Interconnect downstream flow

Your bias is correctomundo! The best should be on the source.
Happy Listening!

I would think any information lost between the source and the pre, could not be recovered or recreated down stream, no matter how much better that cable was.

I pick door "B" best cable between the source and pre, to retain as much of the original material as possible.

The system is only as good as the weakest link. If sound information is to be lost due to the cable, it doesn't matter if you have it below the source or below the preamp - you won't be retaining the "original material" anyway.

However, there still could be a better cable for either the source/preamp or the preamp/amp. This would be the case for cable capacitance and resistance susceptibility of your components. In this case, empirical testing stomps opinionated or developed rationale. Good luck!

I can agree with all of the posts above.

However, and while this is not your situation, but my own, I have put my best interconnect between the preamp and amp.
My reasoning is that I listen primarily to two sources, my turntable and my CD player. (Actually, I actually have three more sources, if I count the lessor sources, being my SACD player, my CD burner and my tuner). Having multiple sources means that all are going through my best interconnect, rather than my second, or third best.

Good choice on the Audience AU24 btw. I use that between my CD player and my preamp. (I use a Cardas Golden Reference between my preamp and amp.)

Look at the output impedance of the various electronics. Put the "good" interconnect out of the electronics with the highest output impedance. For example, your solid state CD player might be 50 ohms, and your tube preamp 600 ohms. The preamp needs all the help it can get.