Hear, hear, Detlof. To "well controlled" I would add, "...and sustained throughout the duration of the passage/piece of music...". All too often, amps either run out of juice, or otherwise fall short of giving us the full dimension of lower register without "plagiarising". Examples are cellos + organ / acoustic double base + electric base in jazz ensembles, or even an unique electric base that is playing front-line rather than support to the other instruments.
Yes, the bass should be warm and enveloping -- if such was the musician's intention. Usually, however, I find that base players work many nuances into their playing (striking notes, chords, soft, bold... in quick succession). IMO, we would all like to perceive these differences during playback. If we don't, it's "muddy".
When bass envelops me in my system, it's usually the result of 1st & 2nd harmonics being captured in the recording and reproduced in my room (finally!!) -- or booming.
In order to keep my system's sound balanced, hi-to-low register, I used to compromise in the lower bass (c. 80Hz), in order to hear a controlled version of what bass there was -- even if it meant losing out on harmonics...
Anyway, my long answer to a brief & to the point question. Thanks, all, for your patience.
Yes, the bass should be warm and enveloping -- if such was the musician's intention. Usually, however, I find that base players work many nuances into their playing (striking notes, chords, soft, bold... in quick succession). IMO, we would all like to perceive these differences during playback. If we don't, it's "muddy".
When bass envelops me in my system, it's usually the result of 1st & 2nd harmonics being captured in the recording and reproduced in my room (finally!!) -- or booming.
In order to keep my system's sound balanced, hi-to-low register, I used to compromise in the lower bass (c. 80Hz), in order to hear a controlled version of what bass there was -- even if it meant losing out on harmonics...
Anyway, my long answer to a brief & to the point question. Thanks, all, for your patience.