Best Bass Headphones: Complete Guide
Bass is a very critical aspect of sound signature and a lot of people enjoy the emphasis on the bass. There are tons of headphones in the market which tend to provide over-powered bass. Usually, closed-back headphones are considered a much better choice if you want bass-boosted audio. However, there are some open-back headphones as well which provide extremely pleasant bass, as their driver design is much different from an average headset. Commonly, the best bass headphones are tricky to spot since boosted bass is not the only thing that makes a pair of headphones sound great.
However, we have seen a rather uninspiring trend in the headphone market over the past few years, wherein manufacturers are just boosting the bass profile of the headphones in order to get a better sound impression. Our studio headphone buying guide also touches on this in a bit more detail. This is certainly not the way to go, as everything has to be in balanced proportions in order to get the best listening experience. So, whether you are fond of dynamic headphones or planar magnetic headphones, there are still some factors to consider while looking for the top bass headphones in order to maximize the return of your purchase.
Our Picks For The Best Bass Headphones
| # | Preview | Product Name | Award | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | HIFIMAN HE-400i | Best Sounding Bass Headphones | Check Price |
| 2 |  | Audio-Technica ATH-WS1100iS | Best Over Ear Bass Headphones | Check Price |
| 3 |  | SONY WH1000XM3 | Best Wireless Bass Headphones | Check Price |
| 4 |  | SONY MDR-XB950N1 | Best Budget Bass Headphones | Check Price |
| 5 |  | Skullcandy Crusher | Best Mid Range Bass Headphones | Check Price |
| # | 1 |
| Preview | |
| Product Name | HIFIMAN HE-400i |
| Award | Best Sounding Bass Headphones |
| Details | Check Price |
| # | 2 |
| Preview | |
| Product Name | Audio-Technica ATH-WS1100iS |
| Award | Best Over Ear Bass Headphones |
| Details | Check Price |
| # | 3 |
| Preview | |
| Product Name | SONY WH1000XM3 |
| Award | Best Wireless Bass Headphones |
| Details | Check Price |
| # | 4 |
| Preview | |
| Product Name | SONY MDR-XB950N1 |
| Award | Best Budget Bass Headphones |
| Details | Check Price |
| # | 5 |
| Preview | |
| Product Name | Skullcandy Crusher |
| Award | Best Mid Range Bass Headphones |
| Details | Check Price |
Last Update on 2024-09-18 at 18:26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
As mentioned before, the inclusion of powerful bass is not the only thing we are looking at in this roundup. Sure, it would make a nice listening experience for the user if they were only fond of bass and nothing else, but that sort of appreciation does not normally exist in the consumer and enthusiast space. Our gaming headphones buying guide is also clear on this aspect since this is a common point of concern in headphones. The very best bass headphones offer a balanced listening experience, wherein the headset does not solely focus on one facet of the sound. Keeping that in mind, here are our picks for the bass headphones that you should consider buying.
1. Best Sounding Bass Headphones - HIFIMAN HE-400i
Supreme Bass
Pros
- Premium And Attractive Design
- Powerful Bass
- Very Comfortable
- Wide Soundstage
- Ideal For Long Listening Sessions
Cons
- High Price
- Unremarkable Build Quality
Design: Over-Ear / Open-back | Impedance: 35 Ohms | Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 35 kHz | Weight: 370 g
Check PriceHIFIMAN is the pioneer of planar magnetic headphones and their headphones are greatly appreciated for their high sound quality and low price. The HE-400i is one of the most popular headphones by the company and it is the most beautiful pair of headphones we have ever seen.
The design of the headset looks very pleasant and it feels quite premium. The earpads are very thick, providing a comfortable experience while the headband is pretty wide so that you don’t get the poking feeling. The build quality of the headset is not as good as you would expect from a headset at this price but still, getting good-quality planar magnetic headphones at this price is a fine deal.
The highlight of the HE-400i is their deep and detailed bass, which provides you with an amazing experience, as it feels so clear-cut and dominant. The low-bass is a bit underwhelming but the mid and high-bass feel great. The mid-tones seem very clear and the vocals seem very enlightening. There is slight brightness in the headphones which is why you might feel slight sibilance but overall the effect is not that significant. The soundstage of the headphones feels amazing and matches some of the high-end audiophile headphones in the market.
Overall, HIFIMAN HE-400i is one of the best bass headphones under $500 and since the product is often available under sale, you might be able to get them under $200.
