I've no quarrel with starting with the source. I would caution against starting with amplifiers, at least until you have selected a style of speaker. Will you choose cones, planars, electrostatics ... monitors, full-range .... a subwoofer ...? These choices will have a huge impact on what amplifiers will be necessary and suitable, let alone preferences among them. At least the source components are pretty much free of this critical interdependency.
2 channel system?
in a 2 channel system (cd player or integrated amps) which component affects the sound the more? im looking to upgrade gradually and im wondering which component will have a more direct impact on the sound? i understand that matching of components is very important and all parts play an important role in the overall sound? but in your opinion which one affects it more? thanks in advance.