Check out our guide for the best bass headphones. We cover a range of information on headphones and get a lot of questions on bass. Whether you are looking for rumbling over-the-top bass or accurate bass with depth, we have you covered! Headphones have a variety of sound signatures. This guide is full of those with standout bass. We’ve also made sure to capture headphones with good designs and quality sound outside of the low end.
Table of Contents
Best Overall Bass Headphones
1. Sony WH-XB900N Wireless Extra Bass
- Deep Bass Without Overpowering EQ
- Excellent Battery Life
- Great App Support + Custom EQ
- Capable ANC + Lightweight Design
Sony’s extra bass line has been a favorite for bass heads through the years. In our WH-XB900N review, we outlined how it continues that trend. The bass on these headphones is deep and accurate. They manage to retain a fun sound signature that doesn’t skimp on mids and highs. There is also an app that allows for extensive EQ tweaking.
Add active noise canceling, 30 hours battery life, a comfortable design, hi-fi codec support, and a great app, and you have a winner. The WH-XB900N shines with the ability to produce great bass while being capable of much more. Many bass headphones mainly produce powerful bass. Some produce great overall sound quality while still allowing for big bass. Some just provide quality, accurate bass production. The Sony WH-XB900N has the hardware and software to accomplish all of this.
Best for Powerful Bass
2. Skullcandy Crusher Evo Wireless
- Amazingly Powerful Sensory Bass
- Insane 40-Hour Battery Life
- Built-In Tile Finding Technology
- Bold and Attractive Design
The Skullcandy Crusher Evo Wireless is a great evolution in the Skullcandy line. For those in search of impactful bass you can feel, look no further. These headphones have the much-loved bass slider to adjust the low end on the fly. When it approaches the 30-40% mark the bass can reach otherworldly levels. Battery life is advertised at 40 hours, but can often beat that. While there is no hi-fi codec support, the Evo has fun EQ by default. The app also provides a few options to tweak the sound. Check out our full Crusher Evo review for more information.
Best Bass Earbuds
3. Jabra Active 75t
- Dynamic EQ With Boomy Bass
- Great Fitting Earbuds with Tactile Buttons
- IP57 Rated for Dust and Water Resistance
- Great Companion App + Custom EQ
The Jabra Active 75t were well-received when released. They were some of the best all-around true wireless earbuds. Solid battery life, great app support, lightweight design, hear-through mode, and good audio quality all made it a great option. They also had a fun EQ with boomy, punchy bass that many people loved. They have since been replaced, but this version still remains a more affordable option for bass lovers.
Best Bass Headphones for Noise Cancelling
4. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless
- Detailed Sound & Dynamic Bass
- World Class ANC Performance
- Great App Support & Custom EQ
- 30-Hour Battery Life w/ ANC
Bass lovers got lucky with the WH-1000XM4 headphones. The sequel to the XM3s unsurprisingly has the best active noise cancellation on the market. They also have what some would consider a slightly bassy sound profile by default. Using Sony’s headphones app, you can modify the EQ for more or less bass. Most importantly, the XM4s respond very well either way with superb sound quality across all frequencies. Sony’s WH-1000XM4 headphones perform well whether you prefer a bass-heavy or balanced EQ. You can check out our guide for all the best noise-cancelling headphones here.
Best Bass Earbuds for Workouts
5. Beats PowerBeats Pro Wireless Earbuds
- Bass Heavy and Dynamic EQ
- Lightweight Design + Secure Fit
- Water Resistance and Great Build
- Great Workout Earbuds
Beats headphones have a good reputation amongst consumers. It’s only grown since Apple acquired the company. The Powerbeats Pro earbuds are a culmination of that. Powered by Apple’s H1 headphone chip, these Beats offer a lightweight design, clear sound, thumping bass, water resistance, and strong Bluetooth. They’ll get you 9 hours of battery life with 24 more hours in its case. All this makes the PowerBeats great headphones, specifically for exercising.
Best Budget Bass Headphones
6. Skullcandy Crusher Wireless
- Deep and Rumbling Bass
- Bass Slider Works Great
- Ridiculously Long Battery Life
The best bass headphones provide an experience when listening to music. Deep bass is a requirement for the Crusher line from Skullcandy and the Crusher Wireless are exhibit A. You’ll find the deep bass and great battery life of the Crusher Evo here also. That includes the adjustable sensory bass slider too. Unfortunately, the overall audio quality can’t rival the Crusher Evo headphones. They are a much more affordable option though.
