For tube sound, which is more important: preamp or power amp?


I have always loved the “tube sound” - warmth, midrange, soundstage. Through the years (since about 1975), I have owned many tube and solid state amps and preamps, in various combinations. Presently, I have a tube amp and a solid state preamp. But like most of you, I am thinking of making changes, again.  Not to cloud the discussion, the specific brands are not important.  I also listen to acoustic music, females vocals, love mini monitors, EL34s, NOS tubes, and don’t care that much about bass.  So you can see that my taste fits the tube sound very well. But I have had systems that are too warm, not enough dynamics or details, and fat in the low end, too.

okay, now to the discussion.  To produce the tube sound, which is more important: the preamp or the power amp?  Let’s talk in general, and (if possible? May not be) not tied to one specific piece/brand/model of equipment.  I know there are exceptions to any general rule.  Not sure if it makes a difference to your comments, but I have no phono and am running line stage only.

As an attempt to prevent the conversation as going in a big tangent, let’s assume equality of price/quality. i.e. not comparing a $10k power amps contribution to a system to that of a $1k preamp.  Let’s also assume that the amp (tube or solid state) can drive the speakers just fine, such that compatibility does not limit the decision. And ignore mono blocks versus stereo amp differences.  

two follow ons: I have  the perception that preamps give you more bang for the buck - meaning that it takes less money to get a great tube preamp compared to a great tube amp.  Agree/disagree? And second, I have never owned a tube dac or CD player, and will assume that tubes in either of these is less critical than in a preamp or power amp. Agree/disagree?

i am interested in your thoughts.

Bill
meiatflask
Danoroo, 
I don't believe that the Vicar is a tube amplifier. You may want to explore Rogue Audio and Quicksilver Audio .
Charles 
can you guys recommend some good 100W+ stereo tube amps to pair with an Emotiva XSP-1 preamp?
Yes, but a budget is the first place to start.
Tube gear opens up a gigantic barn door of idiosyncrasies that make up the fun part of the "tubist" cult. The Schiit Vidar certainly isn't a tube amp but it was designed to be used with their tube preamps so maybe it matches well with those. Not many reviews yet so who knows?  I don't imagine there is a sonically comparable tube amp at that price, although Jolida may provide a tube solution albeit at twice the cost. I like Jolida amps. It's hard to find a relatively powerful tube power amp (except maybe a used one) at relatively el-cheapo prices unless there are some Chinese brands I don't know about. If you can afford 'em, go tube. Otherwise, listen to some of the well thought out SS stuff until you can buy that Atmasphere amp you really want.
Matching pre and power with SS and tube can be a challenge like you said, especially if the equipment was not designed to go together. Vincent Audio hybrid integrated amps are an excellent step up from the Schiit and Jolida offerings. Vincent uses high current class AB instead of what I consider inferior Class D offerings that are becoming very common, even at higher price points.  
Danoroo,
The pertinent question has been poised, what’s your budget range for the tube power amplifier you seek? A good quality 100 watt tube amplifier doesn’t have to be necessarily expensive but they won’t be "dirt cheap" either. Good quality engineering, implementation and parts/transformers/power supply do have a cost that’s worth it in the long-term perspective.
Charles