High-end home-audio cables are a marketing application of the placebo effect; people want to believe that spending the money yields an improvement, and are then highly motivated to perceive an improvement in order to not feel like fools for having spent the money.

Best way to put this phenomenon that I've read so far. Thanks.

Admittedly I'm not surprised by suckers falling for this kinda scheme, I am however appalled by Denon having to use this tactic to make some extra money from the gullible. Given my previous bad experience with Sony I'd rather expect them to try a ploy like this.