Do most people prefer tight bass or non tight bass?


Today I compared a McIntosh 462 to a Moon audio 761 amp. Both sounded really good. I noticed the bass was tight on the Moon Audio 761 while it was not tight on the McIntosh 462. Both on Dynaudio towers (do not know the model but they go for about 14k).

It is hard for me to know which type of bass I would like better in the long run. The tight bass sounded awesome and the non tight bass sounded more fuller.  Curious, do most people prefer the tight bass or the non tight bass?

dman777

Articulate Bass.  Closest possible to the source instrument, sounds real.  

I like ghdprentice's description. What I don't like is bass created by or enhanced by the room or speaker placement therein. You lose too much of the clarity available in your speakers. If your speakers are deficient in the bass, i.e. small monitors you might be able to get good tight bass using a sub, or 2 or 3, in a complementary location. 

OP  tight  bass is the more accurate bass?

Yes. You can say that. The current reproduction technology always sound unclear than the original music.

I like accurate bass. If an audio system can reproduce accurate bass, also, it can do mid-range too. More bass doesn’t mean it sounds better. Everything must balanced for pleasant listening experience. Compare systems’ bass below. Alex

Original music  https://youtu.be/OZ7EvYTCXGw?si=_sD5OaI_-l303UPm

https://youtu.be/S71FaZBUElU?si=FKZT1R281lVXMZ0C&t=450

https://youtu.be/KAzhWyQzccw?si=NWleCHoPwHwI15Pr&t=6

https://youtu.be/kQ7VvRLVTDk?si=aZlgNkUpWZ1E3Qna&t=4

https://youtu.be/RZrlZT1VfPo?si=6WFOU63CwcR9ZMvR

Damping factor measurements of an amplifier doesn't make much if any difference. I have had amplifiers with a damping factor of 150, that had better bass than amplifiers of over 800 damping factor.