separate system for just music?

Simple as possible? Look for an integrated amp (combo of an amp and preamp). If your cd player has a volume control you could get away with just an amp but I recommend going with an integrated.

I feel a good amp with lots of power is the backbone behind good music. Those integrated ones just don't seem to cut it for me. So in order to make it work, I need a preamp to hook up a cd player to an amp?

First, I doubt a separate system for music is common practice, but I haven't seen any credible surveys to support that conclusion.

Second, unless you plan on a separate room for music, speaker placement is like to be a greater consideration than amp selection. I can imagine a set up in which in-wall speakers are used for HT and a pair of free standing speakers for music.

The only advantage of separate systems that I can envision is HT processing seems to be changing more rapidly than music processing, and replacing high-end HT processors that have become obsolete can get expensive. I'm happy living with a bit of obsolescence in a single system, but if my preamp supported pass-through I'd probably add an Integra processor -- doubt I want to deal with level matching issue from just plugging a processor output into an unused preamp input.

db

I have maintained separate 2-channel and HT/secondary 2-channel systems for many years.

I have 2 systems in one. My 2 channel preamp has cinima pass through. I listen to mostly vinyl and is why I went this way. I am thinking of seperating the 2 system because of grounding issues though. If I did not listen to vinyl then I would have only 1 system and it wound be the HT system I have now. It sounds great for 2 channel digital sources. If you are going to a ht processor make sure you can update it with software. HT system change much more often than 2 channel. If you cannot upgrade it then you will be replacing it in a year or so.
IMHO.

I have 2 separate systems and am quite happy. The theater is no slouch. However, my 2 channel is a nice little tube set up with vinyl and cd. The theater is in my basement and is really set up for theater and 5 channel audio.

My 2 channel is in my office and is set-up for much better imaging.

Both are equal quality with totally different personalities. Yes, I change amps with my moods.