I would have to agree with Rives. The *room* is the most important. I recently moved to a new house and was startled at how different all my gear sounded. But I knew it was going to sound different anyway.
First, make sure your room is acoustically right. Then choose the speakers for your room. Then choose an amp to run the speakers. Then a preamp for your amp, and finally the source.
For quick demonstration of the importance of room acoustics, take your current speakers into your bedroom. Or push them flat against the wall. It will sound massively different. Now, swap your CD player for another make. The difference will be more subtle.
First, make sure your room is acoustically right. Then choose the speakers for your room. Then choose an amp to run the speakers. Then a preamp for your amp, and finally the source.
For quick demonstration of the importance of room acoustics, take your current speakers into your bedroom. Or push them flat against the wall. It will sound massively different. Now, swap your CD player for another make. The difference will be more subtle.