Cables that measure the same but (seem?) to sound different


I have been having an extended dialogue with a certain objectivist who continues to insist to me that if two wires measure the same, in a stable acoustic environment, they must sound the same.

In response, I have told him that while I am not an engineer or in audio, I have heard differences in wires while keeping the acoustic environment static. I have told him that Robert Harley, podcasters, YouTuber's such as Tarun, Duncan Hunter and Darren Myers, Hans Beekhuyzen, Paul McGowan have all testified to extensive listening experiments where differences were palpable. My interlocutor has said that either it is the placebo effect, they're shilling for gear or clicks, or they're just deluded.

I've also pointed out that to understand listening experience, we need more than a few measurement; we also need to understand the physiology and psychological of perceptual experience, as well as the interpretation involved. Until those elements are well understood, we cannot even know what, exactly, to measure for. I've also pointed out that for this many people to be shills or delusionaries is a remote chance at best.

QUESTION: Who would you name as among the most learned people in audio, psychoacoustics, engineering, and psychology who argue for the real differences made by interconnects, etc.?
128x128hilde45
djones51, Yes, we’ve been discussing listening to recorded music, e.g., listening to vinyl through a stereo.
Sniff, I have the itmost respect for your “ass backwards” judgement concerning your personal listening experience.  In my little listening universe, however, choosing recordings based to some extent on  their compatibility with my system is perfectly OK and I have certainly been accused of listening to the equipment.  I’ve been called worse.
My dear wife, unlike me, is an accomplished musician and that is one of the traits which attracted me to her long ago.  She is perfectly satsfied with her “downstairs” system of old JVC receiver, Sony turntable and old Meadowlark bookshelf speakers.  BTW, I’ve read that musicians tend to invest minimally in audio.
Forgive me for the digression.
Just for a lark I decided to reinstall some monster speaker cables I had from a few years back.

What a difference compared to my present Townshend F1 speaker cables!
I couldn’t believe how crappy the sound was! Just think, this is what we used for so many years ago and thought it was an improvement over zip cord!

I guess they would measure the same though...

ozzy
My wife has the same measurements as Heidi Klum but rest assured they sound and look quite different  😳 😄 😉 😂 ! 
Just for a lark I decided to reinstall some monster speaker cables I had from a few years back.

What a difference compared to my present Townshend F1 speaker cables!
I couldn’t believe how crappy the sound was! Just think, this is what we used for so many years ago and thought it was an improvement over zip cord!

I guess they would measure the same though...

ozzy

Yeah, danager was here recently and he couldn't see how a power cord could possibly matter so we pulled out one of my old freebies and then when we went back to the Supernova he gasped just to hear the lead-in groove! He is still talking about  how the difference was so great he heard it even before the music started!