Brave man, McGowan...

As one of those who has to make things work, and spent time at some of the most respected R&D orgs in the world, i'll say only this:
1. "makes a difference" does not mean better, nor consistently the same2. When i poo-poo some tweeks (and to be fair that includes most very costly cables) - it has to be in the context of "benefit for money".  Otherwise spend the same money elsewhere and get more benefit.
In closing when we argue "science vs perception" I'll quote someone vastly more accomplished than me, Daniel Von Reclinghausen, Chief Engineer of HH Scott way back when, who said: ""If it measures good and sounds bad, -- it is bad. If it sounds good and measures bad, -- you've measured the wrong thing."
Amen.  We don't know what we don't know - but we ought to try to learn it!
be thankful that we can all enjoy music and this hobby, and remember its all for enjoyment.
G

jhills
+++atdavid
Interesting that those on this forum who have a professional history of working in the scientific/engineering/physics field; those who work or have a long history of working in the engineering/mixing/producing end of making music; those who have a history of building electrical components and have the knowledge and understanding of how they actually work - are the ones continually ridiculed here, when they question someones outlandish, unfound claims of grander, especially when attached to an even more outlandish price tag.

>>>>>You just made my dog cry. 😭

@geoffkait You just made my dog cry. 😭
I’m sorry, but he knows I’m right....Jim

@jhills, "Interesting that those on this forum who have a professional history of working in the scientific/engineering/physics field; those who work or have a long history of working in the engineering/mixing/producing end of making music; those who have a history of building electrical components and have the knowledge and understanding of how they actually work - are the ones continually ridiculed here, when they question someones outlandish, unfound claims of grander, especially when attached to an even more outlandish price tag."


I suspect the driving force behind most of the derision is a purely financial one. 

The problem for those with any vested financial motives engaging in a public forum must be how to resist the temptation of endorsing their own products.

It must be far too easy for them to view any debate as a regular means of free advertising in what is a notorious dog eat dog industry where fortunes often rise and fall on factors little to do with quality.

The last thing they seem to want is an accepted consensus (as you might see in the world of Pro Audio). Hence the endless avoidance of measurement and data combined with endless attempts at obfuscation. All this with both eyes glued on their balance sheets. Impressive stuff!

Ask yourself why else would those running a business devote so much time of their precious time regularly posting online here and elsewhere?
Are their motives entirely altruistic?
Really? Aw bless!

Perhaps also their regular customers might ponder why so many respected manufacturers (Kef, B&W, Harbeth, Magnepan, PMC, Tannoy, Rega, Sony, JBL, ATC, Technics, Creek, NAD etc) never engage in any public debate about products.

They might only speak up on those rare occasions they feel the need to correct some misinformation regarding one of their own products.

Paul Darwin of Rega is particularly good in this respect of being informative online without crossing into morally dubious self-promotion. It really speaks volumes for Rega that they have achieved so much success with so little promotion.

+1 cd318