Music reproduction systems produce sound waves that can be characterized by their amplitude, phase, and any added distortions. Pace, rhythm and timing is something music has. Unless you are using a turntable running at the wrong speed nothing in your system is going to change pace, rhythm, or timing. The PRaT that audio writers prattle about is an illusion caused by dips and bumps in the frequency response of speakers or turntables. Everything else has ruler flat frequency and phase response. More or less PRaT in a solid state amplifier or DAC is purely imaginary.
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.