Which is the most important part of a stereo system?

@tweak1  Terry9, and anyone else who thinks cables are least important:
you couldn’t be more wrong"

So you think that cables are more important than the speakers? Amplifiers? Preamp? Phono? Turntable? Tonearm? Or cartridge?

And what is your evidence? I mean a real test, not a gut feeling.

I did the test. I built a special cabinet to be a Faraday cage, then used theoretically optimal 99.99% pure silver conductors inside teflon tubular insulators which barely contacted the conductors, which were separated by 50mm for near-zero capacitance. ETI connectors. Compared to premium microphone cable with ETI connectors. Difference negligible.

The specific model of epitaxial output transistors, from the same manufacturer, same technology, and same family, made far more difference. As did the resistance of the amp's circuit breaker. Lots of things make a difference, and even cabling does to some extent. But nothing compared to an entire component. And next to nothing in terms of benefit related to cost.

terry9

I did the test. I built a special cabinet to be a Faraday cage, then used theoretically optimal 99.99% pure silver conductors inside teflon tubular insulators which barely contacted the conductors, which were separated by 50mm for near-zero capacitance. ETI connectors. Compared to premium microphone cable with ETI connectors. Difference negligible.

>>>>>Strictly speaking, that is not a scientifically valid test. That’s the problem generally with cable tests and cable comparisons. There are variables that are not accounted for in the test. Examples:cables not sufficient broken in; cables not cryod; cables’’ directionality not accounted for; the possibility of errors in the test system. Therefore I am inclined to throw your test out. 

Years ago, WireWorld invented a Cable Comparator. It accepts several interconnects. It has a shift knob to quickly switch between them

Obviously that wouldn’t solve the problem.

For me there is no singular most "important" component.  Rather, there are important choices in the development of a system.

In no special order, type of speaker, i.e. planar, box speaker, K-horn, etc.  The choice here will often lead to amplifier choice for a variety of well documented reasons.

Then there are source choices to be made. Are you a vinyl person, or do you stream, perhaps SACD / CDs acquired over tume.

Are you a tube enthusiast, either amplifier or pre amplifier?

Any of these choices could be the most important to you, but perhaps not me.  Thus, the fragmented nature of the discourse here.

So I will share my most important choice(s).  I am a Maggie fan and that has driven my amplifier choice as well as pre amp.  Others will have different first choices, there is mo right or wrong, just individual preference IMHO.