Good question Wayne. I know there is some debate as to whether using tube driven pre-amp/SS amp is of any value in terms of sound quality. I actually just stumbled on this combo. I had the Anticipation upgrade lying around for more than a year and was not using the Foreplay. Just for kicks I put it together and tried it with the GC and found the sound to be real lively and defined. It's funny because I decided to put the Carver TFM 60/ foreplay in just to see if it too would sound good and to be frank it was dull and boring. So I thought hey; this is one cheapie combo that really sounds good this way, but I can't speak for any other systems. To be truthfull I have never been a fan of mix and match. Mostly I found you get the worst of both worlds, a sort of glaze over the sound that flatters niether the tube pre or the SS amp. I am not sure what the output impedance is on the Foreplay maybe that has an impact. I suggest anyone with an FP try it on the GC. It reminds me of the sound we got with the Stoetkit. Some of the best of Tube and SS. How's that amp working for you?