Musicxyz, I haven't tested nearly as many cables as you and your friends but I am not surprised at the results you are reporting. There are very few cables I have heard that can reach you on the emotional level.
My system is unconventional in that I run IC's and PC's in series. It's a real mess but I only care about the sound. It consists of Bybee, ASI Liveline and Synergistic Research cabling and "tweaks", for want of a better word. I have found that running cables in series gives a superior result in my system. Where one cable may be very good but not in the excellent zone, two together may produce amazing results. I have discovered this through trial and error. It can be expensive but the results are stunning. I would not be able to go back to a system that uses single cables.
My system is unconventional in that I run IC's and PC's in series. It's a real mess but I only care about the sound. It consists of Bybee, ASI Liveline and Synergistic Research cabling and "tweaks", for want of a better word. I have found that running cables in series gives a superior result in my system. Where one cable may be very good but not in the excellent zone, two together may produce amazing results. I have discovered this through trial and error. It can be expensive but the results are stunning. I would not be able to go back to a system that uses single cables.