tube pre/compressor

[smokescreensam]

I don't have any tube gear of any kind.is it worth getting?i have some pretty clean pre's but i want somethin to give the sound something different,is it better to get a tube mic, tube, compressor, tube pre and something completely different?i was looking at the TL Audio gear, any good?On a budget so opinion within the £300 range would be good!
Thanks a lot.
Sam

 

[Torniojaws]

From what I've gathered, you can push tube gear over the limit (no digital distortion, the ugliest possible distortion there is) and it'll actually sound pretty good. That is, if it's proper tube equipment, not a solid state device with a nice and hot reading lamp attached to it for shits and giggles