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Two terms I don't understand - please explain

Hello...

I've read through this forum as well as forums on other sites and there are two (2) terms that I don't understand: "Slam" and "Prat" when discussing turntables, cartridges, etc.

Could someone kindly explain to this idiot what they actually describe?

Thanks and regards,

Jan
jsmoller
rnm4
308 posts
 
Slam = dynamic impact, i.e., how well loud, fast extreme transients are rendered.

Prat (or PRaT) = Pace, Rhythm and Timing -- a component with PRaT gets your toes tapping, let's you hear an feel the drive and pulse of a tune (maybe even puts it there, in some cases, e.g., where a TT spins too fast). Pretty much the same thing as boogie factor.

Roughly, anyway.
phaser
71 posts
 
Jan, most often slam refers to bass impact. That is you feel the sound waves hitting you rather than just hear the notes being played.

PRAT refers to Pace Rhythm And Timing. This applies to all playback media not just analogue . If a system has poor PRAT it appears slow and lifeless. Good PRAT means that it is alive much as the real event would be.

I will leave to others with more knowledge than I have to explain why we perceive something as having good PRAT.
rnm4
308 posts
 
Phaser's explanation of slam is better than mine. It refers specifically to bass transients.
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