HB: a personal offer to you because of your willingness to engage with the conversation so constructively and humorously despite being a sceptic (it's genuinely been good having you around): get yourself along to the HiFiWigwam-organised Pie Fi Show near Melton Mowbray on Sun 29th, which is five mins from my house (£15 entry, home-brewed stuff mainly, not a big brand marketing-fest), and pop in for a cuppa back here and have a listen. Bring any cables you have which are minimum 4m. You might see my jaw drop in horror as I hear no difference at all… or worse, I might even prefer yours and realise I've wasted the national debt of a small nation! PM me…
What was that? Ah yes, the sound of a dropping gauntlet!
All the best, my friend.