I did this 'comparison' literally hundreds of times (sighted I admit) and feel 'something' must be changed electrically between the two and a null test should easily pick it up - if it's there. 'All' my other not expensive and many home made interconnects sound all but the same irrespective of the RCA plugs used and so on...
With are due respect why hundreds of times yet not inspired to really test them?
Since cables are a comparatively easy item to conduct a controlled blind test with...
If you have one trustworthy assistant you can set up something decent and test yourself.
At the same time, you were able (despite what you are now saying) to clearly hear the difference, which was obvious after performing the listening tests repeatedly.
The bottom line is that you are given the opportunity to create the test environment and create & perform the appropriate set of tests, which will clearly explain what hearing/listening subjective tests are showing, repeatedly.
Speaking of how easy they are to test in a controlled blind test, couple that with the apparent fact manufacturers are not doing so(at least not making results public). Certainly any manufacturers who's cables actually passed such a test would come forth, wouldn't they?
Some people feel that their cars run better with a full tank of gas. This can be something they consistently experience for decades - even if they realize it is possibly silly. Do they actually run better when full vs 1/8 of tank?
My mother swore her brand new car was runing notably better after a recent oil change.
I ran over 2 nails and had the tires patched. I swore driving home from the shop the ride was smoother than it had been in awhile yet I figured I was imaging it ---> then I realized they had reblanced my tires and wheels (I saw the new weights attached)so maybe it was rolling smoother.
Look common experiments have shown one can change the price and label on a bottle of wine and trick many(but not all) folks into 'obviously preferring it' over the same wine in the less expensive & less interesting presentation.
This happens in many forms all the time in marketing, relationships and vast areas much more important than audio.
Biases can also be very consistent. In fact they ARE consistent. That is what makes them biases and not spontaneous or temporary actions. They can also be unconscious, playing out with the individual completely unaware.
All that said 'bias blind spots' are also very real and most of us have not actually participated in much if any controlled blind testing. And often even controlled blind testing will face some limitations that may preclude the ability to fully study a subject. Such as in audio, placing all tested speakers in the same position. Or dealing with 80db playback limits(tonal perception seems to consistently change with playback level, so it is important). Things like that.
In the end there it sure seems to me there are many studies still very much worth conducting and participating in.
Check out the bias codex if you are interested in a cool chart. The subject is hugely studied and there are countless, books, magazines, journals, podcasts and other sources. Decades of investigations with tons of interesting studies and stories.
commons.m.wikimedia.org