O.K. Lets get into this subject as I just argued on the subject with a reviewer.
Most systems do not have the ability to resolve these differences completely.
The user must have a trained ear in that they know what they are listening to and what it should sound like.
Getting past these two hurdles is difficult as most of us look at the ticket of a system and then start our conclusions relative to that,this is not the correct way to listen for review/results.
I have had the good fortune to audition many cable products on many systems for free!!
Here is my take the $$$$ guarantee how much you are into your fixation,but not the quality of performance.
I can tell you it is subjective of course,but to say that a certain brand is great in all categories is foolish.
Here is an example,I am at a fellow audiophiles' home his 2ch system is $600,000 and he has a elite cable manufacture in his home to demo his wares.First we auditioned the interlinks and it was a pleasant improvement,next we move to power with and without his interlinks this was a let down but ever so slight was the difference,but the cost was an insulting $5000 for 6' power and it was muddy.
Guess what my buddy bought $100,000+ of this stuff.
Why did he? The manufactures techno-babble pitch won the prize.
Example Oyide R1 ac recepticle tested agianst leviton orange hospital grade.
I have a 165 lbs ferro-resonant power conditioner hooked directly to my service with 15'6 gauge wire at 220volts steped down to 120, it has about 14 outlets.
I have a fiend over and I swapped an leviton for the oyide.The test was simple same phase leg,alternate between the R1 and leviton. First choice by my friend was literally wrong he picked leviton thinking it was the R1 being more transparent and open.His second attempt was R1 by brand but but for an exagerated detail in a stand up bass fingering,when I put the passage back to the original he agreed it was grainy and bright.
I like to meet the man who can walk into the a room and identify the sound of a smeared sounding system due to the nano-second delayed release from a higher dielectric absorption!
Has anyone run the test of the sonic properties of carbon fiber(buzz word)connectors?In conclusion yes there are differences in cables some make improvements that are amazing but most are not worth the value.
Oh forgot to mention I do make my own cables and friends of mine have noticed pleasing differences.So I don't buy the hyped stuff ever.The Pear site is a wonderful example of tech-no hype.
Conclusion cables do make a difference but are mostly over-hyped,10 gauge wire or braided romex for power is an low grade improvement compared to run of the mill supplied cords, acquired knowledge of wire and geometry is a skill that does work.
