Realistic sound = tubes and analogue

[theaudiohobby]

I'll take a smidgen of even order harmonics over odd order products any day.

I leave markw to answer this in detail, I am open to correction here but contrary to common knowledge with most amplifiers, tube variety included, you do not get the choice, you get both even and odd order harmonics, now even harmonics may be higher in level in some designs e.g. single-ended circuits, but there is hardly ever a scenario where odd-order harmonics are totally absent, they come with the 'distortion' package.

[E-Stat]

I leave markw to answer this in detail, I am open to correction here but contrary to common knowledge with most amplifiers, tube variety included, you do not get the choice, you get both even and odd order harmonics, now even harmonics may be higher in level in some designs e.g. single-ended circuits, but there is hardly ever a scenario where odd-order harmonics are totally absent, they come with the 'distortion' package.

The difference is by degree and varies by frequency. While the Stereophile tests of a 50 hz tone provide a reference, such does not necessarily model behavior at higher frequencies where the audibility of high frequency trash caused by higher NFB is more apparent.

rw

[theaudiohobby]

The difference is by degree and varies by frequency. While the Stereophile tests of a 50 hz tone provide a reference, such does not necessarily model behavior at higher frequencies where the audibility of high frequency trash caused by higher NFB is more apparent.

rw

There you go again, forget Stereophile please tell, how does a Class A or AB amplifier cancel out odd-order harmonics? I am all ears

[E-Stat]

... how does a Class A or AB amplifier cancel out odd-order harmonics? I am all ears

What does that have to do with my comments?

rw

[theaudiohobby]

What does that have to do with my comments?

rw

Everything....I have just done saying that 'odd-order' harmonics always come with the distortion, to which your retort was

The difference is by degree and varies by frequency. While the Stereophile tests of a 50 hz tone provide a reference, such does not necessarily model behavior at higher frequencies where the audibility of high frequency trash caused by higher NFB is more apparent.

I am simply making sure that it is clear that odd-order harmonics are always present in the distortion exhibited by amplifiers, or do you disagree?

[E-Stat]

I am simply making sure that it is clear that odd-order harmonics are always present in the distortion exhibited by amplifiers, or do you disagree?

I agree and will repeat what constitutes the difference: it is by degrees. The low frequency test found in SP does not provide a picture of what happens with the dynamic handling of higher frequency fundamentals especially in light of the greater reliance of NFB with most SS amps. NFB works great with bass tones. I voiced no concept of "canceling out" anything.

rw

[theaudiohobby]

I agree and will repeat what constitutes the difference: it is by degrees. The low frequency test found in SP does not provide a picture of what happens with the dynamic handling of higher frequency fundamentals especially in light of the greater reliance of NFB with most SS amps. NFB works great with bass tones. I voiced no concept of "canceling out" anything.

rw

Thanks for the clarification, IMO, SP low frequency test is a red herring in this discussion, as I have just done sayiing in another post, In many tube amps, distortion varies with frequency and output power, NFB reduces distortion at all frequencies not just bass frequencies. Consequently, its fair to note that NFB amplifiers have relatively higher distortion at all audio frequencies.