Where to put best interconnects

Better cables will not always sound better on source to preamp? IME sometimes the better cables perform better from preamp to amp. Experiment always is the key and matching.

Best cables between source and preamp.  Once the signal degrades there is no repairing it downstream.

For me:

turntable (external tonearm*) - phono preamp

phono preamp - preamp

dac - preamp

preamp - amp

* have never changed internal tonearm cables myself, so can’t assess