Tube preamp vs Tube cd player

I have done both... and prefer option 1). I have SS cd player and an AVA tube pre-amp with an AVA Synergy 300 power amp.

I have had tube power amps (Ayon). Sound great... but unreliable. Power amp tubes blow all the time and sometimes cause damage to other portions of the electronics as they go down.

The tube pre- adds some smoothness. A power amp (like the AVA) that is not harsh --- together, they make a great pairing.

3) Tube CD player, Tube preamp, Tube amplifier.

I have the ss REGA Osiris amp and the REGA ISIS valve cdp
= marriage made in heaven.

"so in an ideal setup, which do you prefer?

1) "SS" cd player, tube preamp, "SS" poweramp
2) tube cd player, "ss" preamp, "SS" power amp"

This question really can't be answered. You're not taking into account the differences between similar components. For example, if you listen to 5 cd players, they will all sound different from each other. You need to look at actual products, not generic.

Try a tube CD or DAC. You probably won't go back. Less fatigue and more musical. Add NOS tubes even better. There is a reason tube output stage conversions are made for SS CD players. Not the other way around.