Total Harmonic Distortion Calculator

Calculate THD from the amplitudes of harmonic components relative to the fundamental frequency.

V
V
V
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V

THD

2.567 %

THD-31.8 dB
RSS of Harmonics0.0257 V

THD vs Fundamental Amplitude

What is Total Harmonic Distortion?

THD measures the ratio of harmonic content to the fundamental, indicating how much a device distorts a pure signal.

Formula

THD = sqrt(V2^2 + V3^2 + V4^2 + V5^2 + ...) / V1 x 100%

Where V1 is the fundamental and V2, V3... are harmonic amplitudes.

Quality Benchmarks

  • < 0.01%: Audiophile/measurement grade
  • 0.01-0.1%: High fidelity
  • 0.1-1%: Consumer electronics
  • > 1%: Noticeable distortion
  • Example Calculation

    Fundamental at 1.0 V with harmonics at 0.02, 0.015, 0.005, 0.003 V.

    1. 01RSS = sqrt(0.02^2 + 0.015^2 + 0.005^2 + 0.003^2)
    2. 02= sqrt(0.0004 + 0.000225 + 0.000025 + 0.000009) = sqrt(0.000659)
    3. 03= 0.02567 V
    4. 04THD = 0.02567 / 1.0 x 100 = 2.567%
    5. 05THD dB = 20 x log10(0.02567) = -31.8 dB

    Frequently Asked Questions

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