Forgive the newbie questions, but I’m trying to learn the basics here. If I have a CD player, I cannot just hook that to a regular amplifier and then out to the speakers. But if I had an integrated amplifier, I could go CD -> integrated amp -> speakers. Do I have that correct?

The reason I ask is that I’m trying to figure out a system for my uses: 95% music and 5% movies. I don’t care quite as much about the sound quality during movies, but I certainly do care for 2 channel listening. So I was thinking of getting a cheap $400 A/V receiver to use for movies. And the receiver would have pre outs for adding an amp to the main speakers for 2 channel music. But I don’t want the cheap receiver to degrade sound quality for music. So the receiver should have a bypass. And with the bypass, the setup would be CD -> receiver in bypass -> integrated amp -> speakers. And I could not do that with a regular amp, it has to be integrated. Do I have all this correct?

If anyone has recommendations for such a receiver, I’m all ears.

Related simple question: If I’m using an integrated amp and want to add more power, I cannot just add another regular (not integrated) amp between the integrated amp and speakers? I’d have to change the integrated amp for something more powerful. Correct?

Is my thinking OK on all this? Thanks.