I would imagine if you did a blind test you would not be able to detect a difference. Someone should do this with twenty people present,
It's been done countless times.
I ran a blind speaker cable test @ AES in the 80s. After a few days running the test, I wrote on my page "Too tired to tell." Up to that point, I had 84% correct. At the end of the test, barely better than 50% correct. Ditto others in other tests [Tube v SS and Absolute Polarity]. Those that did well in one test usually did well in the others.
Note the tests were just rooms in [convention center? / hotel?] with poor sonics, moderate ambient noise and random interruptions.
An interesting side note is that towards the end of the test several listeners wrote C or N or ? for their choice in some tests. When we examined the tests, the non A/B choices correlated fairly well. We later determined the DAT error correction was messing up on the tape which had been played 100's of times. Sometimes the test is faulty. Any showroom comparison is certainly invariably so to determine suitability for your system
unless it has the same equipment and room as yourself.
Some people can tell almost all the time, some about half and some never. That so many got it right in such abysmal conditions strongly endorses for audibility.
The AES committee running the tests concluded there was no difference.
When I ran an analog design team, we had some brilliant engineers. Some had great hearing and others not so much. We did completely blind testing in our sound lab. The candidate sat in the listening position and had to identify changes. The candidate had no communication with the test personnel as one could not see nor hear the other. They got to hear A and B as often as required. Then they had to choose A or B from 20 random playings. Guessing was not permitted. Acceptable choices were A B or ? for can't tell. Some did consistently well and some not.
Note that in some systems, a part / cable / component will be identifiable by some ALL of the time and in another system NONE.
I once participated in an evaluation of a new digital console for one of the major Japanese manufacturers against the competition. After the first play of each, I got up and left the room. The manufacturer's representative came out and asked me why I left after only 1 play. I told him that was all that was necessary. I re-entered the room when the blind testing started and got it correct 100% of the time as did a few others. Like any such test with a random selection of participants, there were some who could detect no difference.
Some will say but "There's a big difference between an amp / DAC / digital console and a mere wire." All are moving energy from one place to another, so if one device can impart a flavor why then can't all.
Those who can tell freely admit there are those that can't. If only the reverse were true.
