What is the Difference Between Distortion and Noise?

Distortion and noise are two different unwanted effects on signals, and they have distinct characteristics:

1. Distortion:

• Distortion is the alteration or change of the shape or some other characteristic of the waveform of the original signal.
• It can occur due to the properties of the medium or the systems used for signal transmission.
• There are several types of distortions, such as amplitude distortion, harmonic distortion, and phase distortion.
• Removing the effects of distortion is easier than removing the effects of noise.

1. Noise:

• Noise is an external random signal added to the original signal.
• Noise has a more stochastic nature compared to distortion.
• It is more difficult to remove the effects of noise than the effects of distortion.

In summary, distortion is a change or alteration in the original signal, while noise is an external random signal added to the original signal. Distortion is easier to remove than noise, and it has a less random nature compared to noise.

Comparative Table: Distortion vs Noise

Here is a table comparing the differences between distortion and noise:

In summary, distortion is an alteration of the original signal, while noise is an external random signal added to the original signal. Distortion can be induced by various factors, such as electronics, speakers, microphones, or acoustics in a space, and it has a more deterministic nature. On the other hand, noise is more stochastic in nature and is added to the signal of interest. Removing the effects of noise is more challenging than removing the effects of distortion.