2. Best Over Ear Bass Headphones - Audio-Technica ATH-WS1100iS
Accurate Presentation Of Bass
Pros
- Detachable Wire
- Thick Padding
- Comfortable Headband And Earcups
- Great Value
- Solid Build Quality
Cons
- Slightly Pricy
- Mediocre Noise Isolation
Design: Over-Ear / Closed-back | Impedance: 38 Ohms | Frequency Response: 5 Hz - 40 kHz | Weight: 281 g
Audio-Technica designs some of the best headphones in the market, especially for a specified price and their headphones are greatly considered for their high value. The ATH-WS1100iS is one of the most under-rated headphones by the company and it provided us with unexpected results.
The ear cups of the headphones are quite big, so as to accommodate the large 53 mm drivers. First of all, the padding on the earpads and the headband is pretty thick so you get a very comfortable experience. They come with a detachable wire so in case you damage it, you can easily replace them.
The sound signature of the headphones is very interesting, as there is a good amount of emphasis on the lows while these headphones do not give that bloated feeling you would get from cheap headphones. The bass feels accurate, precise, and yet very powerful. The mids and the highs are well-balanced so even to the audiophiles, these closed-back headphones provide a unique experience. This experience is quite comparable to the best Sennheiser headphones from our roundup.
Comparison: Audio-Technica vs Sennheiser Headphones
The noise isolation of the headphones is although not that good, which means that these won’t be the best headphones for commuting. However, for music listening at home, these headphones provide great value. Many people use these headphones as studio headphones as well, due to their balanced sound signature. If the lows would be balanced as well, these headphones would feel quite dull.
All in all, Audio-Technica ATH-WS1100iS is one of the best pairs of bass headphones under $300 and is a great choice for you even if you are an audiophile.
3. Best Wireless Bass Headphones - SONY WH1000XM3
Wireless Noise Cancellation
Pros
- Industry-leading Noise Cancellation
- Detailed Sound Signature
- Premium Earpads
- Impressive Battery Timing
Cons
- Relatively Expensive
- Build Quality Is Not Extraordinary
- Disadvantages Of Wireless Connection
Design: Over-Ear / Closed-back | Impedance: 47 Ohms | Frequency Response: 4 Hz - 40 kHz | Weight: 255 g
SONY WH1000XM3 is one of the most popular wireless bass headphones in the market, greatly used for commuting, as they provide you with active noise cancellation. The design of the headphones is, although, not as premium as the ATH-WS1100iS, the build quality is still better and these headphones will last you a couple of years before you feel the need to change them.
Wireless headphones do come with their quirks that are different from typical USB-C headphones, and those are present here as well. These are wireless headphones and with the 30 hours of battery timing, you can use them a couple of days before you need to charge them. These are among the best Sony headphones that you can buy right now, hands down.
The biggest advantage of these headphones is that they provide you with active noise cancellation and Sony’s technology is one of the best in the market. You can use the headphones in a fairly noisy environment without getting affected by them. The sound quality of the headphones is quite amazing as well, especially considering the fact that most of the noise-canceling headphones are not that good when it comes to sound detail. There is a slight emphasis on the bass, which enhances the effect of rumble and thump, providing you with an awesome experience.
Conclusively, if you want one of the best bass headphones that provides a lot of bass as well as good noise cancellation, this product should be the first on your list, although they feel quite pricey compared to the performance you would get from HE-400i or even the ATH-WS1100iS.
4. Best Budget Bass Headphones - SONY MDR-XB950N1
Completely Bass-Oriented
Pros
- Low Price
- Digital Noise Cancellation
- Thick Earpads
- Excellent Value
Cons
- Heavy Use Of Plastic
- Thin Headband
- Questionable Comfort
Design: Over-Ear / Closed-Back | Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz | Impedance: N/A | Weight: 290 g | Battery: Up to 22 hours
SONY is a company which makes a lot of innovative headphones and that is why we have included another pair of headphones by SONY. The MDR-XB950N1 is one of those headphones that come with the “extra bass” tag on their boxes and this headset will be quite interesting for those people who always feel that there could be more bass in their music. Coincidentally, you might want to read our opinion piece on the viability of wireless headphones.
The design of the headphones is nothing special and it looks fairly cheap, although the earpads of the headphones are quite good and they provide you with good enough comfort. The padding on the headband is very minimal though and the company could have provided better padding there.
These headphones greatly emphasize the lows which is why you get that overly powerful bass, although there is not much accuracy there. There is a slight emphasis on the highs as well, which is why you get a V-shaped sound signature. This feels good for various kinds of music although it is not particularly liked by audiophiles. The battery timing of these headphones is around 22 hours. There is active noise cancellation in these headphones as well and it is better than many of the headphones in the market, although the WH1000XM3 is miles better in noise cancellation.
