Where to put the better cable.

Try them both ways and stay with which one sounds better to you. All gear reacts differently to different cables. Also keep in mind that the signal has to pass through both cables either way.

If you are using more than a CD, then putting it between the preamp and power amp will improve all the gear plugged into the preamp; not just the CD.

My most "expensive ($$$)" cable is between the CD and preamp, HOWEVER , the cable between the preamp and power amp is the best cable for that position, even though it cost less than half what the other cost. It has better "PRAT" in the pre/power position than any other cable I've tried regardless of price or assumed quality. It simply works period...

The same goes for my FM tuner. It has the best cable for it I've tried, not the most expensive.

The "better" cable should be the one that sounds better. Forget about price or quality of materials, etc..

I agree try both ways

Obviously, (though I would go cdp to pre/ always the source) no clear cut answer here. Let the ole tympanics decide for you. They'll never steer you wrong...peace, warren

It doesn't matter a whole lot. Remember, your system is only as good as its weakest link.

Try both ways, but if the lower "quality" (whatever that means) cable is really junk than you're better off NOT using it at all, and at least substituting a known inexpensive reference IC for comparisons. An easy wnner here is the $20 Canare StarQuad mic cable the pro recording engineers use. Try TWO of them, substituting your "better" cable in each place sequentially. Try to have a buddy help you for a single-blind setup, so you don't confuse cost with "quality", as you put it. Cheers.