not my area of expertise.
but I think you are both right and wrong (AVdude and friend)
For one thing the minute someone says
He maintains it may sound DIFFERENT, but not better
then there is no debate, since what is better (and how much better) becomes subjective. If you prefer the sound of more expensive cables, and there is a difference, then it is better for you
As to my opinion. There can be a difference between cables. The extremely cheap ones tend to be made cheaply (the wire might be OK, but usually they tend to have cheap connectors and are badly soldered). On the other hand I think after a point, you are not paying for better cables but conned by better marketing.
as to
Show them the difference in just the physical appearance and they will invest in it.
the question is do they sound better, you might want some specialized cables just for the look, but that was not the question that was asked.
