Listen, I have had the debate countless times but it's really not worth calling a debate. Of course cables- yes even digital cables- make a difference in the chain and thus in the sound of the system. It is not a placebo effect, it is a listening effect. I've been in this business for nearly 30 years designing product that has gone to market. If I can't tell you that I know what I'm listening to, then what was I doing all of that time? Every piece of the puzzle matters. Sometimes the influence is greater than expected. Naysayers, like climate deniers, will continue to try to force their logic upon others while the rest of us would prefer to rely on our senses. After all, this whole music hi-fi business is about the senses and in the end that is really all that matters, not the price or the science behind it.
I'll give you this, you need to know the science to get the desired effect but you can't possibly measure why a Caddock resistor sounds different than a holco or dale. There are my 2 cents.