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.
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"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.
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"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
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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.
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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).
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"They are here" is more about the quality of the imaging—the solidity and precision of the aural images themselves.
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"You are there" is more about the quality of the soundstage—the sense of space, air, and the feeling of a real venue.
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Recording Type: The ideal for a particular recording can depend on how it was made.
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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.
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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.
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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.