In the case of my cable test, the difference was so obvious that there was no hesitation whatsoever in saying which one was better and why. There were absolutely no disadvantages in using a 1.5 meter cable, only advantages.
I went to some expense and trouble to do the test so that I could be sure there was no self-deception, spending extra money to make up a second cable I was not sure I would be using. This was worth doing, to me, because the result claimed was counterintuitive. In all my previous experience, shorter has been better. However that was the case with analog connections, not digital. My previous tries with digital cables had involved improved cable quality, not different lengths.
Still, I am glad to know how a blind test should be set up. When the pal who helped me with the last test gets back to town, we ought to set one up with the same cables again, and see if we learn anything new.
I went to some expense and trouble to do the test so that I could be sure there was no self-deception, spending extra money to make up a second cable I was not sure I would be using. This was worth doing, to me, because the result claimed was counterintuitive. In all my previous experience, shorter has been better. However that was the case with analog connections, not digital. My previous tries with digital cables had involved improved cable quality, not different lengths.
Still, I am glad to know how a blind test should be set up. When the pal who helped me with the last test gets back to town, we ought to set one up with the same cables again, and see if we learn anything new.