It’s always nice to read a report such as this from a self-acknowledged cable skeptic. That’s why I dismiss the arguments by those skeptics who simply refuse to listen or experiment.
Indeed. I myself grew up with Julian Hirsch and Stereo Review and was as big a cable skeptic as ever you'll find. Had all the usual electrical and wire gauge arguments memorized and ready to trot out like a good little parrot all day long. Totally bought into that whole wire don't matter its overpriced snake oil for people with more money than brains schtick.
Ha! That changed fast the minute I actually started listening and comparing. Within about a year I had heard a very high end system that sounded awesome in no small part to having MORE money in cables than components. TWICE as much!
Now many years later I don't know which I find more amazing: that some insanely expensive stuff manages to sound so good it almost seems a bargain, or that some bargain priced stuff manages to sound better than some really expensive stuff- or that some people still don't get that this is all for real.