1 pair of good interconnects- which 2 components should I use them on?

If you only have one pair of good interconnects, it doesn't matter where you use them.  The rest of the system will drag down your performance.

Thank you nirodah35, IMHO, it's difficult to improve or a poor sounding once it's left the source. 

N

Hi: Cables are a tough one! Everyone seems to have a favorite? Mine are mostly Purist Audio Design. I lucked into a "stash of them" at almost yard sale prices! I plugged in a pair of Proteus between my Old Audio Research SP5 and D100A...and they came ALIVE!!! The Proteus was missing a tooth, so I got them free. The Retail was $2495.00.SCORE! I had Kimber PBJ in there before( Still a very good cable). I am always on the hunt for cable? You never know what someone else has given up on? Great and very expensive cable can sometimes push your system towards Brightness or Analytical sound. Cable seems to be a QUEST for what sounds good to you, what you can find and afford now and the future; plus what matches with your equipment in your acoustic environment. Experimentation I believe is key. If you have a "static" situation, replace one set of cables to see how it affects (YOUR) sound. There is so much information on forums that can help. Proteus is a keeper! Go to the next need and build brick by brick; keeping a solid foundation, so you always know where you are at in your system process. Who thinks they will get a $2495.00 RCA cable for free. It turned out to be the foundation of my whole system. I bought Purist IEC's, XLRs more Proteus RCAs and several speaker cables( Venustas) and all at Best Buy cable prices; from that same source. I got more equipment to utilize the cable! Backwards compatible way of building a system? The cable was older, so there were reviews and information to avoid common pitfalls of mismatched equipment. Stranger than fiction? I bought an Audio Research PH3 just to utilize the two pair of longer Proteus and they retailed at +$5,000.00 each. My Phono section retails in at $12,000.00 list? My cost around $1,000.00! That is how I ended up improving and upgrading my system. I like the sound, I am very happy. I dreamed big but was still budget minded. Just something to think about on your (Neverending?) Quest for cable. Your whole Life is in front of you! Enjoy the Quest.

I bought an Audio Research PH3 just to utilize the two pair of longer Proteus and they retailed at +$5,000.00 each. My Phono section retails in at $12,000.00 list? My cost around $1,000.00!

The Audio Research PH3 did not retail for $12,000. It sold new for $1495, then went up to $1995.

If you are buying the Purist Audio cables as cheaply as you claim, I can almost guarantee you that they are fake.  Lots of counterfeit cables are out there.

You are right about the PH3. I must have written that poorly? I do count the cables as part of the Phono - section. Since that seemed to fit the best use for them, I needed a "Box" for two pair of idle RCAs.  The cables were an estate situation from a guy I work with and trust! Did not want to get into that part too much? They are fairly old cables...and lose lots of retail value over that much time. More to the point of "How do you choose cables to build a system on a Budget" That is what I did and how I did it. I look for older cable that were/ are highly regarded; and had a high retail price. MSRP of 20 years ago; can be a RED FLAG as to some good cable! They were most likely written about and reviewed then and since; if they have a high MSRP? Then as a Kid I could only dream about an RCA that MSRP at +$5000.00? A PH3 as a kid was a dream too $1995.00 for a Phono section only? You can get a used PH3 for around $700. I could not hope to sell the PH3 and three pair or proteus for $12,000.00. Mr. Aud and Mr. Johnson thought they could in the 1990's; and they did! That is more to the point that I failed to convey. Do some research, check some history and read reviews from days gone by. There might be Gold in them thar hills? I definitely struck gold! It came after 30 years of prospecting. Sorry for not being more articulate and clear.