This paper discusses the application of a time-domain binaural signal-detection model in the context of estimates of the temporal resolution of the binaural auditory system. It is demonstrated that the optimal detector which is present in the model is crucial to account for specific temporal detection phenomena. In particular, the model can account for the apparent differences in the estimates of binaural time constants found with different experimental paradigms. It is argued that the differences in temporal-window estimates stem from listeners ability to listen off-time, whenever this enhances detection performance