The truth is that a tube pre cannot give you the tube sound If you use a SS power amp. The tubes advantages are 3D imaging, openness, soundstaging, and presence. The disadvantage is a coloring of the sound. If you use a SS power amp only a tiny fraction of the tube advantages + all of the disadvantages remain. If you want to have a tube like sound with a SS amp you have to use a single ended class a amp (sugden, first watt)
If I'm looking for "Tube Sound", why would I put a Tube Pre in front of a SS amp?
I'm purposefully not specifying speakers as I would like to know in general terms the arguments for and against. So, to the degree that speaker characteristics could also influence the choice, please explain. FWIW, I do not know a phase angle from an impedance curve so I will try and educate myself as we go along. Hopefully, others may benefit too.