The classical characterization of nonlinear distortions of electronic devices such as audio amplifiers involves the calculation of some indicators, such as Total Harmonic Distortion, Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise, and Intermodulation Distortion, obtained by measuring the additional spectral components generated by the device against conventional input signals. This paper will explore the relationships that link these components and therefore how they affect the calculation of indicators. In particular, it will be seen how the current the measures, leaving out some components, make them not representative of the overall entity of nonlinear distortions suffered by the signal. The topic will be developed using black-box--type models, untethered from the particular circuit type of the physical device. Thorough knowledge of spectral relationships can be a guide in tuning amplifiers; measurements, recalculated by integrating missing components, can be used both to more accurately frame the distorting effects of amplifiers and to enable more appropriate classification.
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https://aes2.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=22385
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