I'd put my mortgage on it also. The observation that loudspeakers sound different couldn't possibly be called extraordinary. It is true any sighted subjective appraisal of any piece of kit will be subject to personal bias, including loudspeakers, and this will continue to play its part in forming the personal experience - but loudspeakers really do sound different! Proved and provable.

The observation that cables sound different (where resistance and reactance are the same or similar) is extraordinary. Is this human expectation manifesting an experience that does not reflect reality? Certainly a difficult pill to swallow for the zealous believers but one that is thus far consistent with evidence from blind tests.

Unfortunately the hi-fi magazines have sold out to the manufacturers and the marketplace making scientific enquiry unlikely. It's much easier to dumb-down and pander to populist beliefs and of course it sells more magazines.

I did notice HiFi Crtitic trying distance itself from the rubber-stamping mainstream, I wonder if they could be petitioned to go where the others fear to tread? Into the valley of ABX?