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This article is biased for tube sound but it has a great explanation of "good" versus "bad" distortion.

The short answer - human hearing is complex. And I mean that in the most grounded sense of the word - it is not fully understood, and what is understood is 'non-linear'. The frequency response of my ear will not match yours, or anyone else's. We are as diverse in our hearing as our faces and hair. However...and this is a big however, there are trained ears, and untrained ears. There are also damaged ears, and slightly damaged ears. There are also zillions of different reasons why people like certain sounds over others, very much like all the musical preferences out there. So, like so many things, we have some universals mixed with variability. No fly is alike if you look closely, but they all seem the same from a distance. Are you with me? I like distortion too. I grew up in the 80's and Eddie Van Halen was like God for about 3 years of my life. I fucking loved his ruthless, rebellious fuck you I'm having fun Dirt shit guitar tone. It was incredible. My dad hated it. It wouldn't have mattered what stereo I put that music in - wouldn't have mattered at all. My dad is as close to me genetically more than anyone - yet we weren't hearing the same thing. How is that? That's the 'Better' part of what you're hearing. It's subjective, and it's okay. It's part of who you are, and no one can take it from you. But it isn't atomistic...it isn't universal. It's you. Now, what about when I hear the same recording on the FM, then on LP (which I had all the VH LPs up to F.U.C.K.), then to CD, then mp3, then FLAC, then I change my system, different speakers, different amps, etc. Sounds different every time right? Pretty much? Did you even bother looking close to find the differences and why? Probably not, but the reality is some media, and systems, deliver the signal with more faith than others - and here's the key... we may never, ever have experienced true fidelity before. But, we may have come close. So lets go back to the 80's again. Short story...I grew up on Pioneer, Technics, JVC - you know, the mass produced 'everyone had one' stuff. Affordable stereo. But, then I heard VH on a Carver M1.0t, on CD, in a Denon player (when they were awesome) and Keff speakers. Holy shit. Something was different. It was fidelity. That's what I heard and that's what I wanted. But I couldn't afford it...so I faked it for a while...then I ended up here, and now I still can't figure out how to get that sound again... Perhaps, it was just a magical experience, and that's all it was. It was just me, and not really the true fidelity I thought it was. But it's out there...guarded by high walls that take a fortune to climb...or, just very solid knowledge about how this stuff really works. Enter... The Carversite. Here's where we find out and share experience. Try it, like it or not, it's part of the adventure. So just be happy with your stuff. Listen to the music, not the gear. That's how you fell in love with music to begin with right? And when you're ready to change, go ahead. Keep what you like. But don't disregard the facts...they won't ever change. But you will.

In the vinyl vs digital post Nahash mentioned that Unclemeat likes distortion. True statement technically isn't it.. I like my distortion as well. In reality , Greg measurers things and would know that adding a tube buffer after a CD player would make its measured performance worse if I'm not mistaken.. None the less many of us enjoy them. Same with turntables vs CD or even solid state vs tube amps. I love the sound of tube amps although its common for them to have near .5% distortion at full power. A solid state may have measurements 10 or 100 times better for distortion. I thought it was interesting that Greg, being scientific and dealing with measurements, was stating a fact that could almost sound critical of Unclemeat, although the fact is, that many of us enjoy certain types of distortion. Some types may sound more life like. It's not a perfect sonic word that we live in daily. There are different types of distortion and I know little about them, other than some can be perceived as good, and others as bad. Distortion can be like added spices to food. Sounds crazy but I think its the truth.. Nahash, do you know which one's are more common to perceive as good or lifelike? Like the ones added by a tube buffer.

Dogs Of War