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Re: As I said below, I'm reading the thesis again.

" Total Aural Disconosnance (T.A.D.) which relates the "like-ability" of the sound resultant from selection of an amplifier to this measurable parameter related to a weighted harmonic distortion figure where the higher the order of the harmonic, the greater the weighting and the rate of weighting rises rapidly"

If you look at the sections related to audibility of those harmonics an masking then it is clear that it is not just "like-ability" but "audio-ability" that is the question.

Also, Keith Howards latest article in Stereophile, where he made distortion added to music digitally, shows that ALL distortion is in someway audible compared to a "pure" source; however, he found that distortion added of only low harmonics or even harmonics was less objectionable than those with high order or odd harmonics. He concluded that there was no Euphonizing of the sound with addition 2nd order harmonics...what everyone claims makes tubes sound good but is in fact BS.

"I have a great deal of difficulty seeing the technical value of "euphonic amplifiers" although for this niche segment of the market they may have some commercial value at the moment"

Again, Keith Howards experiments with adding distortion call into question this whole Euphonic argument. His conclusions that only low order distortions do less damage but they do not ENHANCE the sound, which is implied by Euphonic. Cheever also doesn't refer to euphony but audibility of various distortions (thus his whole ear model argument). Of course there are tube amps with excessive distortion of both low and high orders (as well as problems with phase shift and IM distortion) and these are even perhaps more prevelant than SS amps with problems. However; well designed tube amps to many listeners ears including mine, find that they do less damage overall to the signal than competing SS designs. Personally, I am quite fond of OTL and hybrid amp technology (I have both kinds of amp).

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