I run Amarok 1.4.8 under Fedora 8.

Starting a new track, whether manually or automatically at the end of the previous track, the changeover is instant.

However, pausing or resuming a currently-playing track is delayed by two seconds. The spectrum analyzer will stop, and audio will continue for two seconds when pausing. The inverse is also true - The spectrum analyzer starts for two seconds before audio kicks in.

This issue is exclusive to Amarok. I've tested audio playback in Totem, VLC, and Rhythmbox, all of which pause and resume instantaneously.

Almost same there. Running on Fedora 9, Amarok v. 1.4.9.1
When pausing or resuming there is a lag about half a second long. And same lag happens when changing volume level (in Amarok).
Tested with Totem, XMMS, VLC.

(BTW Amarok says he runs using KDE 3.5.9-8.fc9, not 4.04)

Ah, I forgot. Engine is xine (libamarok_xine-engine), music in mp3@192 and flac.

Could be related to PulseAudio.