were should best cable go - CD or Preamp?

If you can't tell yourself, what does it matter what we say?
TRUST YOUR EARS!

Hi Grateful - this question will draw lots of different opinions so I will offer mine. I think the more revealing cable should go between preamp and amp depending on a variety of factors. First, the resolving quality of the pre and amp, if it is a budget system or more politely stated bang for the buck system, the better cable may need to go source to pre. But if you have a really revealing system then from my experience pre to amp, they need to be synergized totally to optimally pass the information along through the amp stage and bring out the best of the preamp and amp. Every cable in the chain has to synergize so the source connection shouldn't be a slouch either. I'm of the opinion that the preamp is the component that will affect the sound the most.

yes trust your ears

I have always found with multi sources putting the best cable from preamp to power amp so that all sources benefit from it. Since you are a single source, like the others said try it both ways.

If you are trying revealing silver cables, sometimes having a more neutral cable from pre to power helps to curb the bright bleached aspects of the silver. Experiment and stay with cables that synergize nicely. Use acoustical instruments as your gauge

I have single ended rca to my preamp. Preamp to power is balanced, so I bought a good balanced cable (Cardas Golden Cross) pre to power and experiment with different single ended cables from the sources.