2. speakers
  3. 191634-96

What exactly is PRaT???

Ok, it’s like this thing and is associated with “toe tapping” and such.  I confess, I don’t get it.  Apparently companies like Linn and Naim get it, and I don’t and find it a bit frustrating.  What am I missing?  I’m a drummer and am as sensitive as anyone to timing and beats, so why don’t I perceive this PRaT thing that many of you obviously do and prize as it occurs in stereo systems?  When I read many Brit reviews a lot of attention goes to “rhythm” and “timing” and it’s useless to me and I just don’t get it.  If someone can give me a concrete example of what the hell I’m not getting I’d sincerely be most appreciative.  To be clear, enough people I greatly respect consider it a thing so objectively speaking it’s either something I can’t hear or maybe just don’t care about — or both.  Can someone finally define this “thing” for me cause I seriously wanna learn something I clearly don’t know or understand.  

soix

Showing 1 response by jbhiller

jbhiller's avatar
jbhiller
1,445 posts
 

Bias a tube amp a little low in mA and you’ll hear sluggishness that is moving toward lower prat. 
 

while I like OP’s binary approach to how a system sounds (does it right or not), I think if you go back and relisten to what’s working and what’s not, you’ll find sometimes a system has great soundstage, imaging, etc But it’s still falling into the not doing it for you bucket. That might be a lack of prat. 
 

some folks just here things differently—like OP’s view on Klipsch.  To me, they can be good rock speakers but some Klipsch offerings can convey delicate pieces and dynamics in a way that makes others sound brutish. Yet, OP hears “in your face”.

one may never hear things and that’s a blessing or maybe a curse.   Not sure.  

More to discover