Do not confuse the ability of the ears to react to sound with the brain's ability to interpret those sounds.  It is highly possible for you to hear a sound but not register it.  Just because you don't hear a difference doesn't mean one isn't present.  This is why it is useful to have some form of imperically measured result rather than relying purely on "experience".  I suspect this lies at the heart of many of the "arguments" occuring in this and similar threads.