I see the issue with ABX blind testing

What works for you works for you. But professing what you perceive should apply to others’ perceptions and/or use cases? Better off having some evidence.

@benanders Yeah, and if a frog had wings he wouldn’t bump his ass a hoppin’. Back in the real world and in most cases there is limited or no “evidence,” especially with something like cables. I mean, that’s why we’re here — to give others an indication of something they might or might not want to audition or try, not to profess as you say that our perceptions will necessarily be the same as theirs, but indications can still be very useful and helpful despite the inherent variability. (BTW, when I said I can hear differences that are clear, consistent, and repeatable I was saying for me — not necessarily others — in response to your assertion based on some study somewhere that people’s aural memory is crap and you need a flip switch to reliably discern differences — I again say hogwash to that.) People here understand that “your mileage may vary” when it comes to other’s opinions/perceptions, especially when it comes to cables, so once again we get back to you ultimately need to trust your ears because they’re the only variables that matter in the end. And measurements are not comprehensive or foolproof either and so as with perceptions are also just an indication so best to use both if possible IMO.

 Back in 1980 I was ready to buy some new speakers.  My wife and I visited a few audio stores and I even took a couple of my own records to audition some speakers.  I got down to two pairs that I liked and I wanted my wife's opinion.  The salesman set up his switch box to go between each pair.  I could hear the differences easily.  My wife stood there waiting for the salesman to switch the speakers but he had already switched them back a forth a couple of times  She could not tell.  I was incredulous that she heard no difference.  It's been my stereo system ever since.  When I play a song she likes she might come sit by me for a bit.

@dwcda so what are you hearing with the transparent cables in your system? Any conclusions?

I just swapped my Mogami for the Transparent. To me they immediately sounded better but after 10 minutes  of swapping it's really hard  to tell. So  I'll play them for a week, taking notes on individual sections of songs that really stand out for me & then swap back & relisten to  those sections.

Hi OP, I was just about to post something about my own experience going Mogami --> Transparent but it seems you’ve stumbled on a similar conclusion in the interim. I'd be curious to see how your impressions evolve over the coming days.

I was a big time fan of Mogami 2549 and especially 2497 for unbalanced connections, but over the past few months I’ve been upgrading all my cables to Transparent Super or Ultra level for power, ICs and speakers. Always buying used because I can’t afford new. The upgrade in soundstage width, detail and, well, transparency, with each new cable is, for me, instantly obvious and well worth the cost. Mogami is no slouch but I find it is much easier to hear changes in components, tubes, HQPlayer filters, etc, with this new loom.

@dwcda good approach! As I said earlier, quick AB is not the greatest way to do it. How you’re approaching it is the right way. So what model transparent?