Yes, cables do make a difference -- regardless of price...

Well this thread sure ran longer than a few mic cables 😅

Main discrepancy is revealed by the term belief. Belief is best applied to things that can’t be experimentally assessed. While it’s obvious for some pursuits, it doesn’t need to apply to comparing electronic playthings in lieu of properly controlled analyses.

If a person declines applicability of scientific methodology over an assemblage of anecdotal opinions based on invisible perceptions, and that person is an adult, a change of mindset might be less likely. This in no way is limited to audio stuff.

There seems to be high correlation between folks who think audible difference between cables is predictable and folks who do not prioritize properly controlled assessment to demonstrate said predictability being reality. Those folks may think they have a firm grasp on the scientific method, however, which can be a complication for level exchange of ideas moving forward.

There also seems to be correlation between folks who understand scientific methodology, and folks who get flustered over the aforementioned mindset saying audible differences in cables is definitely predictable.

Adults can be challenging to educate (convert?) on the scientific method (including experimental design and statistical analysis; never mind the psychology element behind preference studies…) if they already… believe… they have a firm grasp on how it is supposed to work.

That is the process - not just the pattern - why cables and all other discrepancies about predictable difference in audible sound - can’t be sorted in one short exchange of thread back-and-forth’s. It really should be that easy, and that neutral.* 😬

*neutral in the emotional denotation of the word, and not the array of ways in which it’s applied to audiophilia 😜

Audio is not immune to the basic law of diminishing returns. With apologies for a Captain Obvious moment, the difference between a Kia Kona and a Porsche Macan that differ in price by, say, $60k is greater than that between two super cars that might differ by $400k in price.

My system is good enough that my enjoyment improved when I swapped out Amazon cables and interconnects for $500 worth of Mogami and Carnare products. Would I get as good an ROI then going to $10k worth of cabling? Surely not, as my whole decently thoughtful rig cost me less than $5k.

This is economic reality that is probably true in principle for every part of a home system’s audio chain, There’s no tire in the world that will make my VW Taos lap the Ring as fast as a WEC HyperCar.

PS Audio’s Paul McGowan gives helpful answers to emailed questions in his YouTube channel. Long before he made any speakers, that was the component he recommended to a questioner who asked about the single best component investment that would improve listening enjoyment.

That makes sense because it’s all about moving air, so cables must matter, but only in proportion to the quality of the rest of your components.

I think size matters I am 10 gauge kind of professor.but there are some that claim the majority of electrons hover on the outside wires mostly.bigger has less resistance.now what about shielding copper. braided aluminum ect.solid wire verses stranded then how many strands.do you put it on a drill and spin the plus and minus to make it spiral.so many options.enjoy the music ant the stimulation of the cerebral mind experimenting it will keep you young. 

Now about that car thing analogy I have the stress reliever of doing the open road challenges.there are 5 in America 2 in Texas 2 in Nevada and 1 in Nebraska. The dep of transportation shuts the road down for most of the day.there is a course worker every mile with radios  and ham radios throughout the start to finish.usually 60 miles down then regrid 60 miles back. Helicopters and fix wing planes in the air to monitor.cars go off in 1 min intervals.my tires have to be less than 2 years old. (Y) rated I've only blown 3 in the decades of doing this at 180mph. Nothing like a stero at 200 plus mph.enjoy life and the music. You tube it you are all welcome to join the event.