Distortion in audio

Distortion in audio occurs when the sound signal is altered, often making it sound harsh or unpleasant. This can happen when an audio device, like a speaker or amplifier, is pushed beyond its limits, causing it to clip the sound wave. Instead of a smooth waveform, the peaks are flattened, resulting in a gritty or fuzzy sound. While some distortion, like that used in electric guitars, can be desirable for artistic reasons, unintended distortion generally degrades the audio quality, making it less clear and accurate to the original sound.