Which has a greater effect on music,int.amp or CD?

Just a follow up post. Went to NY (Mt. Kisco)today and listened to the ARC integrated and CD w/Hot Rod Kestrals. The ARC's are VERY well built and had a nice smooth sound (a la Kestrals) with Krall, Merchant, etc. However, it didnt do it with rock. With my "From the Cradle" CD from Clapton, It sounded like there was a veil on the music, that I was in the nose bleed seats. With Creed too (yes, I do.) Important find for me out of all of this is that it seems I like more neutral sounding music than I first thought. So, I guess another look at Arcam, Creek, Cambridge, Rotel etc.

One final note, if demoing call and make sure that the dealer you are going to in fact has the brand name you are interested in. The dealer I went to listed YBA in their most recent ad in Stereophile but when asked they said they didnt carry anymore. This is the second dealer I have come across with this issue. Anyway, thank you all for your above comments. On with the hunt....

How about a used Sony SCD-777ES or DVP-S9000ES and a used Manley Stingray integrated. The Sony players are solid in the bass, have SACD capability, very good redbook, and numerous options for modding. Used prices range from $650 for the 9000, to $1500 for the 777. The Manley Stingray is a tube unit that may soften the digital artifacts and provide excellent reproduction, and looks real cool, too. Rated at 50wpc. I've seen used ones for $1199.

Speakers have the greatest effect on any system! followed by a matching amplifier.

I know that you did say "excluding speakers," but if it was a "rock & roll system" I wanted to put together I think what I would do is try out some of the speakers that the rockers consider to be "rock & roll speakers" (I am not really a rocker, but I was thinking of what I have read about some of the JBLs that are on the market) and then find a tube amp that could drive them hard.  I have never had any experience with Mac gear at all, but I have read that the Mac tube amps are known for a "fat warm sound" which might be what you are looking for.  And I believe that Mac makes some amps with plenty of wpc.  As far as the CDP, I think that is slightly putting the cart before the hores, as I'd think finding a warm and richly colored preamp would be the priority.  I would agree with those that have stated that the CDP should be good enough to accurately reproduce the rock & roll you want to hear on the disc itself, however there are CDPs available with selectable filters, so that might be something to consider.

But with all that above typed, I think that a reasonably good system ought to be able to deliver the punch of rock & roll or the intricacies and intimacies of chamber music, and most all of the music in between.  But with that last sentence typed, although I think that my system can rock out on the rare occasions that I ask it to, what I consider rocking out might not be warm enough for you to enjoy. 

. . . thinking back, I remember, back in the '90s, trying out a Mesa Baron dual monoblock-in-one chassis- tube amp. I remember perceiving that as a heavily colored and warm sounding amp, and I also remember during the course of that audition (I had it for a weekend and it was playing pretty much the whole time) that I enjoyed what it did with rock & roll.  You might consider doing some seraches for one of those used, although I rarely see one these days.