Hi Al,
Usually JA uses 1% distortion/clipping as his reference point for measuring power output into a given impedance load. Thus the <20 watts into 4 ohms I cited. However I agree with you that 2 or 3 % 2nd order harmonic distortion would very likely not be noticed or objected to in real world listening conditions. As Ralph (atmosphere) has noted on numerous occasions, human hearing has much tolerance for 2nd order even distortion (but miniscule tolerance for higher odd order distortion).
Charles
Usually JA uses 1% distortion/clipping as his reference point for measuring power output into a given impedance load. Thus the <20 watts into 4 ohms I cited. However I agree with you that 2 or 3 % 2nd order harmonic distortion would very likely not be noticed or objected to in real world listening conditions. As Ralph (atmosphere) has noted on numerous occasions, human hearing has much tolerance for 2nd order even distortion (but miniscule tolerance for higher odd order distortion).
Charles