Do speaker cables really make a difference ?

Confirmation bias is often cited by cable deniers, yet it's rarely acknowledged in the same post or thread that this interpretation goes both ways in terms of confirming one's previous beliefs - more like "rejection bias" for the cable deniers. 

Like almost everyone on this thread, my answer would be, very much, YES. But, as usual that answer means absolutely nothing unless you hear the difference yourself, and like what you hear.

It seems to me that the key issue for anyone in your situation (and mine) is to have a nice hi fi dealer who will lend you stuff so that you can make comparisons.

Confirmation bias is real and very common here.  Not saying cables don't matter but when two cables are close, 2 component are close, a new component is added that doesn't make much difference, tubes are swapped, it is easy to get confirmation bias.  

I am certain many of the positive reviews here on the forum absolutely reek with confirmation bias. 

So do your tests for several hours each.  Keep an open mind.  go back and forth a couple of times.  Do everything you can to keep from being a victim of confirmation bias.

Sometimes I just do the upgrade and don't try to judge it, other than to confirm I did no harm.  

Jerry

Yes they do, regardless of what others may say. They really do.

"  Do not be fooled by the diameter of the external plastic sheath: what matters is the metal content of the core. The more the better, without exception….”

How much metal content of the core shoud be in good speaker cables ?