You are there vs. They are there

@andy2 

Good question,  I have wondered about that myself.  Google Gemini says:

In audiophile terms, "you are there" versus "they are here" are two different—and sometimes conflicting—goals for a sound system's performance, particularly concerning its ability to create a realistic sense of space and imaging.

• "They are here" describes a system that brings the performers and the soundstage into your listening room. The aural images of the musicians and their instruments are palpable and present, seeming to be positioned directly in front of you, as if they were performing on a stage right there in your room. The focus is on a high level of detail, clarity, and immediacy. This is often associated with systems that have superb imaging and pinpoint accuracy in placing instruments within the soundstage.

• "You are there" describes a system that transports you to the original recording venue. It aims to recreate the acoustic environment of the performance space, whether it's a concert hall, a small jazz club, or a recording studio. The sound is not just in front of you; it has a sense of depth, space, and a feeling of the room's ambience, including the reflections and reverberations that give a live performance its unique character. This is often associated with a system that excels at reproducing a wide and deep soundstage, with a sense of air and atmosphere around the instruments.

Key Differences and Associated Concepts

• Focus: "They are here" prioritizes the soundstage's immediate presence and the precise, sharp focus of each instrument. "You are there" prioritizes the acoustics of the recording venue and the sense of being immersed in that space.

• Imaging vs. Soundstage: Both concepts are closely related to a system's imaging (the ability to accurately place instruments in a 3D space) and soundstage (the overall size, width, and depth of that perceived space).

  • "They are here" is more about the quality of the imaging—the solidity and precision of the aural images themselves.

  • "You are there" is more about the quality of the soundstage—the sense of space, air, and the feeling of a real venue.

• Recording Type: The ideal for a particular recording can depend on how it was made.

  • A close-mic'd studio album might lend itself better to the "they are here" presentation, as there may be little to no room ambience to reproduce.

  • A live classical or jazz recording, or a recording made in a natural acoustic space, is often the perfect material for a "you are there" system to shine.

While some audiophiles prefer one over the other, the ultimate goal for many is a system that can do both—one that offers pinpoint accuracy and presence while also conveying the size and acoustics of the original recording space. This synergy of "they are here" and "you are there" is often considered the hallmark of a truly great high-fidelity system.

When my room was done , my first one, with many resonators distributed. the soundstage  was around me. No shouting at all , it was not a singer  surging from the center forwrd as suggested by the word "shouting"  it was immersive soundstage  all around my listening position beside me and sometimes almost behind me and with depth behind the speakers it is related to the recording trade-off .

 With no more distribute grid of Helmhotz resonators i did not have this at this level in my actual smaller room in a basement....

In near field my small active speakers gave me the more  in between image and depth from behind the speakers, sometimes with good recording a more immersive one though but not at the level of my past bigger room at all...Anyway for the low price and well embedded in the room this system is satisfying.

With headphone the TOP AKG K340 i had  the impression i am there, and even with some recording the impression speaker like and out of the head that the musicians are in my room ...

  Stereo system Crosstalk impede the spatial attributes of sound as it is recorded it is well explained by the genius acoustician  Edgar Choueiri...

"They are Here!"  So much more involving.

https://youtu.be/ApS2wScgU44

The shouting at you forward projection of vocals is not something I would like or would be generally accepted as a good thing under almost any circumstances. 

Can you have the best of both worlds - forward but not shouting at you.  I personally prefer "They are there".  It creates a palpable presence that makes music more interesting.

Did you mean to say “they are here”?

I think of most systems built around more directional speakers as “you are there”.   The goal is to take the room out of the equation and experience the recording exactly as produced. 
 

Whereas I think of more omnidirectional speakers as “they are here”.  In other words now your room is the live performance venue and the players sound more like they are there in the room with you.  
 

I have one of each and enjoy each on its own terms in different ways because I just love this stuff in general and want to experience it all. ❤️❤️❤️