[Elecraft] K3 Harmonic Distortion

[Jim Brown]

On Fri, 5 Sep 2008 17:51:42 -0700 (PDT), Rich wrote:

>I am not an audiologist (?) but isn't a harmonic that is 45db below the
>fundamental tone essentially non-detectable to normal hearing? 

It depends on the order of the harmonic. There are studio processors that 
INTENTIONALLY generate 2nd harmonic and add it to the signal. The control 
that adjusts the level is called "warmth." :)  3rd order distortion is more 
audible and more objectionable. Higher orders become increasingly more 
audible and ojectionable, primarily because they are less musical! 

BTW -- the science of this is called physhochoacoustics -- the study of how 
we hear and perceive what we hear, and much is known about it. It is one of 
many disciplines that are part of the Acoustical Society of America, of 
which I am a member. 

73,

Jim K9YC