Audio Science Review = "The better the measurement, the better the sound" philosophy

Regarding the cables discussion. A couple of plausible theories, assuming that neither confirmation bias, nor slick salesman-induced hypnosis are at play.

(A) A cable is also an antenna.

I observed mobile phone interference with a studio monitor once. Manifested as a periodic crackle in one of the monitor's three transducers. Moving the phone from ~1 feet to ~3 feet from the studio monitor resolved the issue.

A well-shielded cable, especially with carefully twisted identical wires, is less of an antenna. Thus, at a location with a strong RF field, it could theoretically provide a protection from the interference, which could otherwise induce distortions.

To test this hypothesis, the cable and equipment would need to be moved and turned around, let's say several feet away and ninety degrees, to potentially change the interference effect.

(B) A cable is also a heat sink.

Imagine a thermally-challenged piece of equipment. Could be a compact tube apparatus. Or perhaps a vintage solid-state amplifier with a dried-out thermal paste between the power stage transistors and regular heat sink.

Massive enough cable, made of materials with high thermal conductivity coefficient, and with a tightly inserting connector (perhaps even slightly lubricated with electrically and thermally conductive paste), may cool off at least the power transformer coil to which the power supply wires are connected.

Cooled off power transformer coil would then "extract" heat from other transformer coils, which are connected to rectifier on the  printed circuit board, from transformer core, and so on.

Also, some heat could be extracted by convection from the air circulating inside the case shared by the transformer with other amplifier components, cooling down even components situated far from the transformer.

In effect, such a cable could serve as an auxiliary heat sink, analogous to a transmission cooling radiator on certain high-performance cars and trucks. The analogy extends to potential positive effect from increasing air flow around the auxiliary heat sink. In case of the cable, it could be achieved by lifting it off the ground.

To test this hypothesis, one would need to measure change in equilibrium amplifier temperature at the same settings and audio material with one cable vs another. The equilibrium temperature is the one that no longer rises, after some time since the test was started.

have you recognized any of the "technical experts" posting here who've been running roughshod over the members back at ASR?

No, I haven't. Thank you for the welcome.

@fair , the ham radio guys have how to videos on you tube on how to make antennas from speaker wire. What a waste of money to use junk cables on high end speakers, you flushed your speaker investment down the drain because those speakers will never perform to potential:

@fair - Welcome to my world and the Audiogon forum.  Very interesting theories on cable heat sink and antenna attributes which can be reduced or eliminated.  That's one of the reasons I read Audiogon forums.  

@djones51 Very likely.  Especially cable and tweak manufacturers. 

Mitch2 gives some examples why just in the specs on the other forum.  Problem is that even the ASR recommended speaker manufacturers don't reveal test measurements and rely on reviewers. Revel speakers typically measures great, why don't they publish their tests?  

@prof

"This is the deep irony/hypocrisy that almost always arises in these threads.

For the most part people making the "ASR-type case" are trying to offer a reasoned case with civility.  The ad hominem and insults, like above, tends to come from the "anti-objective" side...who then go on to blame the "objectivists" for being the dogmatic thread-crappers."

Not really prof. You and a few others who push the ASR line are polite and engage in interesting conversation and banter. Quite a few others are rude and objectionable and behave like yapping dogs. Amir himself is one of these. Another one accuses posters from this site as lying but has produced no evidence or quotes to back this up, Another one appears to deny the existence of a thread on ASR itself showing that 39% of Topping amp purchasers have problems.

I don't think anyone here is weird enough to push the line that a magic wood from the Amazon jungles will give you that special sound. However many of us do take the line that dacs do sound different and that perhaps a wonderfully measuring dac  pushed by Amir does not sound that great. It is these areas which cause exasperation and friction - when the ASR community says you are crazy for spending $x on A when B measures far better and is a better product.

Also I think Amir's iron fisted approach of throwing out everyone who disagrees with him is pretty rude and shows the sort of person he is. I feel sorry for him as he appears to need confirmation from his members and brooks no debate.

Most here are happy to discuss and debate with reasonable minded people.