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

Showing 1 response by karl_desch

As a recent upgrader from Sussurro ES to Hyperion ES I can agree with the comments above.  This cartridge is a surprisingly large improvement in the areas important to my ears.  More tonal information, timbre definition and overall musical information.  Others have mentioned frequency balance and I agree. The later seems to be a great trait of many SoundSmith carts. That and the very low surface noise.

 

love @earthtones system too. The Pass XP-27 is fantastic!