How important is the amp?

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.

Early in my career as an electronic circuit designer I released to the mechanical designer a circuit design I had created for a printed circuit board. The mechanical designer asked me to specify which interconnections within the module were critical. In doing so, he commented that "if all connections are critical, then no connections are critical."

Translation: See the first sentence of the well-stated post by Nonoise just above, with which I agree completely.

Regards,
-- Al

10-10-15: Nonoise
...... Having said that, the biggest distortion generator in the audio chain is the speaker. Hands down.

I agree Nonoise. I stated this in another thread not too long ago & was challenged by the fellow who makes the Lightspeed Attenuator preamp (the one that has optical coupling for signal propagation). He insisted that it was the preamp & that I would surprised it was the preamp hence his design effort to minimize the distortion from it. He pointed me to his white paper which was an OK read. I figured it would be a pissing match if I countered his argument.
In the end, I also agree speakers are the worst offenders but I learnt that not everyone agrees on this. This surprised me as it's so easy to hear the distortion thru speakers esp. if they are not time-coherent (which 99% in the market are not). Anyway, just a side comment FWIW.