Systematically stretching all partials in a chord can reduce its dissonance

Evidence

Note that 20 Hz beating is usually annoying, while 40 Hz beating is often less so. The point is that stretching all the frequencies present, in a chord for example, will necessarily widen all the near coincidences of partials. Unless they were under about 5 Hz and become, say, 10 or 15 Hz, this should lower the dissonance. Because all the partials of any complex tone are also stretched in this scheme, this form of stretching requires a computer or reprogrammed synthesizer. It is very difficult to build a physical object that will have uniformly stretched partials. — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 2412

Categorization

• QUESTION: Curious whether stretched-partial tuning could meaningfully reduce perceived dissonance in synthesized music — worth chasing the Houtsma/Rossing/Wagenaars demo.
• FICTION: An alternate-universe music system where everything is detuned in concert to sound ‘more consonant’ could be a worldbuilding hook.