How important is the amp?

No amp, no sound.

Good amp up to the task of driving speakers to their max, great sound.

Then there is everything else in between.

So it's pretty important I would say.

10-09-15: Danoroo
In the sense that an amplifier is a fundamental and necessary component to any audio system, they are important. As far as it's contribution to the quality of the sonic signature the system produces, provided it is functioning properly and is of adequate power to properly drive the speakers attached to it....not so important. I would think components' affect on sound quality ranks something like this:

sorry but i strongly disagree.
do not underestimate the amp-speaker electrical interface. many people here on Audiogon (& other places) have gotten themselves into loads of trouble both electrically & sonically by blowing this off.
The amp is a major part. You get this interface wrong & all your hard work for the components upstream is flushed down the toilet.

Like it or not, the amp is the heart of the system. It's absolutely not the pre amp. Only one of these can be eliminated without consequence. I find the synergy factor laughable except for certain speakers requiring specific characteristics. I've owned lots of speakers and amps and have always been able to identify the amp regardless of whatever else is in the system. So you always end up listening to your amp no matter what other changes you've made. I challenge anyone to not recognize the sound of their amp through any and all changes they've made. It's the only component in the chain that this can be attributed to.

All components can't have equal billing and that's where the problem arises. Every component has a loyal and fervent (almost religious) following. Having said that, the biggest distortion generator in the audio chain is the speaker. Hands down.

Amps can bring out the subtle differences that amount to greater pleasure and yes, it all depends on the interfaces between amp and speaker but isn't that already an established fact? Its should be easy enough to consult someone on the matter on what to look for and stay within those parameters when choosing a speaker for your amp.

On the other hand, once you've decided on speakers, you'll have a much wider choice when dealing with amps.

As frustrating as it can be when dialing in one's system, it's been my experience that it's the best speaker we can afford that completes it.

All the best,
Nonoise

Having used dozens of amps on dozens of different speakers my finding is thus:

Tube/SS has a relative importance when matching impedance, however, the sound quality of the amp is every bit as important. Often though a tube or SS amp is not theoretically ideal, it will still sound holistically better than the alternative.

In terms of importance of components of an audio system:
The source is critical
The link from the source is critical
The power cord on the source is critical
The DAC or analogue preamp is critical
The power cord to the DAC/pre is critical
The Interconnects (anywhere) are critical
The Integrated amp is critical
The Amp (SS or tube) is critical
The power cords to the amp(s) are critical
The speaker cables are critical
The speakers are critical

Having used cables with passive electronics in them, power conditioners, and tweaks with questionable benefits, I do not consider any of them critical because I find them all to be as subtractive in terms of sound as additive.

The audiophile is free to discount any one or several of these elements, but in so doing you can rest assured you will get nowhere near SOTA sound. :)

Think of it like the human body; which system in operation in the human body would you like to dispense with? The endocrine? Sympathetic nervous system? Circulatory? Excretory? Lymbic? Reproductive? Skeletal? etc.
Now, which of the systems (discrete parts of an audio system) do you think is dispensable?

Nuf said.