Tube Pre and SS Power? Or the reverse?

For me, If you have reasonably high-efficient speakers(needing no more than, say, 50watts) then there's no reason not to go tube pre and power amp.  If you need more than 50-60watts then use a tube pre and solid state power.  Naturally, some tube power amps can deliver more than 50-60 watts, but you're stepping into a different "region" of tube power.  

I'm trying to find a dealer in the Charlotte area where I can listen to different variations but so far very limited inventory - only the C2800 pre and a MC462 Power amp = $22k.  A different dealer - who seems to be a McIntosh pro - suggested the opposite.  

So there doesn't seem to be a way to compare, unless I want to buy them and then return if I'm not happy, which I don't like to do.

I use a tube pre and a SS power; I'm sure there are some who do it the other way, but I've not come across any. 

I would go both tube. The combination is more musical, natural and synergistic. I used tube preamps and solid state amps for years. It was not until I switched both to tube did I finally get great sound.  

I use a C53 with either a 275(version VI) or a vintage MC2205 SS amp driving either a vintage pair of McIntosh XRT 20'S or Sonus faber Cremona M's. All combinations sound excellent.