Amp "timing" ?


I was reading someone raving about the impeccable "timing" of their high-end amp this morning.  I have heard this term tossed around several times recently in my dive back into highish-end audio. 

Can someone please explain what is meant by this term?  Is it snake-oil or confirmation bias?  I just don't understand how a human  can hear  a timing difference of a soundwave unless it's a 2nd+ order reflection.  

Thoughts?
dtximages

Showing 3 responses by dtximages

Well, I've even read it in Stereophile when they reviewed pre-amps.  It seems like there's a new hot topic of listening placebo every year or so.  I've seen people describe better/worse timing several times and just wondering if this is more audiofraud minutia or if it's a very clear distinction that can be relatively easily recognized by a critical listener. 
Ok cool now we're getting somewhere.  So the amount of time something kinda lingers like maybe a quick cymbol.  I would like to hear a "poor timed amp" next to a "good timed amp" to see exactly what I should be listening for. 

Any preferred Spotify tracks to carefully listen to where I might hear this?
I just saw an instagram post by @absolutesound that says this:

"The finesse and muscle of the Naim NAP-500 combined with the Focal Diablo Utopia's speed: the recipe for an incredibly dynamic performance with eye-watering accuracy and timing."  

Why do I feel like we're being duped here.  If I told my 10 year old son to sit down and listen to the timing of this amp, he'd think the timing was awesome.  When it's really a mystical quality that no one knows how to describe.

I'm just getting tired of all the "and the veil was lifted" colour that people are adding to their reviews/opinions that have zero basis.

But I'm still open to this timing thing if it has a basis because I LOVE believing things sound different and better, I'm just not always convinced it's true.