I believe I experienced great PRAT for the first time

Before I could put my finger an what PRAT was (by decades) I noticed some systems inspired me to tap my foot… some didn’t…. others drew me into the detail and made me listen for minute detail. Over a long period of time I realized foot tapping systems kept me enthralled for hours while listening to the venue and hearing details only kept my attention for a much shorted time.

When I was working, if I got to sit down and listen to whole album I was lucky. So highlighted details were fascinating. But I never craved long sessions. When I finally started concentrating on musical accuracy (emphasis on musicality) the PRAT improved each move I made. Now my system is so enjoyable (details there, just not in the spotlights), I listen for several hours a day and still have to drag myself away. Way more enjoyable and involving… wished i’d figured this out decades earlier. But the journey was great fun… it has always been really a rewarding and learning experience.

PRAT is easily killed…. It is one of the most difficult attributes to get and keep through the signal path. My experience points to it being most easily destroyed in the electronics. My current system is outstanding at PRAT as well as detail… Thinking back PRAT has always been most closely associated with great tube equipment I have heard over the last fifty years. As I assembled my most recent system (all Audio Research:I have had ARC phono stage and preamp for a couple decades) when I inserted an ARC amp it jumped big time, then I inserted a ARC DAC… jumped again.

Interesting, as I look back, Audio Research, Cary, VAC, CJ, Viva (?)… a couple others… these were always the ones that stuck in my mine as emotionally connective… I don’t remember the speakers… it was great tube equipment that got this most important aspect right. Spectacular, upfront details and slam then solid state will get your there… music - swing, emotional connection… that is for tube equipment.

I owned a Rega a long time ago… Don’t remember the model, but it was not a low end model… it sure was not in the same league as VPI and Linn… I am sure their top models are now much better. But PRAT is about every piece of equipment… it can be lost anywhere along the way.

OP. Great system. I have the same preamp. Both my digital end and analog have equally great PRAT. You can see it under my ID. Both ends have similar detail and other attributes as well.

This is a dream finally realized, there is no disappointment changing from analog to digital or back.

OP

As you can see, it isn’t that easy to learn to detect. I normally refer to it as rhythm and pace. That is the terminology used by Stereophile.

Here is an article from 1992 on the subject.

https://www.stereophile.com/reference/23/index.html

Congratulations. I think it took me forty years to put my finger on what PRAT was. I knew that my foot was the key. Once I recognized it… how to listen and hear it, I really recognized what high end audio reproduction was about. My system now ARC / Sonus Faber is so musical I have a hard time tearing myself away because the music is so seductive… as opposed to the details being so amazing.

‘PRAT is what should be the primary driver of purchases, but in fact is one of the hardest characteristics to detect and use as a selection criterion in our purchases. Hence one of the reasons so many have amazingly detailed and unmusical systems.

Welcome to the world of high end music!