Honorable Mentions
7. Sony XB950B1 Extra Bass Wireless Headphones
- Thumping Bass With Clarity
- Bass Button Adds Flexibility
- Works With Headphones App + NFC
Here’s another gem from Sony’s extra bass line. These headphones used to be my favorite pair of bass headphones. The bass effect button on Sony’s XB950B1 headphones adds a bass boost on the fly. I prefer this option in some ways. It beats having to fiddle with an app to boost the low end for bass-heavy genres. These headphones manage to produce thumping bass and clear sound in a way other fails. Unfortunately, they have a faulty design. Mine eventually broke on the earcup hinge and many others suffered the same fate. For that reason, I can’t recommend them at full price. Refurbished models can be found for well under $100 sometimes.
8. Beats Studio 3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones
- High-performance wireless noise cancelling headphones
- Capable ANC Performance
- Solid Battery Life + Quick Charge
The Beats Studio 3 is another great option for bass headphones, if you are looking for active noise canceling. They’ve got a premium design and a ton of color options. Beat’s signature warm eq doesn’t provide the most balanced sound, but that’s not what all consumers are looking for. The sound signature is still one many people will love. Comfort is a huge plus with these headphones and long periods of listening to music won’t be an issue. Battery life is solid at 22 hours and a 10-minute charge will get you you 3 hours of playback.
9. Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
- Good Bass Response + Clean Suond
- Excellent Soundstage and Imaging
- Great Build Quality and Materials
A mainstay in the bass headphones category is the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. Wired and wireless versions are available. Bass on the ATH-M50x is different than others headphones on this list though. You’ll only find deep bass where it’s warranted. The overall frequency response and sound signature is more balanced. These are a good option if you’re looking for accurate bass reproduction.
What Makes Good Bass Headphones?
Bass Reproduction and Customization
All headphones are different. There’s beauty in how music is reproduced by various headphones. At a basic level, headphones receive an audio signal. They then reproduce the audio for the listener. How headphones reproduce the audio across frequencies determines the EQ. The best bass headphones typically have a bass-heavy EQ. One of the simplest ways to do this is to prioritize lower frequencies by playing them louder than other frequencies (mids and highs). The result is a pair of headphones that emphasizes bass more than others.
Other bass headphones tweak the user experience in a way that caters to people in search of heavy bass. For example, the Crusher Wireless Evo headphones have a slider that adjusts the amount of bass on the fly. Users may prefer an increased low end for genres like Hip Hop or EDM. Or they may prefer it based on their mood. The slider allows them to activate rumbling and punchy bass on the fly. Others like Sony’s XB950B1 have a physical bass button that activates a bass-heavy sound profile. Some headphones also just have hardware capable of producing hard-hitting bass and software that makes it possible. The best bass headphones find ways to provide additional low end in a variety of ways.
Sound Quality
Big bass does not equal quality bass. A quality bass response means accurate bass with good extension. This can be a difficult balance to strike to avoid bass that is muddy and sloppy. Good bass headphones find a way to boost the low end without overpowering the other frequencies. The result is music that doesn’t sound balance. The bass can overpower vocals in the mid-range. Or they low end can smoother instruments in higher frequencies. The best bass headphones manage to provide a quality low end along with other key elements of quality sound. That includes a wide soundstage, frequency response, overall clarity, and instrument separation.
Good Fit and Seal
Comfort is important for any headphones. Prioritize comfort when you know you’ll be using the headphones for extended periods of time. The same goes if you’re in search of the best bass headphones. If you’ll be using these headphones for a commute or working out, comfort becomes much more important. Focusing on things like build quality, clamping power, and ear cup material for overhead headphones.
For workout headphones, it’s important to make sure you have a pair of headphones that can comfortably stay on your head during exercise. Earbuds are typically preferable to workout headphones for this reason. A quality seal is always key to consider for a good pair bass of earbuds too. Earbuds usually come with several sets of ear tips. This is so consumers can find the ideal size for their ears. The correct size will provide a snug fit and a good seal. A bad seal can result in subpar bass reproduction and decreased passive noise canceling.
Durability
Quality build quality is are essential to a good pair of headphones. You want a pair of headphones that will stand up to whatever is necessary. That starts with quality materials being used. Flimsy materials are quicker to break down and require repair. Some of the headphones on this list also have ratings for water and dust resistance. This should provide peace of mind for people who want headphones to resist the elements.
Battery Life
Solid battery life should be a prerequisite for any headphones. Same with bass headphones. Headphones on this list vary in battery life and anything over 20 hours should enough for most. Take into account that higher volume always hits battery life more. Many bass headphones also have haptic bass which will also heavily impact battery life.
Keith Collins has been writing for over 15 years for various publications. He’s a lover of music, home theater, and excellent sound quality. His fondness for technology in addition to his non-stop curiosity fuels his writing ventures.