My thoughts are that tube preamps are more popular because they are not driving the speaker load. Many audiophiles use low impedance speakers or other difficult loads that may not be ideal for some tube amps. However, there are quite a few tube amps that can deal with difficult loads rather well. In certain cases, though, there are some speakers that are so difficult that a SS amp is virtually required to drive them. I try to avoid those speakers, so I can use tubes in both my amp and preamp.
What's to prefer; tube preamp or tube amp?
I wonder what is to prefer when it comes to amps. A tube preamp or a tube power amp? Many people seem to like the preamp to be tube. I also wonder what the difference is? And what about both amps tubes? And why not an integrated tube amp? Thoughts and question marks that I would like to have straightened out.