Toobs + SS = x

I've had pretty good results with a tube pre and quality ss amps. I like the tube interface to the source components, then amplification with a well-designed ss amp. Part of the equation is your speakers, seems my ML Quests like SS power, perhaps it's the power reserves that feed varying loads presented by the speaker? My Oracle turntable and ML's are the only two components in my chain that will not be changed, everything else is a variable. I used a ARC preamp with a Classe amp, and now use BATVK30 pre with BATVK500 amp. It's entirely possible there's a better match out there, but to my ear the sound is very laid back and warm as is. Every set up will vary but I feel strongly you need tubes somewhere in the chain, and preamp tubes are considerably cheaper than power output tubes when it's time to throw some new glass in.