Is imaging reality?

 A recording is an artifact in itself. It exists independent of the performers. The many hands (or ears) involved to produce it create a reality all it’s own.  In multi-miking an orchestra (and other genres as well) the sound engineer creates the imaging he or she likes.
A great performance can be ruined by poor production. And, as has been pointed out here, a mediocre performance can be appreciated for the sound of the artifact itself.
 Alternately, we can greatly enjoy historic recordings with terrible sound quality because the genius of the artist shines through.

Also, as has been pointed out, playback systems vary widely as to character and quality to add to the perception of reality.

@rvpiano......The genius of the artist ( s ). That is it, in a nutshell ! 

I'm with limomangus.  My system sounds wonderful, and even better a little later on Saturday night. 😊

I love Monet and Renoir.  I love to look through art books and those books serve a purpose.  But I remember my first visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and my first visit to the Chicago Art Institute.   Nothing in any art book could prepare one for what it is like to stand before the originals.  I've got a couple Chinese fine art knock offs of Degas paintings.  They are really pretty skillfully done.  Better than a print in an art book but they aren't originals and I know it. There is a parallel to reproduction of great music.

Listening at home is a different experience than listening to a live performance.  Who is to say that ultra high resolution and pinpoint imaging is "better" than what one hears live?   Is that really what Herr Beethoven had in mind?  

I dearly love Kempe's Strauss.  No one else comes close, in my opinion.  Would I rather stay home and listen to a bad 60's recording of Kempe or go to a mediocre performance at a regional orchestra?   I'll stay home and take my Kempe. 

I remember the first time I heard Janacek's Sinfonnieta live.  I sat right above the orchestra, to the side, where the brass was really in my face. The music is so dear to me and the sound of the brass was so beautiful that it just overwhelmed me.  I sat there fighting back tears.  I'm pretty sure that wasn't the composer's intention.  I've certainly heard better executed performances in recorded music.  But I am quite sure no recording on any system, no mater how good, will ever move me the way that live performance did.

So the live vs recorded works both ways.  Fortunately it's not an either/or choice.