Techtalk!
Harmonic Distortion is a means for measuring Nonlinear Distortion . Nonlinear Distortion is a form of signal processing error that creates signals at frequencies that are not necessarily present in the input. It contrasts with Linear Distortion, which is a form of error that creates no new frequencies beyond those that are present in the input signal. Linear Distortion changes the relationship of the size and timing of the frequencies that compose the input signal. Linear and Nonlinear distortion are directly based on frequencies present in the input signal. Noise is a form of error that is not as directly related to the input signal.
THD is determined by measuring the size of each of the new frequencies that are created by the source of the distortion. The new frequencies are called "harmonics" because they exist at frequencies that are integer multiples of the input signal. For example, the harmonics of 1 kHz are at 2 kHz, 3 kHz, 4kHz, and so on.
Even numbered harmonics are called "Even Order Distortion" and are caused by errors that are not symmetrical. The odd numbered harmonics are called "Odd Order Distortion" and are caused by symmetrical errors. Push-pull or balanced circiuts are symmetrical and therefore reduce Even Order Distortion.
Samples of pure sound and distorted sound, simulated by MIDI, can be heard by clicking here.
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