Actually NH, all this can be tested (the 'high end' vs 'low quality') items in double blind tests.
Some have already been done by Axiom and some results reported here by Alan. Other stuff was researched at the NRC in Ottawa and written up in science journals by Dr. Floyd Toole back in the 80s for which Ian and Alan both played a part. ABX has also done some tests.
The interesting thing is that regardless of the outcome, the audiophiles still scream "it can't be". These ideas have already been re-hashed and presented in a science light, but until people are personally ready to accept the results, they will never succumb to the ideas.
Think of it like 3 doctors telling a person they have cancer and it was checked 5 times, but the patient still refuses to believe. Typically it is called a denial stage but more out of fear rather than from the ideal of a crushed and long held belief.
In a simple term, audio is a religion to many.
