One caveat: Everyone talks about tubes and SS in generic terms, and I think there's a lot more to it than that rudimentary statement. There are lots of ckt. iterations out there in each format. I once owned and loved a tube-buffered passive that did not sound tubey or like SS, it just made music. So that one was quite neutral by design even though it had tubes in the ckt and in the power supply.
Also, different tube units are going to sound quite a bit different depending on the tubes used, power supply design and implementation, tube or SS rectification, and a hundred other variables. I am fortunate that I have both to play with, depending on mood, music selection and whether I want to warm up the tubes. But I would agree that you need tubes somewhere in the system, and the preamp is the obvious place to start, and perhaps end. As you grow in knowledge and experience you may want to delve deeper. But let me say the that the ss rig is powered-up 24/7 and is ready to play in an instant, and is quite musical and fun to listen to. And no tubes to wear out or worry about. It's all part of the fun! Good luck in your quest, and above all, enjoy the music.
Also, different tube units are going to sound quite a bit different depending on the tubes used, power supply design and implementation, tube or SS rectification, and a hundred other variables. I am fortunate that I have both to play with, depending on mood, music selection and whether I want to warm up the tubes. But I would agree that you need tubes somewhere in the system, and the preamp is the obvious place to start, and perhaps end. As you grow in knowledge and experience you may want to delve deeper. But let me say the that the ss rig is powered-up 24/7 and is ready to play in an instant, and is quite musical and fun to listen to. And no tubes to wear out or worry about. It's all part of the fun! Good luck in your quest, and above all, enjoy the music.