To simplify things, without going into my own particulars, for playing CD's in an apartment that's carpeted in a normal sized living room, are you better off in terms of sound quality only not features, buying a good amp and a good preamp or just a good receiver? Assume you have good speakers. If the answer is a good amp/preamp, exactly how much better will the sound quality be. Assume your playing rock and blues music not classical music. Your insight welcome.

Also if the answer is a preamp/amp, how don't you need a 5.1 amp and preamp to play 5.1 DVD's?