Right, I'm sick of this argument coming up constantly, so I just set up
a little test. Hardly pure science, but it's enough to make the point.

System - SPDIF output from Creative MP3 Blaster USB sound card (one of
the few that outputs at native 44.1kHz and doesn't resample to 48kHz)
connected to Arcam Black Box 50 DAC.

Yamaha DSP-A592 amplifier, Eltax Symphony 6, Symphony Centre and
Millennium Mini surrounds. No sub in use on this test.

All the phono sockets were cleaned using isopropyl alcohol and allowed
to dry before any connections were made.

The BB50 has two analogue outs. One connected to one input of the
amplifier using Chord Cobra II interconnect, the other connected to a
different input (the adjacent one on the input selector) using a freebie
crappy one of the type that comes in the box. Got a friend to connect
the cables, so I had no idea which way around they were connected. I'd
told him which inputs to use, but not to tell me which cable was
connected to which input obviously.

Both cables were connected to audio only inputs to prevent video
switching from affecting the tests. I refer to the inputs as 1 and 2
below, in fact input 1 was the CD input and input 2 the tuner input.
Both are electrically identical inside the amplifier, the labelling is
just for convenience.

I left the room while my friend connected the cables up then pushed the
amplifier back into the cabinet. I then returned to the room. The cables
were not visible. If anyone doubts this then I'm prepared to take a
photo of the equipment in-situ to prove that cables weren't visible.

Friend then stood out of my sight (to eliminate bull**** claims of
"psychological telepathic communication", which is much more far-fetched
than the idea that the cable in use just might make a difference) but
where he could see me, to ensure I didn't cheat by looking around the back.

Played a high quality VBR MP3 (ABBA's "The Day Before You Came", ripped
from the 1994 4 CD box set "Thank You For The Music", if it matters) and
swapped between the two inputs.

On input 1 the sound was muddy, lacked focus, almost sounded like it had
been brute-force compressed.

On input 2 the sound was open, detailed, had a lot more presence and
generally sounded much more life-like, and more to the point much more
musical.

Before looking around the back I repeated the test several times, with
other tracks, and with the amplifier set to Pro-Logic mode (first test
was in straight stereo). Each time input 2 sounded noticeably better.

Once I'd played about 4-5 tracks in stereo and Pro-Logic modes on each
input (obviously using the same track and comparing) I determined that
input 2 was the Cobra II and input 1 was the freebie.

I looked around the back of the amplifier and indeed input 2 was the
Cobra II.

So as far as I'm concerned that proves that cables do make a difference,
and I now consider this matter closed.

--
Glenn Richards Tel: (01453) 845735
Squirrel Solutions http://www.squirrelsolutions.co.uk/

IT consultancy, hardware and software support, broadband installation