Signal degration over length, source vs. output ?

With tube amps, I would favor keeping the speaker cables on the short side. Two reasons, mainly: first is that tube amps give their push with voltage instead of current, so limiting the voltage drop from amp out to speaker will conserve power - which is meager to begin with.
Second is that tubes have a very low damping factor. Long run speaker cables decrease the damping factor which makes it more likely that voltage will be reflected back along the speaker cables. Long cables are capacitive and will store and reflect the voltage back to the speaker, resulting in a loss of coherence as the voltage starts to oscillate.

Other factors do come into play and there are many permutations with length, common mode noise, ground loops, impedance swings etc., etc., so there's no easy answer IMO.

You gave us no indication as to the source, but if the pre amp is a low output impedance/high gain solid state, then I think the IC's will have less of an impact than the speaker cables with respect to length only. Again, this is VERY general - with no particular equipment as a reference.

Here's the system I'm talking about:
CD - Mission PCM4000 (1987) to be updated when cash reserves return
Pre-amp - Cary SLP-74
Power - Cary CAD 300SE monos
Room is 20'X12' but to preserve the design, (or so she insists), the system will have to be placed against a side wall so 1 speaker will be about 8 to 10 feet away from the pre-amp and source.

The lengths you describe are not a real concern either way but I still prefer shorter speaker cables.

The reason for my preference is that the connection between the preamp and amp is impedance-defined for the transfer of voltage and, assuming decent cable and appropriate impedances of the preamp out and power amp in, the only loss will be voltage. That is easily compensated for by a little touch on the VC.

The amp to speaker interface needs to transfer power (voltage and current) and the input of the speaker (almost any of them) varies widely in impedance. Increasing cable length increases resistance and reduces power transfer but also does so in a manner that varies with frequency due to the varying load.

All that assumes near ideal equipment and really long runs. Your setup is not stressful.

You might just try it both ways. If you notice no differance, then just do what is convenient. having said that, I agree with the above post. 8 to 10 feet is no big deal either way.

Kr4: Since your concern is with loss of power transfer, which do you think "loses" more power / signal ?

A) A long run of 20 gauge or thinner wire ( as commonly found in most interconnects )

OR

B) A long run of 14 gauge or heavier wire ( as commonly found in most speaker cables )

As far as the "voltage losses" that can be compensated for with the volume control, that is not just "voltage" that you've lost, it is a dynamic part of the signal. Since the losses are most likely to take place when the least amount of signal / voltage is present, the likely effect is that one will lose low level information. This results in the masking of subtle details. While some may mistake this loss of signal or noise transfer as a reduction in the systems' noise floor i.e. a "blacker background" due to NO noise or signal being present at very low levels, it is in all actuality, a reduction in resolution and dynamic range.

Obviously, there are pro's and con's to each method. If your system is carefully thought out and uses conductors that are suitable for passing the quantity of signal that will be in operation without incurring measurable amounts of series resistance, chances are, either method will work "okay". Sean
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