notaclue - the 0.1dB requirement doesn't apply to the cables, it applies to the test.  If, without altering the volume, there are level differences between two cables then that's not a problem.  All that needs to happen is that when you switch from A to B the volume is set correctly so that this level difference is cancelled out.

Now, don't read this as skewing the test.  I'm sure that most people who believe cables make a difference believe that there's much more to it than small level differences so I think it's fair to remove these (if they exist) and concentrate on the other differences (if any).  Afterall, if the only difference was a few fractions of a dB then you could just turn up the volume a little and save a lot of money!

Lee, it's quite difficult to deliberately skew the results without knowing whether it's A or B being played.  That's the point of the blind test, it means that neither believers nor sceptics can skew the result of the test in their favour.  In any case, in previous DBTs, it's been shown that there's no difference in the ability of sceptics and believers  to tell cables apart.

Michael.