Solid State pre amp / tube amp

Yea they do it all the time. A little passive SS pre or even a well built active and a good valve amp. HEAVEN!! I have a MX120 that is actually a stereo preamp with a MAC surround system ADDED. Two separate systems, with common outputs.

With any of my valve amps, it is pure magic. I paid 700.00 for that Mac. It is a TURE diamond in the rough for SQ and stereo playback.. After that it changed. The AV units were built different.. C45 is another great analog stereo/analog multi speaker units that has world class Mac sound.. NO not all Macs are created equal either. NOT EVEN CLOSE! Those two, look out..

The older C11, C20, C22, MX110z, a class of their own, when redone right..

Regards

very common solution for many excellent systems

component synergy is the lifeblood of outstanding hifi systems making beautiful music

All depends on your speakers. If you have fairly efficient speakers and enjoy buying power tubes then no problem. Tube amps are great but there is cost of running them and most don’t play well with some speakers. Cost wise for most it’s better to run a tube preamp with a SS amp. I feel in general there’s a bigger sound difference between preamps, so buy the best preamp you can and spend what you can on an amp. Tube amps tend to cost more per watt, and in some cases it can cost more to re-tube an amp than the value of the amp on the used market. Again, I say a lot has to do with the speakers you own and your budget.

Great sound jump on this combo ASAP!!

yes.  
there are several threads on this topic in existence.  

Many feel that tubes excel in the gain stages, but less so in the output stages.  There are many variables involved, but in general if you like what a tube amp does for your system, I can't help but wonder if a decent tube preamp isn't the way to go.

I did this for 10-12 yrs with a CJ PFR & Latino ST-70. Sounded great. One misnomer about tubes  is that it does not do bass well. Hogwash. I've played rock in local bands for years and the bass sounds more real than with SS amp. Bass has overhang. It is NOT tight like SS amps portray. The strings resonate. They don't stop instantly. I know what they sound like.

In general, a tube preamp supplies a desired smooth and musical SQ. And, in general, a SS preamp supplies a ultra detailed but edgy SQ. And, in general, a tube pre adds some of that smooth and musical SQ to a colder SS amp. However, my SS amp already is smooth and musical and my tube preamp adds more of the same while also being ultra detailed.
Surely, a great combination.