Is the appeal to euphonic distortion learned?


Hi everyone,

I have been thinking a little bit about the idea of euphonic distortion. The idea that we can make an amplifier or preamplifier sound better by not being so absolutely true to the input. The common story is that by adding 2nd order harmonics the music sounds more pleasant to more people. Certainly Pass has written a great deal, and with more nuance and detail about this and makes no bones about his desire to make a good sounding, rather than well measuring product.

Lets keep this simple description of euphonic distortion for the sake of argument, or we’ll devolve into a definition game.

I’m wondering whether it is possible that this is in large part learned? For instance, if I grew up with non-euphonic amps and then was exposed to an amp with high amounts of 2nd order distortion would I like it? Is the appeal here one which you have to have learned to like? Like black coffee through a French press?

And this discussion is of course in line with my thoughts about the ear/brain learning process. That there are no absolute’s in music reproduction because we keep re-training our ears. We keep adjusting what we listen to and ultimately at some point have to decide whether the discrimination between gear makes us happier or not. (Go ahead writers, steal this topic and don't mention me again, I know who you are).
erik_squires
i do not see it being so complicated.  you either love the sound of the music or you do not.  
when i first heard a sweet sounding Raven Audio tube amp Ioved the sound so much i bought it on the spot.  no learning involved.  
imho learning would mean preferring sub par sound quality because you are accustomed to it.  an acquired taste for bad sound...
I hope I am remembering the proper name, but as I recall, Jame Parker of Audio Research has been said to intentionally add second harmonics his amps.  Also, the original Sequerra Model 1 tuner was said to have such, which made it sound very sweet and musical.  I think this is why so many people prefer tubes. 
I find the concept thought provoking. Not the usual measures vs sounds. Not the usual ss vs tubes. Makes me think about how much as cigarette companies altered nicotine levels, food manufacturers alter: fat/ salt/sweet to find “ perfect food addiction “ levels- too much of any one makes enjoyment lower.
I ‘ve had my kids listen w me for years. We don’t always have the Same perception or words to describe-
I remember when my son was about 5 changing crossover settings on a pair of speakers he said something like :”this one’s louder, but I liked the other one better”.
I asked why, what did he hear, he said:” It was more together”.
I told him I thought so too.
That said, I remember my father building Eico tube gear at the kitchen table.
I didn’t care for the hum as a kid.
But after listening to ss gear for years, got a wild hare, took his old Eico gear into local shop, had them clean it up & get it working right, it was beautiful- eye-opening!- Not sure how but they even decreased the 60 cycle hum-
maybe he didn’t build it that well.
Learned?
You tell me.
Funny aside- years ago, I was in high school- Dad sent me to local shop to get replacement tube- cuz one tested bad on the machine at the 7-11. When I drove to the shop, sales guy said best to replace all power tubes at once- EL-34s.
no cell phones then, asked to use store phone to call my Dad.
He said:”There’s only one Goddamn tube that’s bad- just get one!”
So I paid ~ $8 for the single (Mullard) tube & went home.
Ft Worth, Tx 1970 something.
i do prefer tube gear now.
Learned?
Learned?



Great story , great read thanks!

Most things we think are the better are social conformity conditioning, but this remark does not negate the fact that a very good tube amplifier has his own qualty, but only relativized it...

My best wishes to you....
The late psychiatrist and writer Oliver Sacks has a book, Musicophilia, that I think addresses some universal human preferences for harmony and against dissonance. It’s been a while since I read it, but as I recall the preference is found in some animals as well. You might look for it. Even if I remember it completely wrong, it’s a good book, like all of his writings.