Do most people prefer tight bass or non tight bass?

@theaudiohiffle This is true as far as it goes in reference to bass on any one particular recording. Playing a multitude of recordings over a relatively long period of time will expose tonal imbalances, non pleasing tonality will rear it's ugly head.

As for comparing to live, I'd suggest timbre is likely the only non variable we have for a reference. And even this problematic, what about amplification and sound reinforcement. And then we have synths and even analog instruments may have unique sound qualities, for example the woods used on any particular instrument, and this goes on and on. How about aural memory. I don't think many use live music as a reference anymore, home audio is far more about pleasing oneself.

You really need to find the right amp for the right speaker. You can also consider good subs, because a speaker with good bass will cost you $20k plus. Subs will also give you some flexibility to play with tubes, which many enjoy for the sound qualities.

Absolutely tight, but a natural sounding bass. As if an actual jazz upright bass player is in the room. I’ve only heard that from an OB speaker I used to own that had 15” bass drivers that were created specifically for OB speakers. The thunk, the funk, were all there and they sounded as natural as I’ve ever heard. 

It totally depends on the music, sometimes I just want to feel the bass, other times I want to be able to discern the difference between a bass guitar and bass drum. 

Think most of the time, the bass resolution is in the recording. Some Hip-Hop will have bass boom, while some Blues will have tighter more accurate bass.

In general, for 2ch, I like sealed boxes, including my sub. Want the tighter more accurate sound. Now in my HT, I just want the room to shake, music accuracy is less important. 

I can sit and listen to my 2ch setup all day, at moderate volumes. Only done it a few times watching music on the TV in the HT room, but it does become fatiguing over time. Some of that might be the 13 speakers, and 2 x12 subs. 

For me it ultimately starts with the amp and how it controls the speaker drivers. Clearly the Damping Factor spec is key….I don’t think you need a huge number but as always more is better. The Mac at only 40 is the main culprit, that’s too low. Something around 200 is my minimum for DF. My current amp is 1100 DF at 20Hz, for most part I have very tight bass and articulated well. Some recordings have a bloated low end so nothing you can do with that. Over all I prefer a tight articulated bass that still gives me deep notes and pressurizes my room very well, and I still can hear the other instruments. 
You are hearing the difference so it does make for a choice of what you like or not.