Where to put best interconnects

This question always gets differing answers. 

What do you have for cables?

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!

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.

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

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.  

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.

@Lalitk

+1

@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.

@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. 

 

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. 

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...

@lalitk 

+ 2 …bigtime .,,

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.  

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

Thanks all!  

All cables matter, especially as I’ve upgraded components. For me it was equally important source to DAC, and DAC to preamp. SLIGHTLY less so, preamp to amp

If you’re using XLR cables, it’s assumed that the equipment it’s connecting are truly balanced. Unfortunately, this is not necessarily the case for all gear. But let’s assume it is for your gear. Then there’s the question of whether or not the manufacturer supports the Balanced Line standard. Unfortunately again, most do not. For the few that do, the balanced cable used becomes somewhat insignificant.

I believe Ralph Karsten at Atma-Sphere would say completely insignificant for those that follow the standard in that you will not be able to distinguish between any reasonably well-made cables. As i understand it, this standard was developed more than 50 years ago and is fully adopted in pro audio which allows them to use cables up to 200 feet without sonic loss (or coloration). 

If your amp and preamp follow this standard - you can use any decent well-designed cable and the results will be essentially indistinguishable from even very high end cables - by design. Again - most do not follow this standard. But the closer they get to it, the less impact.

I’ve found this true in my own set up.  I purchased very high end xlr cables for my equipment at the time because on audition they made a significant improvement. But with my new preamp and amp, I can no longer distinguish between them when it was remarkably easy to do so with the prior, less resolving gear. 

Bottom line - if your amp and preamp do not follow the standard, try it both ways to see which is better. If they do follow that standard, absolutely put the better cable between source and preamp because the former most likely doesn’t follow that standard.

For those that are skeptical of this - I can attest to it. And, I’ve got more invested in cables than most. 

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