How much distortion can you hear? - Audio Distortion Test

In this video you will find out at which point you can hear distortion with your audio system.
There are three distortion tests: In the first test you will hear some music and then a 500 Hz and 100 Hz test tone. Every test starts out with zero distortion and then increases the distortion over time. Once you hear the distortion you can see how much percent of the original signal is made up of distortion.

Soundtrack used in the music test: I Missed This - Goodstreet

** Patreon is a platform where you can voluntarily choose to support the channel by purchasing a monthly subscription.

[waynecooper]

I'm and old physicist (70+). I love seeing cool science-based videos being done by young, and very smart guys like you. Great and useful video. Thank you.

[soybomber]

distorting the outro track was a nice touch :D

[Walker-grbj]

Every audiophile ever: I cAn HeAr So MuCh DiStOrTiOn aT 0.01% ReEeEeeeEEE

[petermsull]

Excellent! Being an audio Geek myself, I really appreciate your *data driven* approach to audio. I wish more channels had such a fact based, less subjective view on matters of sound where science meets art.

[CuriousPassenger]

Audiophiles: always looking for equipment which distorts sound as little as possible.
Also audiophiles: don't like electronic music for its clean and sterile sound.
Also audiophiles: only listen to old jazz and rock records from 40s to 70s recorded with much noise and distortion.

[akusbass]

15% Music, 5% first sine wave, 10% last sine wave. Nice and interesting test. Cheers from Spain!

[briancase]

For those who couldn't hear the distortion in the first test until several percent, try it again focussing solely on the tick-tick-tick-tick of the tiny high-frequency cymbol/high-hat. With increased focus, you'll be able to hear the diffusion of the high frequencies very early. It's subtle, but when you have practiced, it's easy. And you'll start to hear it in some but not most popular music. Most production/mixing/mastering engineers will not let their high hats be destroyed by distortion. But some will!

[SianaGearz]

There's a little flaw in this test... because it's steadily increasing, you do not have a direct comparison with undistorted signal, only with slightly less distorted signal from several seconds ago. So the only way you can tell is by listening to telltale signs of distortion, but the difference between clean and distorted signal may become apparent way before, especially for music rather than sine tone. I think the next better iteration would be to have specific distortion steps that you test at, for example increasing by a particular factor every time, or using Renard or E3/E6 series of preferred numbers, and have a clean sample in between each test, but there's a practical issue that this may make for a fairly long test.

[damdahu]

Test 1 : 10%
Test 2 : 1.5%
Test 3 : 5%
Very interesting, I need to compare it with other results in comments section now!
I used Jabra wireless plugs.

[binomis]

With Mackie MR524 Nearfield (2 feet away)
Low volume: 7%, 10%, 20%
High volume: 0.8%, 0.6%, 3.845%
Cool test!

[bunnythekid]

First time:

Test 1) 16%
Test 2) 3%
Test 3) 5%

Second time:

Test 1) 9%
Test 2) 0.5%
Test 3) 1.2%

Knowing what to listen out for makes a huge difference. Very interesting!

[deszczak]

I like how the music in the outro is distorted as well!

[misstress]

I would say, I start hearing the distortion from 1% and on. Up to 4% it just livens music in a good way. After that I start looking for broken wires. :)

[AmbientWanderer]

With the music, the distortion starts to become fairly obvious at at around 0.7 -0.8 %, but only around the higher frequency ranges in the hats.

[MickeyMishra]

This is AMAZING! With Music of the trance kind? I really had a hard time telling if it was the music or the distortion . But on the tone? At about .0237 I started to notice the tone warble a bit.
Job well done man! Really good work putting this video together!
Clear. Easy to understand. And Results in less than 5 minutes. Bravo!

[metal]

Very interesting indeed. 1% for me not looking at the screen at 500 Hz but 2.5% at 100 Hz and 7% with music on a K371. Weird. I also totally am in love with that music track

[redrobbosworkshop]

Good test. In the hi-fi industry, blind testing dating back to the 1950s established a standard that THD should not exceed 0.1% for equipment to be deemed 'transparent'. Six decades later and having spent many years restoring and servicing hi-fi amplifiers I would have to agree - <0.1% and you really don't need to worry.
makes the specification wars somewhat farcical. How many times have we seen headlines for new improved equipment where THD has been reduced from say 0.05% to 0.02% - nobody should complain about that but you won't hear it either.

[FluxCondenser]

Fantastic demo. Very helpful, thanks.

[waterspark]

2.1 Studio setup here - Music - heard it rising at 0.5% and up, Tones - were obvious from the start, already starting with 2nd and 3rd order harmonics loud enough to be heard, especially the rrrr wave interference of the 2nd harmonic for the 100hz tone.

[johanakerblad]

Great learning! Music needed about 25% and pure tone about 5-7%. I do not need to chase extreme audio any more. Will buy under Euro 1000, -. This really opened my brain for thinking and make practical wise choices. Again many thanks!