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

As a former musician PRaT never clicked with me in home audio until a full Krell class A system with Thiel CS3.6 cycled through here.  @soix , I can only relate my experiences playing in bands like this.   When everyone is locked in perfect synch with tempo, perfect attack and release, volume and balance, there is an undeniable completeness to the sound of the group.  No early flams, no hangover notes, no smearing of staccato passages, running musical phrasing is in lockstep to the point that every note is heard but none stand out in any way.   The band speaks with one voice.  
I have listened to recordings of myself with excellent musicians and always hear the original performance to some degree or another.  We had a few sessions that were “tic-less” or without error for those non band / drum corps folks understanding of that word.  Tic = timing error.

The combo of class A and phase coherent speakers opened my ears to the most accurate presentation of music I was intimately familiar with.  No smear of any sort.  With that system in place and only speakers rotated through, I became aware of crossover / driver anomalies that slowed the edges of notes, broke the synchronization of percussion with brass and slowed the output of ranges from treble on down.  The music was all there, shading and dynamics etc etc, but the recordings lost that lockstep timing or unison, a Slight blurring of instrumental notes that is normally undetected.  Speakers have been the bigger culprit in the change or lack of PRaT for me.  Electronics and cabling can have some deleterious effects but driver and crossover implementation tend to wave a bigger flag for me when it comes to decreasing PRaT.   For me full range speakers that marry woofer, mids and tweeters in phase and speed offer that sense of unity or unison

 

@soix - not knowing PRaT in audio components may be a blessing - one less thing to detract from the music

I find this interesting.  I'm with soix as I too have difficulty pinning down the understanding of PRaT in audio components.

I understand what is musical drive, but cannot put into words. I understand when orchestra timing is off, but when it focuses music beauty and drive take over.  I get the gist of @atmasphere in that increasing component sonic errors leads away from emotional engagement towards the analytical as we're wired to single out things that don't fit.  

When evaluating components, I do the usual test tracks: own familiar songs, test cd songs, acoustical instrument reproduction, etc. specifically paying attention to voices, piano, violin, bass definition, etc.  When choosing a component, I choose one that "resonates" with me (sounds great top to bottom, pulls me into the music) like Magico, MBL, YG.  Likely PRaT is a subcomponent of "resonates" that I simply haven't isolated separately

OP…. As the old line goes about jazz… Of you have to ask, you’ll never know….

To me, PRaT is a subjective (although not stupid) term.  To me, it refers to how realistic the music sounds, i.e., does it sound like you are there?  Does it give the illusion of a performance right in front of you, with depth, width and proper tone?  Since that is so dependent upon system, synergy, room size and treatment, etc., it can only be subjective.  I never refer to PRaT for that reason — I just say that my system makes me feel that I am there witnessing the performance, wide and deep soundstage, etc.  Those are terms that although they are subjective, they have some general understanding among the audiophile community.

It means the music is vibrant & the musicians are playing together. So the meaning of the song comes through.