Best Bass Headphones 2017 – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

Bass tones heard in the music we listen to give it that thundering roar that makes us feel like we are in our very own club. Though it has to be said that sometimes our headphones don’t always deliver on amping up the full spectrum of bass, midi and treble, opting for the latter over the former can make for a flat, disappointing sound.

Switching to bass headphones will give a higher definition to the undercurrent of your music, meaning the drums, bass instruments and even synths will come alive, reinventing how you interpret the sound altogether.

Let’s take a look at some of the best options for bass headphones:

Buying Guide

How to choose the best bass headphones?

Like many headphones, bass headphones are available in a range of different headset styles and features. The type you choose and indeed what specifications to aim for all depend on your user requirements.

For gaming and watching movies, especially on flights, you might want to go for a traditional headband design with thick padded closed ears to exclude outside noise. This design will act almost as two mini speakers, meaning the surface area not only keeps out unwanted noise but boosts the range you are able to hear, especially bass tones.

The advantages of headphones with bass

Not all headphones are created equal. With so many genres of music these days, headphones aren’t always equipped to best represent the sound you might be listening to.

If you appreciate the deeper bass tones in your music as opposed to strong vocals or hi-hats, for example, then having headphones which concentrate on the bass ranges will make your music sound richer and more satisfying.

This is also true with older genres whereby the mixing wasn’t as favored towards bass ranges. Listening again through bass-enhanced headphones can bring a new clarity and enjoyment to certain pieces, and will give the music a richer dynamic.

The main advantage is added power. Some headphones can give quite a weak performance and make the music sound flat, when even through regular speakers it sounds much more animated. Bass headphones will deliver a punchy performance that is greatly enhanced and noticeable over regular headphones.

Things to look for

  • First and foremost, your headphones need built-in bass capabilities. Aspects to consider include the frequency range, driver size and decibel sensitivity
  • A tightly sealed acoustic design will give you isolation from external noise, meaning you will be able to hear and feel the bass to its entirety, and not have any sound leakage
  • You may also want headphones with a built-in mic and Bluetooth technology, which will allow you to take phone calls and also communicate on Skype with ease. Choose wisely if considering wireless headphones, as these functions will ultimately take a toll on battery life, especially with the added power performance the bass enhancement gives
  • Bass headphones should give you a powerful, superior performance over other models, and so, this is what to look for when comparing the specs and overall design

The best way to use bass headphones

Bass headphones are not just great for music, they can totally reinvent the movie experience by recreating a level of sound similar to that of more cinematic surroundings.

While you can use them for everyday use, in certain instances, the added bass boost might be unnecessary, so it’s always handy to also have a regular neutral pair of headphones. The same goes with audio production, as generally you want to be working with a clean sound with no enhancements to ensure accurate mixing.

Therefore, the best way to use bass headphones is for recreational use, to enhance the sound of music, movies and gaming. This is especially the case if the device, be it your phone, TV or laptop. doesn’t have bass boost enhancement in the audio settings, as you will benefit most from the added depth.

What Are The Best Bass Headphones?

Summary: These headphones are built with comfort in mind, as they have a lightweight frame meaning they can be worn for many hours at a time. They also fold up once you are done, making them ideal for traveling and carrying in your bag.

In terms of sound, this Maxell model has 40-mm drivers and provides excellent bass amplification, as well as cancelling out external sound. The sound produced is quite loud, and is especially great for rock and metal genres.

One possible issue is the patterned blue detailing that runs along the headband and across the back of the ear cups. While some won’t mind this, as it’s quite stylized, it’s not going to be to everyone’s taste as it isn’t as sleek and sophisticated as many headphones are in appearance.

Also, the material used to make these headphones is a bit cheap feeling, as they are made of light plastic. While this takes the weight off in one respect, on the flipside, it doesn’t guarantee longevity, especially if you are prone to dropping your headphones.

These headphones will certainly do the job of providing bass boost; however, they are not the best well-made and don’t have the option to change the cord or adjust the size of the frame to guarantee a tight fit.

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Summary: The JVC HASR50X XX Xtreme headphones are solid black, and somewhat bulky with the ear cups resembling something more like dumbbells than headphones due to their anti-impact “tough protectors” design. However, this does ensure a secure exclusion of outside noise, and the extra padding will only emphasize the main event which is enhanced bass tones.

These headphones have dual extreme bass ports, with a 40-mm neodymium driver which unites to deliver that superior bass sound. Interestingly, treble tones still sound great and don’t get completely washed out, as is the case with many bass headphones, so you can rest assured your music will not be completely overpowered.

