SS Preamp with Tube Amp?

If you can understand why the sonic charcter of any system is determined 85% or more by the amp/speaker (and speaker cable) combo, then you'll understand that if you want "tube sound" then you need a tube amp -- i.e., a tube preamp and a ss amp won't do it (contrary to what many people think ;-) Also, tube preamps make tube noise which is amplified by the amplifier. Tube amplifiers by themselves (genreally speaking) make no noise.

I drive my McIntosh MC275 with a Mark Levinson 26s preamp and the system is quiet, fast, and beautifully balanced sonically speaking. The main attributes of a preamp should be accuracy and blackest background. Since preamps do not process (amplify) the signal, but rather simply select sources and attenuate their output (volume control ;-) there's not much they can do to adulterate the signal, so may as well have a quiet preamp and go SS IMO.

After that, the amp and speakers will determine what your system actually sounds like.

My Capri with VAC Auricle Musicblocs is a nice combination. Prior to getting the VAC amps the RM-10 was on my short list to use with the Capri.

FWIW I also like, and to a degree prefer, a passive preamp in front of tube amps. I'm using a couple different ones in my system right now. The Lightspeed attenuator and the Slagleman Autoformer Volume Control.

No, you miss the point of tubes. Best way to tell is get a dealer to loan you a tube pre, any make, and give it a try.

Nsgarch IMO your wrong..Ive never know anyone that thinks "85% or more" of the system is the amp/speaker and the remaining 15% or less is the source/ pre-amp/cable/room treatment/power,thats just silly..My tube pre is the heart of my system..

I ran a Klyne 6LX3p pre amp with vtl 225's,manley ref 440/200 and cary slam 100's with excellant results;unless there is a gross mismatch of preamp to amp mating I don't see why your plan would not work;also Buconero117 idea of a loaner from a dealer is not a bad idea.