Do speaker cables really make a difference ?

Unless you have access to exotic conductors, the 'amount of metal' (i.e. gauge) of the cable/wire is the best measure. That having been said, if decent gauge lamp cord isn't good enough for you, paralleling 2 or 3 strands ought to do the trick. Thank you Dr. Ohm. If you are concerned with increasing capacitance(?), a cable containing the same amount of metal as the 3 lamp cords would have the same capacitance issue. Electric current is remarkably disinterested in other details except for loops in the wiring and oxidized connectors.

The confirmation bias story I like best:

A man was walking in Manhattan with a bag of salt slung over one shoulder.  Every few yards he took a pinch and threw it over his left shoulder.  Someone came up to him and asked him why he was doing it.

'Keeps the elephants away.'

'But there aren't any elephants for miles around here.'

'Effective, isn't it.'

That has to be the most dumbass analogy that I have heard on confirmation bias. You folks don’t realize such known and true cognitive disorder works both ways. By definition, confirmation bias is the tendency we as humans have in seeking information and facts that confirm existing beliefs, rather than questioning them or seeking new ones.

Yes, people who believe speaker cables make a difference are not immune from confirmation bias. Let’s be real, all humans do. But, whatever they believe, is based on actual experience, and ownership of said cable. By definition, experience and experimentation ARE in a way objective facts. The “elephant” they actually “saw”. You on the other hand, base your opinion generally on stuff you read on the internet. The “elephant “ you never saw. So, who is the most “sick” from the cognitive dissonance ?

Another observation I have from “following” naysayers on audio forums: you spend so much time, energy, and effort in an attempt to “prove” what does NOT work. Debunk and disprove stuff. And almost none on what actually works. Why? Perhaps that way, by sharing YOUR experience on what works and how and why it works, you could become more useful to the Audio community? Actually contributing something 

@thyname Good illustration.  Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for all the responses. I am thinking about trying Anti Cables speaker wire. It's very thin wire and unless they made the reviews up themselves, they are highly thought of by different users. Any thoughts on Anti Cables ?     

I have a modest second system with the Anticable 2.1.  It is a Powernode with Elac Debut Reference speakers.  I had older cables on hand from Straightwire and XLO.  I preferred the XLO, but they were way too long.  So I took a flyer on the Anitcables since I could get a five-foot pair for only $100 and run them straight from the Powernode to the speakers without them touching the floor.  They sound great with this little system.  That said, if you have a longer run you need to consider the fact that they are very stiff.  You can bend them, but they are very different from the typical flexible cable.