ATC active or Tannoy TD12?

Bob,

I would add that certain music is mixed and mastered to be played louder. I used to collect 45 RPM 12" Vinyl singles. There was a reason. They were often mixed with greater dynamic range than ordinary LP's.

Dance club music genres are a good example of stuff that sounds good loud and ATC's are very comfortable playing dance music at club levels.

I am particulalry enjoying Duran Duran "Strange Behaviour" CD right now. I have their funky "Notorious" CD (with Steve Ferrone on drums after AWB disbanded).

It is extremely interesting to compare and contrast the audio quality on the Notorious CD (designed to sound good on radio and in homes and in cars) with the four dance club singles released on the "Strange Behaviour" compilation. It is Night and Day! Dynamics are absolutely STUNNING on the Dance Club singles mixes...sure the Notorious CD is OK sounding but the Dance Club singles just blow this out of the water.

I used to play the Radio Clash 12" dance club single a lot in the 80's too (half my old vinyl collection is 12" club mixes)- I am now on the hunt for more of these old (original ) dance club mixes on CD - mixes/masters that were done with high end night club systems being the target audience. Perhaps, for the same reasonn I find most movie soundtracks are better than CD's - although DVD concerts are a mixed bag.

If you are looking for an exciting dynamic concert then Black eyed Peas Sydney to vegas is a riot of great dynamic sound with some nice drumming be keith Harris. This DVD is much more dynamic than the CD versions of their songs.

So what does this mean - it means that your choice in music will also determine how enjoyable it is to listen at louder more dynamic levels. Think how YES "Owner of a lonely Heart" is mixed versus Green Day American Idiot - a world difference in how good it sounds loud.

Shadorne

Ever hear the 12 inch remakes by Arthur Baker from the early 1980s. They really slam as well.

Oh yes - New Order - I remember them well - Blue Monday in particular. I
have many of these singles. Girl's just want to have fun was snappy too - I
have that on single version too.

And, of course, "I, I, I ain't gonna play Sun City...."

Sorry I missed your reply. Thanks for the suggestions.

Anyone who lists This is Radio Clash is a friend of mine. I have two pristine copies. They just slam on the ATCs.
PS: I worked as a liason for the band with the US Festival and the The Who Tours in 1982 and 83. Really great shows most nights. Really wonderful people to work with. Really miss Joe Strummer--a super nice guy.

Love all those remix singles from that period--particularly New Order. I saw them play a secret gig/rave in downtown LA promoting that single in the mid 1980s. The entire lighting rig was blue lights--staging was just surreal.

Sun City is fabulous. I even liked what Baker did with The Boss: have you heard his remixes from Born in the USA from 1985? Very interesting in their composition.

It was a great period - studio productions cost millions - the engineering
quality was amazing - I am not sure we will ever get that again - great
dynamics. You tend to only get the dynamics with dance genre these days -
Kaskade etc.

This slams too

and this one Situation