Distortions that the human ear likes. Are there any ?

This just in!

“The higher harmonics, above the 7th, give the tone "edge" or "bite." The basic cause of the difference in tube and transistor sound is the weighting of harmonic distortion in the amplifier’s overload region (the italics are mine). Transistor amplifiers exhibit a strong component of 3rd harmonic distortion when driven into overload.”

Since there are so many sources of distortion one has a very tough road to hoe to try attribute any distortion he hears to the particular source or sources. Some things are easier than others, for example mechanical feedback and clipping.

Based on what I've read, and experienced, including writing from Pass, and listening to Pass gear and my own experiences, here goes:

The perception and appreciation of distortion and other non-linear sound reproduction is a learned, not innate, capability or feature of the ear / brain mechanism.


Being learned, it varies from individual to individual. Unless we do a survey that is credibly representative of "most audiophiles" this question has no answer which can be backed up by more than individual accounts.


So, the good news is that variety of product selection is most likely to have a product at a price point most audiophiles can be satisfied with. The bad news is I am not going to agree with a LOT of audiophiles as to what sounds good, but then, I don't really care if I do.


Your own wallet and your own ears and your own heart must ultimately be used to determine the value, desirability and sacrifice you will make for a particular bit of kit. It isn't wrong to like something that sounds like your '78 Oldsmobile. Just don't try to force me to believe it is neutral or state of the art.

Best,

E

To confuse the waters even further, there's also changes in our hearing with age and trauma.


There are speakers which are arguably far from neutral, which may correct for these losses, and make your ears feel young again.


Is this "pleasurable distortion?"  Is the loudness curve, whether in an amp, or in the speaker design not distortion?


So yes, we can like things far from neutral at times.

I wish they still made Olds. My dad had a ’58 Olds station wagon and it was like a living room on wheels. Can’t remember what it sounded like but I do remember all of us getting out and pushing it to a gas station.

It was like pushing a living room on wheels. 😄

All the best,
Nonoise

Listen, " as far as I am concerned ", there are three distortions I am easily aware of, and I do not like any of them in a system. One, is obviously amplifier clipping, which is very unpleasant, and one that I personally, in my own system, I never experience. The second, is when a speaker breaks up ( compression ), because it cannot handle the signal being applied to it, or, when an amplifier is simply played too loudly, beyond the limits of the speaker. Third, hum or hiss. I do believe, there are distortions that are enjoyed by some listeners, as I think Nonoise and Eric hit on. I know quite a number of musicians, some of which are audiophiles, and some are not. Many of them, when they play, have gear that creates distorted sounds, so this may be another situation that the engineer was speaking about. Anyway, I will give this post a week or so, and see where it goes. I am a big boy, so if anyone cares to " attack " me, it is ok. But, I posted this as a learning opportunity. Enjoy ! MrD.