Cable Break In for the Naysayers

I am firmly into the "scientific" approach to my system. I have a very complete set of hardware and software that allow me to perform quite a few of tests that result in a number. Quantifiable.

I do understand that measurements allow one to evaluate the technical performance of my audio components and system.

However, I am quite aware that measurements are not the complete story. 

I firmly understand that any cable, power, line or digital cannot influence audible sound that is sensed by human beings. No one can shake me from that understanding. I am aware that others do not share my opinion. Until we learn more about the mind/music interaction, it is shortsighted to dismiss any experience that one might perceive. 

As a culture (world culture) we will arrive at the place where we can more quantitatively describe the emotional effects that come from the enjoyment of music. Until then, we will continue to have discussions such as these; good discussions with many ideas shred and contemplated are also steps to a deeper understanding.

Any of us who tend to use a little THC from time to time, can attest to the profound effect it can have on our perception of music.  Nothing about my system has changed, but in the right state of mind, the experience can move from audible, to physical, to dare I say it, almost a religious experience.  OK, maybe that's a bit far but you get my drift.  My brain is telling me how I am experiencing the event.  Not to drag this back to confirmation bias, but only to say, we as humans are able to hear and experience many different things for many different reasons.  Is the Doobie Brothers "Taking It To The Streets" really the finest recorded album of all time, or was it just my perception of it last night? 🤣  Cheers.

@kevemaher ”…I firmly understand that any cable, power, line or digital cannot influence audible sound that is sensed by human beings. No one can shake me from that understanding.”
 

You realize that statement is the opposite of scientific? Scientific is about open mindedness and based on observation to develop theories to explain and predict observations. Not looking at meters and firmly denying anything that doesn’t show up there.

i recommend just for a day forgetting about science and what you understand and go to a high end audio store and ask them to help you experience the differences a cable or power cord can make. Then just listen. The differences can be really shocking. Folks in a good store can choose some contemporary equipment and wires to illustrate. 

@ghdprentice 

My apologies for the confusion. It is Physics that explains why cables don't alter sound. As a Physicist, I live in that worldview.

A power cable designed and built for the express purpose of delivering power from one place to another cannot alter electronic signals in an audio system.

Poorly built or deliberately altered cables might be able to affect the components in the system to the point that sound is perceived as changed. I cannot think of a method to do this, but I can't rule it out.

And finally as Boz Scaggs  says:

... "You went your way

and I went mine".

Wow this thread is still going on after almost 2 years.  You gotta love the audiophile community.  It’s part of what makes this hobby fun.  Hearing is a human sense and it is unique to each of us.  I don’t argue what one person hears or believes.  Perception is reality.  If it sounds better or worse to you, it is.  I stopped asking people if they hear this or that with my systems.  I’ve learned to trust my own ears.