When I used Transparent Audio Cables, they recommended source to pre as most important, then speaker cables, then pre to amp...I have generally found that to be true...
Where to put best interconnects
Getting a new tube pre-amp into tube mono blocks with one CDP as front end. Will have one very good, new set of XLRs to use and one good but much older set, each at 1.5M. Where to place the better set?