Common to almost every post in this thread is the word "difference". I have no doubt differences can be heard by someone in almost every comparison whether amps, cables, speakers, whatever.

The problem comes in when deciding how the differences relate. Without specific standards how do we tell if the difference is better. So the midrange is more "fluid", the bass "punchy", the high-end "sweet". Unless you can put specific value to these terms they're all related to a value stored in your head. Is the tweeter sweet as in "sweet as honey" relating to its smoothness, or sweet like sugar which has some grain, or texture to it. Can a "revealing midrange" mean all the beatutiful detail is there, or annoying as in "I hear everything including breathing, background noise, fingers on the fretboard. It's all relative to an ideal stored in your head which can be different for each of us.

I know I hear a difference between optical and coax digital interfaces. To me the optical is better, more rounded, warmer. But to someone else the coax may be better, because it's transparent with no sonic signature. This is why these questions never get answered because the reference in my head is not necessarily the reference in yours.

It becomes too easy sometimes to relate better to cost. If you just paid $1200 for a 1M interconnect and it sounded "different". As an "audiophile" I'm not likely you'll tell anyone it doesn't sound better. After all so many other "Golden Ears" have proclaimed it to be better. Why subject yourself to ridicule for not knowing it's better. I'd be more likely to ridicule for buying a $1200 interconnect in the first place.

I know my ears have changed over the years, but I'm not sure the reference in my head has. The question is if my brain smart enough to compensate correctly?