newbie question on TUBE gears.

I think a SS preamp with a tubed amp is a good idea.

If owning SS gear is idiot proof, then owning tubed gear is downright
simple. Just get an amp that is self biasing, and also one with a tube
sentry circuit, if possible. The tube sentry circuit shuts down the amp
before any damage can be done if a tube goes bad. These are fairly
common features these days.

Good replacement tubes for power amps need not be expensive
depending on the type of tube. Mini tubes for preamps are substantially
more expensive for the good stuff, IMO. There are always exceptions,
and I'm sure others will respond with mind blowingly expensive power
tubes, but you don't need the expensive power tubes to get outstanding
results.

Have fun. No worries.

1. Is it ok to mix and match SS preamp and tube poweramp?

ABSOLUTELY. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. MANUFACTURERS EVEN MAKE WHAT THEY CALL HYBRID INTEGRATEDS. MUSICAL FIDELITY EVEN SELLS WHAT'S CALLED A TUBE BUFFER THAT PEOPLE CAN INSERT INTO THEIR SS SYSTEM.

2. How often do you need to replace the tubes?

YOU NEED TO REPLACE A TUBE WHEN IT FAILS PREMATURELY, DIES BECAUSE ITS DONE OR BECAUSE YOU WANT TO "ROLL" THEM.

A TUBE FAILING PREMATURELY IS RARE. I KNOW IT HAPPENS BUT IT'S NEVER HAPPENED TO ME AND I DON'T KNOW ANYONE WHO HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN. MOST TUBES WILL LAST THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF HOURS. YOU WILL MOST LIKELY EITHER ROLL THE TUBES OUT OR SELL YOUR EQUIPMENT BEFORE YOU HAVE TO CHANGE A TUBE THAT HAS RUN ITS COURSE. TUBE ROLLING IS PART OF THE ALLURE OF OWNING TUBE EQUIPMENT. YOU WILL PROBABLY WANT TO EXPERIMENT WITH DIFFERENT TYPES (KT88 VS. 6550) AND/OR BRANDS.

3. How easy/hard to get extra tubes and the cost?

ANYONE CAN FIND ANY POPULAR TUBE TYPE ANYTIME. THE "HARD" PART IS EDUCATING YOURSELF ABOUT TUBE REPUTATIONS AND THEN DECIDING ON WHAT TO GET. OF COURSE, YOU'LL PROBABLY END UP TRYING DIFFERNT TYPES UNTIL YOU FIND THE ONES YOU LIKE. THERE ARE NOS TUBES THAT TEND TO BE RARE (THEY'RE NOT MAKING ANYMORE NOS TUBES!!) AND NEW TUBES THAT ARE ABUNDANT AND COST LESS. JUST LIKE ANYTHING, THERE'S A WIDE RANGE OF VARIETY AND PRICE

4. How easy/hard to replace the tubes? Is it easy enough to DIY or do you need to take it to dealers?

IF YOU CAN SCREW IN A LIGHT BULB YOU CAN REPLACE A TUBE

TRY TO GET SOMETHING THAT HAS AUTOBIAS IN THE DESIGN

Thanks guys...

I was thinking about upgrading to Meridian 568 but decided to go separate path. Right not thinking about SS preamp with HT by path, Classe CP-50/60 or Audio Research. And thining about a tube power amp to match it. My current speaker is a pair of JM Lab Electra 926.

The 568 has a better pre-amp section in it over the 561. The 565 is also better but you don't get the PC set-up.

A pre-amp with HT pass through is not a bad idea. I think Meridian processors turn everything into digital and back to analog if you use the analog outputs. This may defeat some benefits of using a tube CD or dac on the input side.