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General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
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Model: PAT-4 Category: Preamplifier (SS) Suggested Retail Price: $50-100 Description: Dynaco engineer Ed Laurent's first late 60's valve-replication pre-amp project Manufacturer URL: Dynaco Manufacturer URL: Dynaco
Review by FRG7SWL (A) on February 20, 2004 at 10:31:46
IP Address: 198.81.26.75Add Your Review
for the PAT-4Dynaco's late sixties tech writer Bob Tucker described Dynaco's first solid-state pre-amp best: "Specifications of the PAT-4 speak for themselves. The distortion and noise, up to levels well beyond those required to drive any conventional amplifier, are comparable to the finest tube designs and below the levels which can be accurately measured with commercial grade test equiptment. Specifications cannot define all the facets of superior audio performance, however. In use with varying program material, the PAT-4 achieves its design goals of sonic ease and naturalness always sought but rarely achieved in solid state designs. There is remarkable clarity and an impression of direct contact with the original without the extra brightness or stridency which, unfortunately, is sometimes attributed to high fidelity sound". In the intervening decades, Ed Laurent's design has been unfairly bashed-n-trashed. Even Bob Schneider states, on his unofficial Dynaco website, that Dynaco's solid-state topologies "were highly regarded in their day. However, as with almost all other 60s & 70s solid state gear, modern equiptment surpasses these units in almost every area. So they have very little collector's interest". Hardly the case! See how long one a PAT-4 lingers on a thrift shop's shelf. Laurent designed his gear to be mod friendly, and Tucker included suggestions so kit builders could taylor their Dynacos to their particular tonal flavour. Have a friend who listens to reggae exclusively, and makes yearly sojourns to Trenchtown's music haunts. No unit replicates his beloved riddums as authoritatively as his PAT-4! When the Beatles assembled their Anthology project a decade ago, they used early 70s-era E.M.I. solid-state mixing consoles during tape remastering to replicate 60s-era's tubed tonal texture(actual 60s-era E.M.I. tubed consoles were prohibitive from a maintenance standpoint). Dynaco PAT-4s also possess that ability to capture that euphonic essence from hi-fi's golden age!
Product Weakness: Replacing those thin stock wires with 16 gauge increases PAT-4's clarity-n-warmth Product Strengths: Ed Laurent's dual-mono design faithfully replicates sixties-era valvesque bliss without attendant thermionic headaches
Associated Equipment for this Review: Amplifier: Marantz MR-235 Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): none Sources (CDP/Turntable): Denon DCM-450 cd player; Yamaha P-07 turntable Speakers: Celestion Vintage 30s Cables/Interconnects: Radio Shack Monster Cables Music Used (Genre/Selections): Blues, Funk, Jazz, R-N-B, Reggae, Rock Room Size (LxWxH): 10 x 10 x 10 Time Period/Length of Audition: 11 years plus... Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
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Topic - REVIEW: Dynaco PAT-4 Preamplifier (SS) - FRG7SWL 10:31:46 02/20/04 (6)
- no parrots here... - Bill Way 09:08:40 02/21/04 (3)
- I have had a Pas 3, Pat 4, and Pat 5 (Bifet) The only reason - audiogatorjim 06:54:21 02/22/04 (0)
- Re: no parrots here... - Story 16:53:43 02/21/04 (0)
- It'z yer loss, william - FRG7SWL 10:39:40 02/21/04 (0)
- Dynaco PAT-4 Preamplifier (SS) - wamba 16:23:02 02/20/04 (0)
- Dynaco PAT-4 Preamplifier (SS) - Bob Wortman 15:46:39 02/20/04 (0)
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