steve_1979 said:
ATC actives (like many other active speakers) have better controlled bass than passive speakers. If you've not heard them before it does initially seem a bit like they have less bass which they don't. They just don't have the extra 'boom' and 'overhang' that passive speakers do. It does sometimes take a little of time listening before you become accustomed to this extra control but once you do it's hard to go back to passives without noticing the bass lacking a bit of its definition and 'booming'.
When compared to Bozak Symphonies the active ATC's that I've heard do not have better controlled bass. The ATC's have leaner bass. Lean to the extent that they tend to filter out bass guitars and bass drums - which the vast majority of domestic speakers also tend to do. Filter it out so that it becomes hard to follow the bass guitar line when the rest of the band are playing. Active ATC's may well be better in the bass than typical small 2 way ported standmounts, but they are not as good in the bass as Bozak Symphonies - not for quality nor quantity.
Go to a live band and you will be able to hear ALL the intruments clearly and be able to focus on and follow each of them at will.
Bozak Concert Grands have slightly better bass (more impact and a little bit more extension) than the Symphonies at the expense of slightly worse imaging. Neither speaker are ideal for nearfield lsitening (closer than 10 feet) unless you modify them by disconnecting 6 of the 8 tweeters (comb effects).
EV Patrician 800's have more extended and dynamic bass than Bozak Symphonies at the expense of the upper bass being not quite as tight as the Bozaks. The Patricians have a more open, dynamic midrange with better bite and clarity than the Bozaks.
Anyway, if not these exact models, something like them should provide the OP with the sort of sound that he is after. High end, purist, very large sealed box or corner horn designs. For speakers with a much smaller cabinet size, something like Yamaha NS 1000's or Celstion Ditton 66's are a good compromise.