What is a better route, tube or SS preamp?


Hi everyone! I recently unloaded all of my home theatre gear, and am concentrating on a 2 channel stereo system. So far I have a shanling cd-80, a naim 150 amp, Martin logan aerius loudspeakers, and a carver ct-17 preamp. I'm looking to replace the preamp, however, I'm not sure wether I should go solid state or tube. I know I need to demo some of both, but I wanted some opinions or if anyone has prior experience in this matter. Right now my amp is a SS and my cd has tube output. Everything sounds pretty good, but I want it to sound great!
Also, I will mostly be listening to a lot of hard rock and heavy metal, but also a lot of classic rock as well..
Lastly, I am aware of the amp input impedance and preamp output impedance ratio for both tube and SS. Is there anything else I should consider when pairing an amp and preamp?
Any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks everyone!
bstevens

Showing 5 responses by schubert

If you were into Classical or Jazz, tube would be the way to go. IMHO with your taste in music SS is a much better choice. Tubes are expensive and just an all-around PITA really.
Nonsencical my butt, acoustic music requires ambience retrival that rock doesn't even have.
The drawback to tube pre's is that if/when a tube goes a pair of expensive speakers is probaly going with it.
At least my KEF's and Rega's did. RIP
Problem with tube., A. half the NOS ones you buy as "testing great" are noisy and at end of life.
B. the other half are fake.