What does Jitter sound like?


I keep hearing the term jitter used to describe a kind of distortion that is especially problematic with CD Players.

What does Jitter sound like?
How can I identify it?
hdomke
I would like to announce that it is in our plans to release either a CD or a range of audio files which will describe in accurate terms what Jitter is and, more importantly what it sounds like. This can be learned and experienced even on highly Jittery systems. The goal of this work is to make it audible and obvious on an average higher-quality boom-box.

Having said that, I can tell you what Jitter does NOT let you hear.

With Jitter, you can't hear the bow direction when a cellist plays even the most beautifully recorded solo works.

With jitter, you can't hear the size of a string section, you just hear the notes they are playing.

With Jitter, you can't hear the conductor breath.

With Jitter, you can't easily appreciate the conductor's work. There is something missing from the ensemble, that "leadership" which unites all those sound-emiting devices into a perceived whole, a single idea.

With Jitter, you can't hear the circle breathing when Joshua Redman plays his tenor sax.

With Jitter, brushes don't sound anywhere like brushes. It sounds like sandpaper or some other noise.

Getting rid of Jitter is like getting a new "perfect fit" pair of eyeglasses. You always thought you could see quite well, and you certainly never lost your way going home from work. But suddenly, you are surprised!

Liudas
At its worst, jitter is revealed as a hard, flat, fatiguing glare across the midrange & treble. A low-jitter clock relieves strain and adds suppleness & body. Further reductions in jitter get closer to analog-like treble delicacy, tighter bass control, and overall ease. Sounds a little like a good massage...
It is like looking through a window that is fogged-up. HF noise mostly riding on the music. The spectrum and amplitude have a large effect on audibility, as does the system. If the system has a lot of sibilance from other sources, then it may be masked by this.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio