I have a small 30w A class tube pse amp with matching preamp (same manufacturer) and speakers that do not drop bellow 7.9ohm.
Same 'small' tubes in amp (12ax 7) and in preamp.
The impact on sound is much more felt with choice of tubes (same small ones) in amp than in preamp.
I believe that without any doubt everyone should first choose the matching amp for their speakers (as best as they can find) and than repeat the same with preamp.
Of course, there is plenty of room for mistake(or improvment) in either case.
I do not believe that you can have one 'bad' piece of equipment (cables incuded) and hope that somehow you will 'straight' everything up with another 'good or better' piece, no mattter how that part might be 'good'.
Also, regardles of some belifs that you can use source instead of preamp my experience is that any system will benefit with good preamp (had Burmester 001 and DCS Puccini with clock and both played 'better' with good preamps, Burmester 011 and Arc Ref 3) but that, of course, costs more
Same 'small' tubes in amp (12ax 7) and in preamp.
The impact on sound is much more felt with choice of tubes (same small ones) in amp than in preamp.
I believe that without any doubt everyone should first choose the matching amp for their speakers (as best as they can find) and than repeat the same with preamp.
Of course, there is plenty of room for mistake(or improvment) in either case.
I do not believe that you can have one 'bad' piece of equipment (cables incuded) and hope that somehow you will 'straight' everything up with another 'good or better' piece, no mattter how that part might be 'good'.
Also, regardles of some belifs that you can use source instead of preamp my experience is that any system will benefit with good preamp (had Burmester 001 and DCS Puccini with clock and both played 'better' with good preamps, Burmester 011 and Arc Ref 3) but that, of course, costs more