Can't say that I am having timing issues. My feet is tapping listening to Steely Dan's Aja. I can't give a critical view of the tubes as I have changed both the Tube and the Amp at the same time. So I can't tell what is contributing to the sound or taking away from it. my current playback chain is less that ideal. Spotify from gaming computer -> HDMI to Sony TV -> Headphone Analog out to Tube pre -> Crown power - speaker out to sub - sub to Quad s2's !!!!
For analyzing the system, I would have preferred to change one component at a time, play from my Marantz CD player to the Tube Pre -> Crown -> speakers. But my CD player is not working. I noticed that using the Tube and the Crown with the Quad 12L2's does make the Quads more laid back than they already are.
Overall, the sound has changed for sure. It's different. The Topping to the Quads were delicate, airy and lovely sounding. Sit back, pour a cup of coffee and relax kind of music. This setup is more like, pour a glass of whiskey, pick me up and dance with me kind of music.
On a side note, my tubes were complaining that they were getting a serious inferiority complex being on the same page as the tubes put on display by Newlash09
