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It is easier to discuss this subject as even order and odd order harmonics.

Posted by tubesforever (M) on August 25, 2007 at 09:08:55

In Reply to: Harmonic distorsion on vinyl? posted by Peter Olofsson on August 25, 2007 at 07:42:03:

So on a Piano if I hit a middle C which is 220 hz, I will get a fundamental frequency of 220 hz and then corresponding resonances at 110 hz, 440hz, and 880hz. These frequencies are clearly evident on an oscilliscope. Without these corresponding even order harmonics the instrument would sound dull and lifeless.

With odd order harmonics, these do not occur naturally at the same db volume as the even order harmonics. In fact if my friend plays a 220 and I play a 210 there will be an audible "beating" sound that drives everyone nuts.

I hear this same type of beating noise on many solid state amplifiers because their fundamental distortion is odd order. Even a very small amount of odd order harmonics is clearly audible and I have owned amplifiers in the past where I could only listen for several hours at a time. It was actually painful to listen.

Stylus will communicate a frequency to the motor which bleeds this out to the cartridge case, headshell and tonearm. So you get the same even order harmonic issue with playback as you do playing a musical instrument. Don't worry about it, since this is so far under the cartridge output that it will not ruin the sound. It does impart a nature to the cartridge and certain manufacturers go to extremes to build non resonant bodies or utilize wood bodies to tune the resonance.

Speakers are a different issue. Most of the distortion here is because the amplifier does a fine job of accelerating a speaker cone, however what is going to control the back wave of that same cone? Well this is why the back wave of most amps does not look anything like the front wave. Manufactures use negative feedback to dampen this back wave of energy from the speakers and too much feedback also injects nasty sound qualities to your speakers.

Those folks who have SET amps with zero feedback and highly efficient horn drivers really do have some great times. There is a purity to the sound and a dynamic lifelike quality that is really compelling.

At a certain point in one's life you have to choose your poisons. What do you need to hear? What do you not want to hear? It is all about sellecting the compromises that allow you to enjoy the music.

Viva la difference!

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