I had an OctoPre coupled with my old 002R and it was OK. Nothing stellar, but it got the job done - much like the 002's pres. Some of the best preamps in the industry are not tube. Vintech's Neve clones, Manley, True Systems Precision 8, Crane Song, Great River...I mean the list goes on. None of those are tube but they are some of the most sought after preamps. Tube preamps are cool, I've worked with and owned Avalon VT-737sp preamps and while they were great and I may end up getting another some day in the future, they weren't necessarily better than any of the ss preamps that I have used or owned. Every preamp has it's own character, except when you start paying less money for them then they are just more and more transparent. Unless you are using some really great mics and in a good room, through good converters...I wouldn't say a tube preamp is the best route. Even if you did have great mics and a good room, tube pres aren't the best route. In my experience with tube preamps you are going to pay a lot of money for a lot less quantity. A single or even a dual mono tube pre can run pretty high ($2k), meanwhile you can get an 8-channel preamp for the same price and it honestly sounds just as good...maybe a little less colored or not quite as warm.
~006