How high end must your system be...

My first system that lasted cost about 4k(1990 dollars, some were demos), a Conrad-Johnson MV-52 amp, Pv 11 preamp, B&W matrix 804 speakers and a Sonograph SG3 turntable, arm and cart all included plus cables. On it, differences in cables was easily heard. Was this high end? It made music for me and improvements have followed. As more than one person has said on this forum, if you can't hear the difference it may not be there. So, maybe you have just lucked out and have a room and system that match well enough e but one that just works. What more can one ask?

I think your friend probably reads way too many audio magazines, and was trying to impress you with some foolishness he just read. Why not try this instead, invite your neighbor or the kid next door over to listen to the rig using their favorite CD's or LP's, all the while switching cables back and forth to elicit a comment. I think you'll receive a much fairer and objective answer to your question, IMHO.

If you spend enough money on cables ($1000's) then you WILL hear a difference - it is quite simple - that is how it works. Doctors call this a placebo effect. You can look up the "expectancy effect" on wiki.

Another explanation is that some systems are faulty enough that simply unplugging a cable or disconnecting same can cause a change in response. The ground loop is a common example of this - many systems suffer from ground loops and disconnecting a cable and connecting another may have marked differences.

Finally, some cables are designed to act as filters and may have active components in a box that forms part of the cable - these will indeed make a significant difference to the sound - so would an EQ.

Gee, I can tell differences between wires I don't even want to tell in systems that cost as little as $1K or so. For example, I find some cheap cables sound much better or at least as good as some expensive ones I have already bought. And sometimes some expensive cables I have not bought yet (or actually could not buy) sound better to me in demos than the less expensive ones (I can buy). Furthermore, reviewers will often remark about how they have set such and such a budget piece up with wire that costs as much or more than the gear itself, and that it makes a noticeable difference. And its not just wire that can make a difference in these more modest systems, physical set up, room configuration and treatments and component isolation can all contribute to improving sound of lower to mid fi gear.

I say give different cables a try in your system if you want to with demo wires from The Cable Company and see for yourself if your "tin" ear resonates differently with a different piece of wire connecting your gear together. I like the idea of inviting the teenager from next door to see if they hear a difference, but you might also want to invite one of their parents too so folks don't start to wonder whats up with Mr. HiFi and the neighbor kids. LOL.