Interconnects - better before preamp or after preamp?

Done what you're asking on two different systems with different cables (Cardas and Analysis Plus) two times.  In both cases best results were with better cables from source to pre.

djones51

4,855 posts

09-14-2022 at 08:28pm 

I wouldn't worry about it.

This surprises no one. I'm sure of it.......

Here's an exception..  I had Nordost Frey 2 in both locations.  Swapping Tyr 2 between pre and power was much better.  Logic says once the signal deteriorates there's no getting it back and I agree.  It must be something else.  The Frey and Try have identical architecture differing only in the number of conductors.  My take is the larger signal after the pre was better handled by the added conductors of the Tyr.  With the Tyr between the source and pre there was little increase in SQ.  I swapped back and forth a few times to make sure.

noromance +3.

Basic rule of system building that will will give you better results than most other approaches; many which simply keep us chasing our sonic tails.

Every component, including cabling will degrade the signal to some degree. NO component can “improve” the signal and the best we can hope for is that the component will degrade the signal as little as possible, Of course, how much any one component degrades the signal is not an absolute; electrical compatibility with the component that preceded as well that which followed will also be a factor. In short:

Any information lost on the way from A to B cannot be recovered by C (upstream).

This approach has worked for me, Good luck.

Every component, including cabling will degrade the signal to some degree. NO component can “improve” the signal and the best we can hope for is that the component will degrade the signal as little as possible, Of course, how much any one component degrades the signal is not an absolute; electrical compatibility with the component that preceded as well that which followed will also be a factor.

                                                 EXACTLY!

                       NO cable can possibly improve your signal.

         The goal is to compromise the signal's integrity as little as possible.

     Think of cables as windows, between your components.     Just a single dirty one, anywhere in your system, will result in a compromised reproduction of your music.