How a persons system interprets and presents a recording is situational. As far as hard data regarding sound stage/depth, etc...yes it can be "scientifically" defined. These things are laid out in a studio, and if you source back to the master tracks, everything you hear on the recording has been purposefully placed there. Terrence can comment better on this.

Digressing back to my opening point, since everyone's systems are different, we will all hear different takes on what's essentially the same thing.

I think this point you are making is what makes our relationships in audio so special. When you find somone who is on your "wave", or who shares the same gear as you, a bond is formed in knowing you are both hearing the same thing.

That's what's tough for me, since my system is the greatest in the world, I sit atop a lonely, lonely mountain.