I believe I experienced great PRAT for the first time


Pace, Rhythm and Timing - I've often heard about it, mainly in the context of certain turntables, but I don't think I've really experienced it in a highly satisfactory way until today when I mounted my new Soundsmith Hyperion, an upgrade from my Sussorro. Halfway through side two of Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium, it suddenly dawned on me that there was more going on than improvements in clarity, detail, neutrality, bass punch and other rather specific traits that I've until this point used to refer to what I'm hearing. For the first time in the 30 years I've had this album, I was struck by a sense of flow, ease, relaxation, and my feet were tapping! Yes, this must be it. I connected with the music at a higher level just now, something new to me. Get all the details correct, and the PRAT appears in front of you. So, this was nothing to do with the fact that my turntable runs at the correct speed with low W/F, as it was performing well at that before. I had assumed that's what PRAT meant. Perhaps it means that too, in a speed stability sense.

earthtones

Remember that in British slang, a prat is a stupid person who makes a fool of themselves.

As in such phrases as: "What a prat!" "Don't be such a prat", etc.

@jjss49 

Apparently most British PA amps weren't very good back in the 1960s and this is what led Julian to believe he could do better himself.

I'm pretty sure that most of the nonsense came from the Linn side, although Naim did have their quirks. Eg they wouldn't put RCAs on their amps so we had to get our Linn's fitted with BNCs.

Linn certainly had a sense of humour and I'm pretty sure they were in on the prat joke.

 

@pesky_wabbit 

Many agree with you, no doubt. Rega for one.

As I said, it would be nice to have both.

In the UK this search for PRAT resulted in many systems sounding quick and snappy but almost totally devoid of tone, texture and colour.

 

In any case shouldn't PRAT be more a function of the loudspeakers than any other component?

If an amplifier sounds as if it's got great PRAT then shouldn't we ask why?

Could it be leaving something important out?

In any case shouldn’t PRAT be more a function of the loudspeakers than any other component?

I have found sprakers can be a great killer of PRAT. It is amply evident that some manufacturers simply do not understand the concept. Just as some people are tone deaf I am conviced that some are born rythmically challenged.

As for amplifier design, I think the outcome is a direct reflection of the engineer’s musical priorities. Naim moved a lot of kit. I preferred Exposure which retained the PRAT but added a degree of ’body’ to the sound.