Other features include an inline 1-button remote for use with iPhone, Android and Blackberry models, as well as a soft padded headband to ensure long hours of comfort.

A downside to note with this model is the bulkiness, which means it’s not going to suit everyone and definitely leans towards personal use, especially gaming as well as music listening. Also, the headphone cable isn’t interchangeable, so this might be an issue with certain devices.

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​Sony MDRXB50AP Extra Bass Earbud Headset (Black)

Summary: Bass boost headphones are not just limited to traditional over-the-head designs. The Sony MDRXB50AP Extra Bass Earbud Headset provides excellent bass clarity, within the confines of separate earbuds, which therefore, makes them more suited to use with your phone and similar devices.

The output is comparable with professional models, with a 110 dB sensitivity, a 4 – 24,000 Hz frequency response, and a gold-plated four conductor L-type stereo mini plug. This model also has a built-in microphone that is omni-directional, as well as a remote control with different functions.

While you can also connect with the SmartKey app to optimize your audio settings, there is no direct volume control despite having the remote control. Therefore, you’d need to keep it at the same level, adjusting through your phone or SmartKey, which might be a problem if your playlist consists of many different genres.

This issue aside, for something so small and compact with tangle-free wires, the sound produced is pretty powerful. The design is also quite sturdy, meaning they keep a good grip to your ears and are not cheap and flimsy, as is the case with many earbud designs.

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Summary: If you are looking to step things up a gear, not just with an added bass performance, but in the overall design too, then this is a model you can’t go wrong with. Beautifully engineered with an alloy frame, these headphones are built to last and are packed full of features that would delight any budding audiophile.

They have 57-mm drivers, which provide a faster transient response to electrical signals, giving the bass an enhanced experience. In addition, there are 3D sound effects built in, so for usage, such as movies and gaming, it will significantly ramp up the experience.

There is also a condenser microphone with -42DB sensitivity, which will give ultra-clear sound on phone and Skype calls. Bluetooth pairing for accepting incoming calls is easy and can be done at the touch of a button on the outside of the ear cups.

Comfort wise, the ear cups are padded with soft memory foam that is rich in protein. Not only does this give an ultra-comfortable fit, it will also keep out unwanted noise, especially on your commute; this also means it is ideal for long-wear use.

While these headphones are hard to fault, something to keep in mind is that as they are wireless, they will require a regular charge. They offer 20 hours of use which is fairly generous, though is a disadvantage compared to headphones you can plug in without requiring any external power.

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Summary: Ultra-powerful in performance, the Senzer H1’s have a wide-ranging frequency, giving a 5Hz to 70kHz response. Considering standard headphones typically go up to 20kHz, this is quite the increase meaning enhanced sound performance and a greater bass depth.

Their powerful output means you are able to experience not just greater bass, but a more professional audio output overall, that can sometimes get lost from studio to headphones. They also have an enhanced sealed design which sits deeper in the ear to exclude outside noise.

Design wise, the earbuds are incredibly sturdy with solid metal casing to protect against common damage that all headphones are subjected to—especially earbuds. There is also a control option, allowing you to adjust the volume, accept calls, and to change the track with single- and double-tap options; this means it doesn’t have to be done manually through your device.

However, one downside is that these headphones are not Bluetooth enabled, though they are compatible with iOS and Android, and have a built-in mic for making calls.

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Conclusion

While each of the above headphones will provide a greatly enhanced bass to whatever you wish to listen to, there is still a clear winner, which sets itself apart from its competitors, and that is the Bluedio T3.

Right from first glance, before you even put these headphones on, it is clear to see the build is superior with no cheap plastic headframe in sight, instead using quality, yet lightweight materials to ensure a comfortable fit, and also longevity.

Ultimately, the most important aspect of any headphones is sound they produce. While other models did produce excellent frequency ranges, (the Senzer H1 for example) due to the extremely large and thick padding of the Bluedio T3, the experience is always going to be enhanced in comparison as it’s like wearing two speakers on your head, completely eliminating outside noise due to its physical design, as well as inbuilt functions.

These headphones not only look the part, but have been cleverly designed with features (such as 3D sound effects) which greatly enhance the overall sound.

Granted, the wireless aspect will mean a regular charge is in order, on balance this one tiny flaw is much smaller compared to that of other models, and also means you are not confined by wires, making Bluetooth a breeze.

About the author

Eugene Foster

My name is Eugene, and I am an avid fan of sound systems and equipment. I have more than 5 years of experience in that field and I am here to share all my knowledge!