Distortion Distortion Distortion

I’ve considered myself a low-to-medium budget audiophile for the past 35+-years. Over these years, while cruising the pages of audio publications (none to be mentioned here), I often read the distortion specification given for various power amplifiers and I’m reminded how critical an issue this once was for my power amplifier selection [back when I was in my mid-forties]. But these days, I am literately forced to over-look distortion -- well, to a point. Why? Well, here’s the bottom line; while attending an audio conference in Southern California (T.H.E. Show) -- pre-pandemic, I sat in on a discussion on distortion. The speaker presented a number of examples of distortion with various audio gear, in great detail, while many in attendance, took notes and calibrated their thinking on acceptable vs. forget-about-it! This is when an audio epiphany rattled my brain when I realized that this was not the critical issue for me any longer. You see, I am now about to turn 81-years of age [Thank You all, I wasn’t certain I’d make to 80 but I have]. Distortion, at 80-years of age, after many years of listening to all kinds of music, often loud, is incidental. I just cannot here the difference in distortion levels and I did experiment with a few different types of amp gear. By 80, the hearing just isn’t as finally tuned as it was at 40. Therefore, I looked at the situation as not needing to spend a great deal of money [as I had in prior years] on gear where distortion was a key criteria [amongst others] -- great, I’m older and now I don’t need to spend as much on a new amp. Ok, so moving forward, I may be contradicting myself but when searching for a great amp & pre-amp combo a few year ago, not that I was looking for the amp with the best [or least distortion specification] but I found that I was really taken by the sound from a Benchmark Media AHB2 power amplified coupled with a Benchmark DAC2 D/A. This is not a plug for Benchmark Media systems, although it may sound like it is, But I should mention, that I learned at a later time, that the AHB2 has the best distortion rating compared to many amps. Anyway, I ended up spending more money than I thought I would need to, despite my thinking previously that I did not have too, but in the end, I am pleased with my selection. Hopefully, even with aging hearing, I can still enjoy great listening time without focusing on distortion.

Sorry for the long write up.

cheers