Very Basic Tube/SS Pre-AMP/AMP Question

I've tried various combinations and for now have settled on a passive/buffered preamp with my Conrad-Johnson tube amp. There is no right or wrong answer. Common wisdom says to try a tube preamp with a ss amp. I have but I still haven't found the right match. For me, I get better results with the tube amp and passive preamp.

As for tube amps not having the frequency extension of their ss counter part, this can also be true of tube preamps. I've compared a few tube preamps against ss preamps and passive preamps. The tube preamps can sound sweet but can also roll off the frequency extremes, some more so than others. In my opinion, its more important to ask yourself what type of sound you are looking for. Even within the vast range of tube gear there's a significant difference in sound.

One generalization based on my own limited experience is that CJ gear seems to have a very nice midrange sweetness that I truly love. On the other hand, ARC is more neutral and extended but not much "magic" in the midrange. Its all a matter of personal preference.

As for tubes being high maintenance, I don't consider rebiasing the tubes every few months or replacing them every couple years a major issue.

And to add to what Tubegroover has said, your other components like the speakers will play a big role in which brand of electronics will suit you best. For example, my Thiel CS 1.5 speakers are not lush or warm in the mids and this may be why I like the warmth from the CJ tube amp. If I had speakers that were already rich in the mids, I might choose a more neutral amp/preamp. To me, accurate or neutral equates to boring and sterile. I like a wee bit of midrange sweetness.

On a related note, I found that the tube CJ preamps combined with my CJ amp were too lush. So this is why I'm using the passive preamp. (But I also have a CJ PF-R solid-state preamp that I will be evaluating over the weekend. Just got it.)