Drums reproduction

Virtually all instruments are purposely turned down because the recording chain and home playback systems cannot handle the dynamics. Your system can't handle a grand piano, operatic vocalist, trumpet, drum set or a stack of Marshall amplifiers. My system can't handle them either. To Drubin's point, filling the room with sound is very different than dominating the room which seems to be Richardmr's observation. You can actually fill a room with sound at fairly low volumes. My experience with both live and recorded music is that it's rarely appropriate for the drums to dominate the sound mix. Also, if properly recorded and your system is of high enough quality and well set up, then there shouldn't be a substantial lose of the music's impact at lower volumes. Obviously, this last statement doesn't apply to music that is solely intended to be listened to at LOUD LOUD volumes.

Onhwy61 - I've used Cobham, etc. as extreme examples of drummers who "lead" their bands. But, as is the case with someone like Elvin Jones, with Coltrane and McCoy Tyner in the band at one time, Elvin was not the "lead" player. But he was dominant nonetheless. And I don't mean just during solos. I just think percussion domination has not translated to recordings like other instruments. Do you notice the loss of visceral impact on recorded drums compared to live? I don't lose it on other instruments the same way. Please don't confuse my wanting all percussion to sound like MegaDeath or the like. I would like it to be more sonically equitable. Then we will approach "live."

Do you have any suggestions for "best" drum sound on cd?

Jim

direct/reflecting speaker designs generally capture that impact. shahinian/gradient/ohm,etc. lots of generally accepted hi end brands don't come close to recreating it. ....as much of a 'feeling' as a 'sound'.

even after getting my head thumped several times at shows i still know it's

Megadeth