Distortions that the human ear likes. Are there any ?


This is based on a post from another thread, where someone speaking to a studio mastering engineer, repeated a quote by this engineer, stating " most audiophiles like certain distortions ", and it quickly started a debate. I did not want to continue this on the other thread, as it had little to do with the OP's direction on his thread. What say you, Geoff, George, Almarq, Ralph, anybody......if this thread goes nowhere, I can always have it removed. Enjoy ! MrD.
mrdecibel

Showing 1 response by tatyana69

Moving the discussion sideways, I bought an Avid Acutus Dark turntable recently. It came with a "stabiliser"  or puck for a shorter word to sit on the record to apparently enhance the sound (rerduce distortion??)  Not sure of the theory, but I suppose it made sense. My Linn Lp12 does not have one and indeed cannot due  to the weight factor. The Avid puck threads on to the platter to give tight grip on the record, but to change a record you have to unwind the puck each time. Crazy. So I bought at great expense a Stilpoint puck that is a bit heavier but just slots on top. 
I was not amazingly impressed, but one day by mistake I forgot to put the puck on and wondered why the sound was better. Playing around putting on and off I felt the puck was taking out much airiness and musicality so I now have 2 pucks sitting doing nothing.
My point is that reducing one thing (distortion?) also decreases another aspect, and not necessarily favourably. Not sure why this is though.....