Fidelity is a qualitative term indicating the degree to which an electronic system accurately reproduces the input signal at its output without alteration. In technical terms, high fidelity implies a system with a flat frequency response, negligible total harmonic distortion, and an excellent signal-to-noise ratio. The ideal high-fidelity system acts as a straight wire with gain, meaning it amplifies the signal without imparting any sonic character or artifacts of its own. While early audio engineering strove exclusively for the highest possible fidelity to capture reality, modern sound design often treats fidelity as a variable parameter, sometimes deliberately degrading the signal quality using bit-crushing or tape saturation to achieve a specific artistic effect.