[Jmop]

I guess I didn’t emphasize where the PRaT aspect comes into play. What I said about coherency was the focal point of that aspect, as the isolation of each instrument’s rhythm throws off timing slightly, also the sped up attack and decay can take on a bit of an artificial quality in balanced mode.

 

[Mojo65]

PRaT is not exactly only about speed or purely "attack"; as donunus explained, it's more the ability to involve the listener, the ability of an audio device to makes one foot tapping, it's the ability to keep the right timing of the music.
When a good PRaT is achieved, the sound is lively, involves the listener in the rhythm of the music, sounds are snappy and tight, the whole presentation is not only faithful to the music but also involving the listener. IMHO, as I understood the concept, it is a concept I learnt from the NAIM world, they use a lot this definition.

 

[theveterans]

PRaT is not exactly only about speed or purely "attack"; as donunus explained, it's more the ability to involve the listener, the ability of an audio device to makes one foot tapping, it's the ability to keep the right timing of the music.
When a good PRaT is achieved, the sound is lively, involves the listener in the rhythm of the music, sounds are snappy and tight, the whole presentation is not only faithful to the music but also involving the listener. IMHO, as I understood the concept, it is a concept I learnt from the NAIM world, they use a lot this definition.

Agreed! I have the Susvara and have demoed the HD650 (on a very synergtic system), and yes in my own definition PRaT is like a broader term of "plankton" which I borrowed and referenced from SBAF. It's not just about the speed but rather how these technical aspects of resolving ability, attack and decay and timing are mingled or synergized together in a way that the sound coming out is incredibly engaging. The two things that Susvara does better against the HD650 when both are in systems that give the best synergy respectively is the higher level of clarity and sense of space (aside from tonality of course). Both will have the same engagement factor that keep anyone listening for one more song the whole night

 

[jonathan c]

• To paraphrase US Supreme Court thoughts on pornography: “I cannot define PRaT per se, but I know it when I hear it.”
• @theveterans knows: “engaging” is !!

 

[jagwap]

Perhaps we should define

PRaT is not exactly only about speed or purely "attack"; as donunus explained, it's more the ability to involve the listener, the ability of an audio device to makes one foot tapping, it's the ability to keep the right timing of the music.
When a good PRaT is achieved, the sound is lively, involves the listener in the rhythm of the music, sounds are snappy and tight, the whole presentation is not only faithful to the music but also involving the listener. IMHO, as I understood the concept, it is a concept I learnt from the NAIM world, they use a lot this definition.

This is some of it. But it is not exclusively "lively". Their are other types of music which need a different type of timing accuracy.

The P - Pace, is about the perceived speed of the track. Obviously it does not speed up or slow down the actual playback speed. However the track can be perceived as driving along, or lackadaisical and laid back, depending on the musicians style. Say, the difference between Rage Against the Machine, and Little Feat for example. Both need good P of PRaT to get their music across, but in a rather different way. Good musical equipment need to preproduce both well, or there is a deficiency in their performance.

The biggest and only detriment of good PRaT system for me is that once you have access to it, bands that are not good in this area become nearly unlistenable. You can hear they are not tight or syncopated, and you no long want to listen to them. But then the increased enjoyment of the bands who excel at this more than outweighs losing the poor musicans.

 

[Jmop]

The biggest and only detriment of good PRaT system for me is that once you have access to it, bands that are not good in this area become nearly unlistenable. You can hear they are not tight or syncopated, and you no long want to listen to them. But then the increased enjoyment of the bands who excel at this more than outweighs losing the poor musicans.

Yes! It’s like, this is how listening to music should be.. When everything fades to the background and your focus leaves the music that’s when you should be asking yourself why you’re even this invested in the hobby. I want my music to be an emotional experience, though I do enjoy analyzing as well.