Shopping around? There are a lot of mediocre engineers making mediocre recordings with top-end equipment. That's why there's a popular expression in the industry: "it's the ear, not the gear." If you're comparing studios, get the actual producer/engineer who will be getting tones and mixing you to provide samples of his/her work. Please click below to hear samples of my work:

Tragedy Andy (indie rock) Mp3
Spencer Day ( jazz/pop) Mp3
Nothington (cow punk) Mp3
Facing New York (progressive indie rock) Mp3
The Action Design (indie rock) Mp3
David Thom Band (bluegrass) Mp3
The Sick (hardore) Mp3
Jesse Brewster (americana/pop) Mp3
Soundboy (pop/regae) Mp3
Love Equals Death (punk) Mp3
Krickie (country/pop) Mp3
Vile Conundrum (prog rock/metal) Mp3
Gentry Bronson (piano-based pop) Mp3
Furious Minds (hip hop/rock) Mp3
Deflator Mouse (indie/folk rock) Mp3
Sarah Davis (pop/dance) Mp3
M Headphone (beatles-style pop) Mp3
Damond Moodie (pop/soul) Mp3