Distortion Dynamic Range

[WGTP]

Distortion Dynamic Range is:  a) range in db between clean sound and max distortion X sustain?  b) the “controlling the distortion with the volume control on the guitar effect”?  c) the reason some distortions sound good at low volumes, but not at high, or visa/versa?  d) the reason overdriven non-extra gain stage tube amps sound better than distortion boxes? e) all of the above f) none of the above   :twisted:

[R.G.]

Consider the following:
You have a distortion stage that has an *input* range of 0-1V clean then from 1-2V it gets progressively more distorted. The output for these conditions is 0-1V in gives 0-2V out, and 0-2V in gives 0-2.1V out.

What happens when you have two of these in series? Three? Six?

Now, you have a distortion stage that has an input range of 0-1V clean, giving 0-2V out, but the stage clips hard at 1V in, and every input over 1V remains at 2V out, clipping flat as a ruler.

What happens when you have two of these in series? More than two?