how do you gauge and judge "timing"?

As I listen to the "musicianship" of each and every recording, timing imo, is when every musician is in sync with each other. My system is fantastic at this, and yes, I have heard many expensive systems in my lifetime that failed miserably at this, specifically in the bass region between drummers and bass players. Messy, sloppy, soggy, ill-defined...you get my point. It is a major "characteristic" of music listening that I enjoy, and I find extremely important. There is zero perfection with this hobby, and one needs to place these characteristics in an order that are most important to them. BTW, when listening to many of these systems, it did not matter (to me) if the sound staging was excellent, as this seems to be the trend for most listeners, which is fine. All about what you like.....I know what I like. I apologize for my "attitude" by those who take this the wrong way. My best, MrD.

If I have to listen to AC/DC to hear PRAT, please count me out… I far prefer Krall or Jones. 

In life timing is everything.  I guess it’s important when listening to music too.  I immediately thought of time alignment between speaker elements when I read the original post.  Appreciate the definitions posted.  Time has  come today - Time.  Now I’ve also got the Pink Floyd intro playing in my head which isn’t a bad thing.  

So sorry “PRAT” started right here during the early days of hi-fi in the UK according to @mahgister 

Naim and Linn started something here if the PRAT thing did actually originate from them with a marketing hype in mind. There’s been loads of advertising garbage spilled forth over the years to get an ‘edge” over competitors, to peddle an idea that suggests that their product is better than the others. It’s a question of intelligence or experience to hear and identify if it’s true or not.
 

But the real meaning of a “PRAT” in the UK, long before the hi-fi hype angle can not be disputed….. A simple minded foolish person, or idiot.

Judging hype and knowing what it really is, or just blindly accepting it as true can determine if you are a PRAT.

I trust acoustic concept. PRAT is not one...

 For sure i dont know the English  slang though...

There is no slang in philosophy or science books...

So sorry “PRAT” started right here during the early days of hi-fi in the UK according to @mahgister 

Naim and Linn started something here if the PRAT thing did actually originate from them with a marketing hype in mind. There’s been loads of advertising garbage spilled forth over the years to get an ‘edge” over competitors, to peddle an idea that suggests that their product is better than the others. It’s a question of intelligence or experience to hear and identify if it’s true or not.
 

But the real meaning of a “PRAT” in the UK, long before the hi-fi hype angle can not be disputed….. A simple minded foolish person, or idiot.

Judging hype and knowing what it really is, or just blindly accepting it as true can determine if you are a PRAT.