Soundstage, Imaging, Detail & Presence??

Detail= Low level resolution, meaning, not at a low volume, but that background details, which are at a lower dynamic, are presented with the same clairity as foreground info. But that's only the beginning...great detail also gives information without that overly etched sound, which IMHO can be fatiguing. It's 'all' apparently there...with great focus, like taking that lens on the camera and making the final tweak, to bring everything together in perfect focus.
Imaging=Change audio into the visual medium and ask yourself can I visualize what I'm hearing...does it 'paint a vivid picture', that being orchestra, locations of instruments, juxtaposition of instruments in a jazz combo, and the distances between being rendered in what you think to be accurate proportions.
Presence=Think halographic...'Help me Obi Wan you're my only hope'..a female vocalist is standing before you in a time and place in space. Shockingly so....sometimes great, great tubes render this for me, better than anything else--the effect is stunning and keeps me comming back for more every time.

Good luck and good listening...

Larry

Larry offers good definitions
Adding that soundstage is the area that one can hear/sense the image of the music in.
The soundstage can be small, large, actually wider than the speakers, foreshortened, or deep. With the balance off the soundstage can be tilted to one side.

Stereo comes from the Greek word, stereos, meaning 'solid'.
Hopefully, if detail, imaging and presence gives one the illusion of a live event or at least, of something real happening in front of you, then Bob's your uncle; you're not in Kansas anymore.

These are things most audiophiles never find.

Lrsky,
Nice post! your description of presence mirrors my experiences, this is what triggered my transition from solid state systems to push-pull tubes and finally to SET tube amplifiers. The sense of live 3D performers and the ability to recreate the original venue is powerful and addictive. Once experienced I could`nt go back to lesser presentations anymore.