Where to put best interconnects

Thanks all!  

I was always under the impression that your best interconnects should be between the amp and preamp.

First-best option is between source and preamp.  

Second-best option is between preamp and amp. 

Easy to test.  Put your best at preamp to amp first. Listen for a while. 

Then, swap the best to the source-to-preamp, and notice the difference.  

@lalitk 

+ 2 …bigtime .,,

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...

 

jafreeman OP

691 posts

01-29-2025 at 03:00am 

Will place the better cables at source, according to Lalitk.  Have SR Atmosphere Eurphoria SX as the newer, and Transparent Reference from 2003 as older, which are ok, but not as revealing.  
 

try it in both places. You don’t want a bottleneck between pre and amp. Tone, focus, imaging, soundstage are mostly attributes of preamp and amp (speakers too of course but we’re talking interconnect). Yes source matters but I assume you already have a decent source and you definitely have a decent cable in transparent. I bet the system would shine much brighter with a better cable on pre to amp. But I’ve been wrong before…definitely try though. 

@jafreeman 

I have had the most improvement from source to preamp. I just auditioned a pair of Audioquest Dragons vs. Thunderbirds. I was astounded that the Thunderbirds held their own from preamp to amp; however, the Dragons were substantially better from source to preamp. 

@lalitk Double plus one ( points if you know this reference). I have tested my xlrs and for my gear the best connects from source to pre works best. As always, YMMV. Tax and title not included. Void where prohibited.

@Lalitk

+1

I’ve found that both the cable between my dac to preamp and preamp to amp make a difference. I’m using the same cable type for both. I couldn’t say which one is more important.

Will place the better cables at source, according to Lalitk.  Have SR Atmosphere Eurphoria SX as the newer, and Transparent Reference from 2003 as older, which are ok, but not as revealing.  

Best interconnects on amplifier. Best power cord on amplifier. Then work your way up the chain.

I use Audience AU24 SE on my sources to my preamp. I use Benchmark XLR's (25-feet and 15-feet for 2 systems) between my preamp and amp.

The preamp to amp connection did not benefit with the same Audience AU24 SE XLR when I tested it out by moving the preamp near the amp for testing.

If you have one very good new set of XLR cables and one older but still good set, the best placement depends on your system’s signal chain. 

Between the Source and Preamp: This is often the most critical connection because the signal is at its lowest level before amplification. Any improvements in shielding, conductivity, or overall cable quality will have the most noticeable impact here.

Between the Preamp and Power Amp: The signal is already amplified at this stage, so while cable quality still matters, it may have a slightly reduced impact compared to the source-preamp link.

Start by placing the better cables between the source and preamp and evaluate the sound. If the difference isn’t significant, try them between the preamp and power amp.

Let your ears decide!

This question always gets differing answers. 

What do you have for cables?