Hereby, if you feel that you could use every bit of bass and provide yourself with a powerful and mind-blowing experience, then these are one of the best wireless bass headphones for you.
5. Best Mid Range Bass Headphones - Skullcandy Crusher
Long Battery Life
Pros
- Provides Long Battery Timing
- Solid Build Quality
- Wireless Connectivity
Cons
- High Clamping Force
- Over-emphasis On The Bass
- Unremarkable Noise Isolation
- General Sound Quality Deficiencies
Design: Over-Ear / Closed-Back | Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz | Impedance: 33 Ohms | Weight: 275 g | Battery: Up to 40 hours
Skullcandy Crusher is yet another headset that provides you with overwhelming bass. The overall design of the headphones is quite comparable to the MDR-XB950N1, although these headphones do not use circular earpads. The build quality of these headphones is quite good for the price, although still, most of the material is plastic. A great advantage of these headphones is that you get long battery timing of 40 hours. These headphones are quite comfortable when it comes to padding.
Related Review: Phillips TAPH805BK Hi-Res ANC Wireless Headphone Review
The sound signature of these headphones is quite similar to the XB950N1 and you can notice the extra emphasis on the bass, however, the bass does feel quite bloated. The noise isolation of these headphones is not as good as the SONY ones and that is why these might not be the perfect choice for commuting, although you can enjoy them greatly in isolated environments.
Helpful Read: Wireless Headphones: Decision
Overall, Skullcandy Crusher is one of the best bass headphones when it comes to raw power and it is a great alternative to the SONY MDR-XB950N1.
Factors To Consider While Buying
Choosing the high bass headphones has never been much easier without our advice. In our roundup, we have concluded a list of premium bass-rich headphones that you can buy. Differences such as build quality, portability, audio quality, and price so that you are unable to make a perfect choice. There are many characteristics that make the best bass headphones different from the others, such as driver size, portability, connectivity, and battery life. We need you to be knowledgeable about basic headphone features. So let’s jump right into our factors to consider before confirming your purchase.
Audio Drivers
The larger the audio drivers are, the more audible sound that it can produce. Although driver size isn’t important for overall crisp and clear audio, it is essential for rich bass boosts. The best bass headphones come with large audio drivers with low resistance and high power consumption and may require special sound cards or amplifiers for best results.
Popular Comparison: HyperX Cloud vs Corsair Void Pro Headphones
Bass is produced by low-frequency ranges. The driver diaphragm moves air at such high pressure with vibration which introduces the bass effect. The size of audio drivers is also subjective as some prefer lightweight headphones while others will prefer listening to loud and bass-heavy audio at the cost of portability and battery life. On-ear headphones tend to be the loudest and most bass-heavy compared to in-head headphones due to their much larger audio footprint. You may be interested in the Skullcandy Crusher as it has the heaviest bass on our list with a scroll adjusted to tune the bass to your style.
Battery Life
If you are a fan of clutterless setups, you might be willing to look into options for wireless bass headphones. Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz USB dongles are two common media for wireless connectivity. Obviously, they need a power source which is the battery. This is an important factor to consider so that you can listen to the beats non-stop. If a headphone has a conveniently long-lasting battery life, most of its cons can be taken for granted. A good bass headphone can last at least 16 hours of use. We recommend all Sony over-ear headphones and the Skullcandy Crusher if you are away from power sources most of the time. Fast charging is also extremely important. If you’re in a hurry, you need to juice them ASAP. With that said, both the Skullcrusher and most Sony headphones implement USB C for fast charging and can be used with any charger if we assume you own a USB C smartphone.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bass Headphones
In our review article, we conclude that the Skullcandy Crushers are definitely the best bass boosted headphones on the market. The heavy emphasis on claims and features of its enriched bass sound drivers attracts bass-loving audiophiles. It has a unique feature such as a built-in controller to tune the bass to your liking.
Bass-heavy headphones do the same thing as normal headphones except in excess compared to the latter. These headphones have much larger and more powerful audio drivers that create maximum air pressure and vibrations giving you the boom feel.
Bass is produced by low-frequency vocals. A powerful and large audio driver is used that creates the maximum air pressure and vibrations of its diaphragm giving it a booming sound. Bass doesn’t define the sound quality of headphones but it’s not completely meaningless.
Sennheiser is a well-known audio brand that has a giant role in making some of the best audio equipment in the industry. The HD 650 is the best bass headphones from Sennheiser. It is a powerful bass boosted speaker that doesn’t lose audio quality with high bass settings.
