You are there-they are here

"They are here" only applies if the recording was done in a room very similar to yours. I prefer a room/system interface that is neutral enough to let the actual recorded soundspace come through. Should be able to accurately portray opera house,stadium,small club,etc,etc. Even multi-tracked pop or rock mixes should present accurately. So in short, I prefer "you are there"

You say potato,....... I say spud:>}

If you have an accurate system working properly everything you hear sounds a little, or a lot, dissimilar relative to soundstaging. Acoustic pianos ALL sound different, engineers can make drummers sound properly in a nice area or 67 feet wide (did he have his girlfriend play that tom fill on que from a restroom stall?), orchestras might as well be on different planets, etc. I try not to care too much and enjoy the fidelity and the musical ideas with some people right in front of me, surrounding me, stuck to the walls, or in a mono mix piled on top of each other...it can all be good, but it's all different.

Yeah, a lot of the mixing makes me scratch my head, what were they thinking. Some of the drummers would need eight arms 30' long. They are playing rhythms and runs that would be impossible for even the most gifted. Many times I can hear the edits as well. Are my ears better than the producer? Do they not have any pride in their work?

The drumming issue is a good point.Why are some drums heard the width of the stage? Is this due to multiple microphones on the drum kit? Then there are recordings with the drums heard realistically in a defined space.Is this due to using a single mic?
Regards,