Distortion


Since the late 70`s I`ve always wondered why class (A) enthusiast and professional audiophiles look for an buy high end gear with the lowest possible harmonic distortion ratings; pay off the chain cash for gear like the Mctone,xx-7700,D'agostine, Merrill audio, Pure Audio, Vitus Audio, Pass Labs, Audio Research, Carry, M.Levinson, Conrad Johnson, Krell etc. Get it perfectly set up to listen to distorted music. Now I`m not knocking  know one`s taste in music its there money there preference of what they like to hear it just don`t make since to me.  Perhaps its one of the things we do in this bizarre beautiful hobby.  Would anyone care to comment.
sheridanmartinj

Showing 1 response by chayro

First of all, who says that audiophiles look for brands with the lowest distortion specs?  I have never heard anyone with an expensive system mention the distortion percentages of the equipment and some of the brands you mention have higher distortion ratings than much less expensive products.  But as to the second part of your question, when you say "distorted" music, I assume you mean electric guitar and such, where the players deliberately add what is commonly called "distortion"?
In simplest terms, the goal of home audio is to reproduce what is on the recording.  If the musician chose to produce a distorted tone, the system should reproduce it as it was recorded. If the home audio system has audible distortion, it will not reproduce the recorded sound accurately.  BTW, I think you and many others consider distortion to be limited to  noise or some objectionable sound.  It may be, but in fact any alteration of the original sound is distortion.  If you boost the bass in a way more pleasing to your ears, you are distorting the original sound.