ah, Nakamichi its brings memory of my old Sansui P,A,
speakin` about tubes and amplification:
Don`t think, that you have go for all tube staff.
To get warm tube sound in my system I use ART tube preamp, you may connect it virtually to any sound source and solid amps.
I use KRK studio monitor speakers bi- amped/hi and lo independent/ + aramid membrane active subwoofer.
Worth to mention, that high end hardware is as important, as acoustic isolation of the room.
I get incredible boost in sound quality, by adding bass traps and some foam tiles to my "sounds room" .
so,
in my opinion most important piece of hardware in the studio is preamp. /mixer/.
and cables..., we almost forget about it!
Speakers are equally important, but PA need to be just >clean< , high end solid state amp.,will do the job, then .
I added also DBX compressor - between CD ,or any digital sources,- for better sounds selection.
CD`s has 98db dynamic, it is to high for our ears .
You may add also BBE sound enhancer for extra wow, .
I did /have chance /to do comparison between :
Led Zeppelin - we all know them ,CDs and vinyls / original editions , not digital remasters/.
1st -US LP`s are different in sound from European editions , I prefer US printing!
2nd - to make it short - I don`t listening any more CDs of my favorite band from `70. /or doi`n it very rarely/
Particularly the 3rd!, my favorite one
maybe `cause there is lot of acoustic guitars,?