rebel,
Now if you want to experience a tube preamp one of the cheapest ways is to go to audiogon.com and look for a Bottlehead (foreplay) this is a preamp that you can purchase usually for about $200.00 used or buy a kit to build for the same price. I did this! I have my forepay connected to my Marantz MM9000 power amp. that I had just sitting around this is hooked up to a set of Axiom M3ti speakers in my computer room and I just love the experience. If you decide you don't like the Tube Setup you can resell the Preamp on audiogon and loose nothing but your time. TRY IT YOU MIGHT LIKE IT, I DO.. I also love all my SS stuff.
