Good Achtung Baby CD? I got a bad one.

That makes things complicated...in other words, if that is not the problem, then what is?

The implication is that you can consult the dynamic range data base and pick out the fullest dynamic representation but that alone, of course, doesn't say anything else about the whole package, the overall SQ.

And to me that is frustrating. I have a handful of CDs that are so sonically appealing that the actual song itself isn't as critical. In other words, they aren't among my all time favorites but they are so well recorded and presented on the format (CD) that they are a joy to listen to. A few that come to mind: Aja by Steely Dan, The Soul Cages by Sting, Dire Straits by Dire Straits, Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here.

I want that in all of my CDs. So when it comes to an album like Achtung Baby which contains some of my favorite individual songs, it is disappointing when the SQ is not as compelling as I would like it to be. Then what? How many CDs do I have to buy before finding one with that SQ.....assuming it exists. Maybe it doesn't.

And then maybe it is juts a matter of taste in regard to SQ? A certain way I want stuff to sound? Maybe U2 didn't want it to sound the way I want it to. That may be it. It seems ponderously bass heavy and I know that has been a trend over the decades. Maybe I've just fallen out of love with that take on popular music. I certainly hear, and do not like, the loudness pumped into a number of recent CDs....but not this one per se.

Anyway, just thinking out loud. I appreciate the thoughts on the matter.

I'll give this CD another listen or two. Maybe it just needs a little more volume to tighten up....I'll have to wait for my wife to go out and crank it up.

Seems to me what you remember from your original tape is the US release. I would look for an original US release CD or the 2011 remaster. I understand your frustration I have some cd's I rarely listen to  and have tossed some out. 

I’m not saying the quality of the CD in n80’s possession is due to being a BMG release. It most likely is a poor quality pressing or a defect. My point was to find the best pressing possible.

The SQ of a record club release being different than the record label is solely due to my experience with classical CDs. I have more than a few BMG and Columbia House issues that dont measure up.
Club issues for rock and pop probably are relabeled discs. Often with classical CDs and LPs, the record club would have paid to have a series of music pressed separately for their distribution.
Some club issues of a certain composer have been purchased later in their entirety and remastered for release by a record label.

And to me that is frustrating. I have a handful of CDs that are so sonically appealing that the actual song itself isn't as critical.

Same here. The sonics are so good it makes for an enjoyable listening session.
  I'm repeating myself, but in many cases I have taken SQ advice from the Steve Hoffman forum.

djones, my memory is from the original release but it is also from low end audio gear so I think that has less to do with it than some of the measuring stick CDs I listed above.

lowrider, I need to spend more time at the Steve Hoffman site. However it seems that it isn't organized purely for looking stuff up. You have to dig into the various very large threads. But, I'll figure it out.