You are there vs. They are there


So what is the difference?  Do I have it right?

You are there: the vocal and soundstage starts at the plane of the speakers

                         and recess backward behind the speakers plane.

They are there: The soundstage is forward into the room with the vocal

                          reproduction in your room.

 

Which would you prefer?

andy2

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...

 

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. ❤️❤️❤️

@mapman 

I think it’s the opposite.  Directional speakers do not bounce around the room and interact with the room as much so things can be "pin pointed" within the room more accurately.