Forward or recessed sound?

Wolf, you are spot on... gear at the mercy of the recording.

Everything I listen to sounds different…generally good to great (since I have fabulous taste and reference grade gear…whatever that means) with forward or not or middling or something else sound. All different, generally recorded in vastly differing venues or studios by different people, with differing styles of music…this is what great hifi is…exposing differences in recordings through allowing detail to get out there. If things start sounding similar, you're in big trouble. Or small trouble…some kind of trouble...

I prefer a more laid back (recessed?) presentation over a more forward presentation.

That depends on why the amplifier takes on the stage that it does. Warm bold forward sound turns me off as does a lazy laid back tone. However I'm happy with either dynamic & sparkly or a neutral 'just the facts' presentation.

In point so long as the midrange doesn't overpower the other bands I'd declare a slight preference for forward.

I'm listening to some Jane Siberry and want to wrap my arms around her, that's how 3 dimensional the sound is, this with the forward sounding amps. Truly I'm talking about a different sonic perspective.

Both are very bad like natural sound mid hall.

Even with great layering, if it is all upfront or all recessed, that still sounds like it is somewhat 2 dimensional with not a much depth.

Both amps have GREAT layering so that's not an issue.

Agree with zavato, if the sound is just forward or just recessed, then it must be very 2 dimensional. A good amp should have layering sounds from upfront to the rear.

Neither- prefer an amp that does not editorialize 

I'd pick recessed sounding of the two. One amp might be "mos-fet" and the other "bi-polar." I really like my Adcom 5002 which is "bi-polar." Different sounding than the mos-fet Rotel amp I used previously.