Sampling of Audio Gear

[E-Stat]

I think there is more to low THD than just feedback. THD is more related to power, harmonic distortion and noise and it does cost more to keep those specifications in check. That is one reason cheap amplifiers have modarate to high THD.

Sure there is more to it, but it is easy to improve the specsmanship using NFB at the direct cost of fidelity when the criteria is dynamic music, not test tones.

If THD does not show the quality of component, then what does it show?

It frequently shows utter ineptitude on the part of the engineer when they rely too heavily on the feedback crutch. When you have a design using NO feedback that measures low distortion, that is impressive.

As you said THD is not tell all, but it is a good indication of amplifier signal handling (coloration) capability

And my experience is that it offers zero correlation with the musical truth. To each his own.

rw