Matias
New member
In contrast to this, the difference is clear how important the power supply is.
P801 Power Amp
- Thread starter Alan March
- Start date
Holmz
Member
How the ears work is pretty complicated stuff.Got any links to proper research that supports this euphonic distortion theory? We will probably have to agree to disagree.
There are also neurons that “head back” to the ear, so hearing is not a simplex systems going one way.
Maybe.
One could put some non-linear “effects box” in the system and add harmonics, and do some A/B testing.
But once “the spray of harmonics” is in there, then it is impossible to remove them.
So it is better to start with a system that doesn’t have them and is quiet.
Please forgive me for a lack of fully understanding the contents of the above paper.
With regard to the linear/non linear distortions applied in the blind test... Would the paper have any relevance when, in the case of March amplifiers, distortions are below -110dB?
Again, forgive me if I'm misunderstanding something.
Holmz
Member
If the amps and the speaker are low distortion, then the system can sound quieter than a SPL says.
To this Alan and I agree.
The cause of it is where we disagree.
Maybe just a speck above none…
(But we would have to see the harmonic distortion plot of the amps.)
And if it was down at 60dB and mostly second harmonic then it would sound great.
It is the higher order (and odd) harmonics that people find that they dislike.
One takeaway point is that historically people cranked it up until it sounded distorted and backed it off, or turned it down only when the coppers showed up.
The speaker when combined with the his amp or many other similar amp with not allow one to turn it till it sounds bad as an indicator of loudness. There can be loud, even when they do not sound loud. To the point of OSHA or WSA levels of limited exposure.
It is really quite nice in that respect.
Thanks for doing the leg work and finding this article. It's an interesting piece of research but I agree with @SCPB1967 in that I dont see the relevance to the discussion regarding "euphonic distortion".
The paper discusses the effect of distortion on the perception of loudness. It doesn't indicate that people liked the distorted version more. Also loudness is only one aspect of subjective preference. Loudness, in itself, is not an indicator of subjective preference.
Also, the paper is extremely vague in its description of how the music signals have been distorted.
For example "hard clipping", one description of the signal in the listening test, is a massive level of THD. Definitely over 1% THD (-40dB) and probably much more. Overtly audible. Sure this may be perceived as louder, but if any listener found it pleasant I would be utterly shocked.
The discussion is really around @Holmz assertions that distortion can be euphonic and people can like it.
The paper doesn't support this assertion. My experience is that distortion is not euphonic. I can't recall seeing any proper research that supports the assertion, so if anyone knows of research that does, I would be very interested in reading it.
SmartOne_2000
Active member
Just an FYI ... these are the before and after IMD spectral plots of their 9040BA amplifier.
Attachments
Just an FYI ... these are the before and after IMD spectral plots of their 9040BA amplifier.
View attachment 326
As I said previously, this is now a good result. However its a shame they never did any testing and discover the problem prior to shipping the amp off for review at Stereophile. Its pretty amateur, as is not testing amps generally on the production line.