EPISODE · Aug 11, 2021 · 2H 1M
The Skinny On Harmonic Distortion
from The Hifi Podcast with Darren and Duncan · host Darren Myers, Duncan Taylor
In this episode, the guys talk about harmonic distortion and the difference in sound between a steel beam hitting a concrete floor and a stack of bamboo hitting the same floor.What does a cheaper Class D amplifier have in common with the steel beam? What is negative second order harmonic? And what's so interesting about square waves for measuring amplifiers, when music is made of sines?These questions and more are answered as hosts Darren and Duncan discuss the nature of harmonics, and how different distortion characteristics affect human ears.Great questions from listeners discuss how to choose the right phono cartridge, and how to find humor in audio. The album of the week, Dreamlike by Electric Kif, rounds out the show. This podcast is powered by CommonGround Cables Whisper power cable. Read customer reviews and order your own at www.commongroundcables.com.Find all of our album recommendations in one place, at www.thehifipodcast.net.
What this episode covers
In the '80s, it was trashed. No, we're not talking about Motley Crue, but we are in fact talking about harmonic distortion - you know, the villain of audio. During the "specs wars," watts ruled and distortion was the fool, and as we look at the landscape and the modern audiophile takes on the matter, not a ton has changed. With curious, useless specs like THD+Noise floating around out there, we wonder if the understanding of distortion has matured along with much of our technology in the last 40 years.
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The Skinny On Harmonic Distortion
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