The Science of Cables

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/testing-audiophile-claims-and-myths.486598/

I suspect this has been linked here before, but blind tests have rarely supported the idea that people can hear the difference. 

A quick meta-study of all those blind tests in the link above suggests the following:
1. It seems like a marginally dispositive group of people could distinguish and prefer lamp wire (and jumper cables!) from purpose-built audio cable.
2. in A/B tests, you get a smaller, but consistently rank-ordered preference between purpose-built cables. Unfortunately, they don't release the subject-level data, which would be the only way to know if there is significance.  In one study there was an interesting coincidence between the rank preference ordering and an instrument measurement (was it 'transform function'?)

3. A/B/X tests tend not to support the idea that individuals can distinguish between cables or amplifiers (even cheapos), but, unsurprisingly,support the idea that speakers are distinguishable.
4. It was interesting to see a study that actually suggested the power cables were more distinguishable than interconnects and speaker cables.  That was  a surprise, and I'd like to see someone replicate it.
5. All the studies have small numbers, and should be treated skeptically (see 2)
There was also a reference to a blind test run by a studio that resulted in rewiring with Kimber Cable.  No details provided.
I think we all have to acknowledge this has been done, and what it suggests for our alleged impressions of our lovely and expensive hardware.

" There is strong empirical evidence that,

* cables sound different
* cables suffer break-in
* cables are directional
* cables are system and application dependent to some extent
* cryogenics improves cable performance. "
Unless you count the endless sighted/subjective "observations" in reviews and shop demos, I have not seen such evidence. I have seen plenty of ABX tests that suggest the opposite.  Where is this evidence?
I would like to believe that different high quality, sufficient gage cables make a significant audible difference, otherwise I am foolish for spending money on my own Analysis Plus cables.  Unfortunately, all the evidence I have seen would tell a disinterested observer that I am, indeed, fooling myself.  I've seen the supposed "victory" in Stereophile, and I know enough stats to tell you that the letters are right, the bias to hear a difference may be the only significant observation there.

GPS location calculations use quantum adjustment, but I agree with the point.  Generally quantum mechanics are required for things outside of normal human scale - very far, very small, very fast.

And indeed, electrons and soundwaves are quantum-scale. Nonetheless, without evidence of human-perceived palpable differences, bringing quantum theory into a discussion of human-perceived palpable differences in cables looks like hand-waving to me.  I could be wrong, as always, but none of the quantum references here have looked like cogent arguments, rather indirect allusions to possibilities that don't seem to be connected to real world listening.

The issue for me is simply that if I perceive a difference only in a sighted test with the encouragement of a motivated onlooker (dealer), but can't perceive that difference accurately under controlled conditions, why, exactly, am I spending more than most people make in a quarter (or $1k a year of retirement income, depending on my age) on it?

And then there's a question of whether even a palpable difference at the dealer matters much to your repeated daily listening pleasure at home. Right now I'm previewing the programs I'll hear at the NY Philharmonic tonight and Wednesday.  I'm using my ancient beloved Thiels, which have no tweeter in the right channel.  It bugs me, and plays havoc with the cello section and winds locations, but I'm still loving the music. 

 I thought I heard a difference between a direct and conditioned ethernet cable (to my chagrin), but it wasn't huge.  I thought the introduction of a power conditioner and Naim separates was a material step *down* from the Naim Uniti (some remaining question in my mind as to whether the dealer took the speakers out of phase, as the image died, but he did sit down next to me and immediately tell me how much more awesome it sounded). None of these differences were big enough to merit a lot of money.

A separate and personal question indeed, but I spent 20 years listening to the same speakers and amp happily, with only two changes of source as tech developed from SACD to hi-res streaming.  What differences are *material enough*, let alone distinguishable blindfolded, that I can spend the money and achieve that again?