Tube Pre and SS Power? Or the reverse?

Power amp is the last stage of signal processing. If you want a true tube sound you want tube power amp too, not just preamp. Sure, if you combine, say, VAC tube preamp with Gryphon power amp it will sound excellent but it will be a modified transistor sound. 

I've had both in my system. C45 with MC275 - it sounded great. Clarity, bass, very organic. Then I tried a C2300 with MC601s. Very lush, sweet mids, great mid bass. 

I kept the C2300 with the MC601s.

I hope that helps. 

I find that the tube preamp give more of a "tubey" sound all around.

The reverse, if you want that tube “bloom” out of your hybrid system. 

I use a tube power amp (Prima Luna Prologue 5) and a SS preamp/ CD player  (Musical Fidelity CD PRE 24).

I have had this set-up in place for the last 20 years, so it has stood the test of time.

For the last 6 or so years, I have been using ZU Audio Dirty Weekender floor-standers as the primary speakers.  

The ZU's are very efficient, so the PL provides plenty of power.  The house sound of the ZU's is very alive sounding, which the tubes compliment well.  

There's also a Technics 1210 TT in the mix.

No desire to upgrade or change.

Rich 

https://www.stereophile.com/content/musical-fidelity-cd-pre24-cd-player-preamplifier

https://6moons.com/audioreviews/primaluna/primaluna_2.html

OP, if you don't really want to deal with tube power amp with many tubes in it, just get Gryphon Diablo 300 integrated used. Your speakers will be delighted, Gryphons can handle almost anything. Optional DAC and phono stage are excellent. This is a true audiophile machine. Gryphons do not pretend to imitate tube sound in any way, they offer different high class transistor sound. I almost bought Gryphon Diablo 120 integrated but at the last moment went with VAC tube integrated. 

"tubey" sound is the term to actually describe specific colouration.

tube sound is something different, it is to describe naturalness palpability textures and correct soundstage presentation.