XLR cable placement

@marshinski15 

I have always had the best results placing the best cables from the source into the preamp. I just did a demo of Audioquest's Dragon compared to my Thunderbirds (from my preamp into my amp). I was surprised that the Thunderbirds held their own and were not bettered significantly by the Dragons. 

I'd start with DAC to Preamp. Then move. While it is logical that the furthest up the chain will have the greatest impact, components are different and react differently.... so, it still might make a bigger difference elsewhere. But I'd start with the DAC.

I am a believer that the most important and best cable should be between the preamp and amp, then the most used source and so on.

without knowing the cables in question…a general rule I follow…If both cables are copper with one model just higher up the line from the other, best interconnect should be between the preamp and amp. If you have silver and copper I would put the silver between source and pre then copper between pre and amp. If both are silver…good luck!
 

@jeffreyw yep….i’ve had the top 4 in my reference system for an extended loan… and it’s a toss up…. even “ lowly Pegasus “ is a fantastic value imo…

to the OP… experimentation is free…