Tube vs SS Amp with a All Tube Preamp

what are you looking for? more resolution, more detail, bigger soundstage, more imaging precision, etc.

Without any specific amplifiers being mentioned or brought up for comparison, I really find this impossible to answer.
How can this be generalized?

What is faster, a sedan or an SUV? Can anyone answer this question?

Audphile1, your right, and at the same time I think it is possible to answer the general question. Assuming you can distinquish between the general sonic signature of tubes versus SS, does having a tube pre and amp get your more of the tube performance than what is generally possible by just using a tube pre amp with an SS amp. I'm not going to argue whether or not with some of the best equipment there is a convegence of the performance of tubes with SS and vice versa (I've not yet heard evidence of that, but some claim there is and perhaps it is so)- but as a general answer to a general question, I think Newbee's response at the start of thread is basically right, but of course with specific equipment and combinations the general "rule" might not apply - that is true. So yes, if you get a tube amp, there will generally be more "tubiness" than if you use a tube preamp with a SS amp IMHO. Now if the SS amp were a Pass Aleph, or Ayre VX1, perhaps less so.

Pubul57, you made your point. Agreed, as far as general idea....but still we are really not even scratching a surface.

I still think that without mentioning a specific product, we are simply applying buzzwords to stereotypes.

Sorry. I guess I am bit particular when it comes to questions like this.

Audphile 1, I generally agree with you.