Is it all in my head??

Elizabeth, it is easier to simply ignore the naysayers. I enjoy your posts, and so much appreciate your enthusiasm as a music listener. You, I and others are enjoying our money spent with after market power cords ( I still enjoy building them ), and you, I and others know what we are hearing. This is no different than hearing the difference between 2 different tubes. I wonder what would happen if these same naysayers went on a tube thread ( of which there are many ) and ranted that the differences heard between 2 tubes ( in the same circuit, of course ), might actually be in the imagination of the listeners. I really do not know why these naysayers keep at it, or why these differences we hear exist ( electrically or mechanically speaking ). I had my 1st system before some of these naysayers were born. I developed a love for this hobby. I placed myself in the business because I loved it. I trained my ears, and brain, to listen to the plethora of gear available, and to decipher various aspects of recorded music reproduction. I was a singer in a short lived band, and spent many years in a chorus. This, too, was a great learning experience, as it helped me ( in my teens and early twenties ) with the greater understanding of imaging, spatiality, depth, and the recreation of soundstage. It is when I knew, " dynamics ", was an area of sound reproduction that mattered a great deal to me. So, I have owned horns for over 40 years ( and oh, so much more ). My point ? They can say all they want about our imaginations. I will ignore them, their ignorance, and their fallibility when it comes to high end audio. Enjoy ! MrD.

+1 mrdecibel. It is nice to hears the sincere comments from ones like you and elizebeth and others. Not letting the other negative comments be responded to, because it changes the focus on the fine exchange of good thoughts. Just ignore the negative posts, as it always takes the discussion in a different direction.
And for the OP. Yes it is all in our head That’s where we perceive things, in our head. So it’s ok if there is no technical reason for what you hear. There are qualified individuals that say we cannot measure everything we hear. Just enjoy it. And thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Great post MrD! I especially like the way you described how  you settled on horns. I am not a horn person as my journey and preferences took me in another direction.

I would ignore the naysayers (and they are not all created equal) but sometimes the information they provide is presented as fact and may influence other enthusiasts perhaps discouraging them from trying new cables and products.