Hi Bill,
I agree, the definition of accurate and interpretation of measurements is going to cause some issues.
For me, it is definitely a subjective interpretation based only on experience listening to lots of parts changes and how they affect the sound.
For example, you can get a feel for how certain materials or cable geometries have an effect on the sound and with experience identify strengths and weaknesses. So I look for an absence of weaknesses, and an overall realistic sound.
The more colored cable I am talking about has certain weaknesses, but overall is a very sweet sounding cable. The coloration can have a negative synergy with some systems that are already off balance in the same direction the cable is off, the coloration adds like 2 waves coming together with constructive interference and it doesn't sound right. On the other end, if you use the exact same cable on a system that is off balance to the opposite end, then you get destructive interference and the result is a better balanced system and these people think the cable is the greatest thing ever. And I have seen both results with the same cable many times.
My system is well balanced. I have had the same system for years and have custom built the amp and preamp for the speakers and selected every part used from the DAC's PCB to the drivers input tabs. It's not a cost-no-object system but most of the parts are one step down from that. In my system I can appreciate the pleasant coloration of the cable, but compared directly to the accurate cable, it sounds less accurate and not as good.
So where does the colored cable fit in? Basically only when the customer has a system that is off balance in the right way for the cable to help with the overall system balance.
And there is a price to pay for inaccurate components, you lose resolution. I think only an accurate component is capable of delivering all the detail possible.
In comparison, the accurate cable does not seem to have synergy issues at all, and it has better clarity, detail and tone. It has been very interesting...
IDK... maybe the whole synergy thing is just a necessary evil because components are not accurate?