Skrivis,
Don’t take offence and unfortunately there is no other way of putting this.
If you can’t hear the difference then that doesn’t mean that it’s not making a difference. First, your gear may not be revealing enough to display the difference, this also means your not hearing all that is recorded -or- your ears are not capable of hearing the differences either by defect or lack of caring, could be physical or mental. In your case and others like you, you should likely not bother with Hi-Fi gear, it’s a waste of your hard earned money, just get something that is a good value at BestBuy and be happy, buy more music or whatever.
For the tens of thousands of people like me that CAN hear the subtle differences in everything (it’s more of a curse then anything else, trust me!) audio related, I thank heavens for manufactures like Harmonic Technologies for ‘listening’ and ‘finding’ wire that potentially improves the sound of my music.
I’m sure your friend was disgusted with you when you told him you didn’t hear the difference. Since he ‘got you’ into the hobby, it’s likely you didn’t care much to start off with.
I’m sure your disgusted with me now but that’s the cold truth that most people don’t bother saying.
Companies like Bryston don’t listen either. The believe that it’s all placebo – LOL!! They need a reality check too. Plecebo?! Maybe for some, but certainly not for me and many like me. I’ll be the first to say, that made no discernable difference. I can be honest with myself. Magic jumping beans placed on top of my CDP doesn’t make a difference no matter how many people tell it does, but if you snuck into my listening room and swapped out my cables, I’d notice it!
Ok, now you can scold me and tell me what an ass I am. You won’t be the first and certainly you won’t be the last!