Knownalien, a tube buffer like the Yaqin at $175 (if you don't mind buying a Chinese product; a recent Absolute Sound says they're putting out a lot of tube stuff now) or a Musical Fidelity at about twice as much (if you'd rather not deal directly with Chinese brands), installed between preamp and power amp, will give you most of the "sweetness" and "musicality" of tube amps for a LOT less money. My Yaqin, bought before the Tibet troubles started, really works.