Quite so, Mothra. I've been at recording sessions where I was able to physically put my ears where the microphones were, and then listen to the electrical feed from microphones. In the majority of cases, there is a substantial difference between what the ear and microphone hears, even from the same location. And in most modern recordings, a variety of microphones are used, and each modifies the sound in distinctive ways.
Also, the location and angle of the microphones will in most cases be quite different from what you would hear if you were at a performance of the same event. Most microphones are located far closer to the instrument than any audience seat, and the angles will be quite different, too.
If you have a friend who plays the violin (for example), it is very instructive to listen to it being played at a distance (like you would hear from an audience seat), then listen to it from a distance of under one meter to get the microphones' perspective, and also listen to the instrument from above (again to get the microphones' perspective).
Now put all of the above together and think about the implications for a home audio reproduction system. Since the recording likely does not sound like what you would have heard live from a seat in the audience, if you have set up your audio system to sound like what you'd hear live, it is almost certain that your audio system is modifying what's on the recording, and not in a small way, either!
However, there are recordings that include a list of the equipment used, and also microphone placement drawings. If you know what the recording gear sounds like, and also study the placement drawings, you can form a closer guesstimate of what these recordings should probably sound like, and this can be a somewhat better guide to setting up your system (although you still won't know what the mixing contributed, as Mothra pointed out).
Also, the location and angle of the microphones will in most cases be quite different from what you would hear if you were at a performance of the same event. Most microphones are located far closer to the instrument than any audience seat, and the angles will be quite different, too.
If you have a friend who plays the violin (for example), it is very instructive to listen to it being played at a distance (like you would hear from an audience seat), then listen to it from a distance of under one meter to get the microphones' perspective, and also listen to the instrument from above (again to get the microphones' perspective).
Now put all of the above together and think about the implications for a home audio reproduction system. Since the recording likely does not sound like what you would have heard live from a seat in the audience, if you have set up your audio system to sound like what you'd hear live, it is almost certain that your audio system is modifying what's on the recording, and not in a small way, either!
However, there are recordings that include a list of the equipment used, and also microphone placement drawings. If you know what the recording gear sounds like, and also study the placement drawings, you can form a closer guesstimate of what these recordings should probably sound like, and this can be a somewhat better guide to setting up your system (although you still won't know what the mixing contributed, as Mothra pointed out).