General Asylum: REVIEW: Dynaco PAT-4 Preamplifier (SS) by FRG7SWL

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: 198.81.26.75

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Dynaco'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

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