far more accurate results than any number of highly rated/awarded SS preamps that I have tried.