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Best Value ANC Bass Cans
- Best Value ANC Headphones on the current market
- Very good sound for ANC cans
- Respond well to EQ adjustments
- 60 hours of battery life
- Comfortable
- Intuitive pairing and hands-free controls
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Best Wireless Headphones for Bass Lovers
- Good overall tuning for ANC cans, excellent bass articulation
- Respond well to EQ adjustments
- Great design of the headphones themselves
- Very comfortable
- Excellent connectivity and swapping for Apple devices
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Best Audiophile Headphones for Bass (with ANC)
- Audiophile-level sound in ANC cans
- Dynamic punch that transmits the emotion of music
- Very comfortable
- Premium build quality
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Best Headphones for Bass Heads
- Battery Life: Up to 50 hours with ANC on
- Quality Build
- Comfortable
- Affordable (at current sale prices)
- Reliable Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2, Multipoint pairing
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Best Planar Bass Headphones
- The planar drivers offer a different kind of bass response: full, and super crisp
- Tuned very well
- Superb transient response
- Very easy to drive
- Comfortable
- Premium build quality
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Best Bass Headphones for Dynamic Slam
- Superb dynamic punch
- Best soundstage on this list
- Outstanding detail resolution
- Great bass response
- Comes with hardshell case, extra ear pads, and an additional cable
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Best Combo of Bass and Precision
- Have the precision of monitoring headphones with bass for bassheads
- Wide soundstage
- Comfortable
- Great for mixing and mastering
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Best Earbuds Overall
- 10.5 mm drivers that deliver an easy, full bass
- Our favorite overall sound performance from commercial earbuds: balanced, natural, with clarity in all registers
- Effective noise cancellation
- Comfortable, secure fit with multiple ear tip sizes
- Fast, reliable Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity
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Best Earbuds for Bass Lovers
- Sound Quality: Strong bass, smooth treble, impressive imaging, and soundstage.
- Premium Build
- Comfortable Fit
- Excellent ANC and Passive Noise Isolation
- Advanced Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.4, aptX Adaptive, Lossless, and future-proofed with LC3, LE Audio, and Auracast support.
- