i definitely tink a toobed pre is the way to go. in my system, w/electrocompaniet s/s amps, i use a melos music director, which is outstanding, imho, & can be had for $1500-$2k, depending on age & exact iteration (ma-333/ma-333r/music director). later wersions had remote-control of balance & wolume, balanced outs were an option. in the $700-$1k range was the melos sha-gold/sha-gold-r/maestro. yust a small cut below the ma333 series. ewe will gain all the warmth of tubes, & lose none of the detail of good solid-state. also great dynamics.
doug s.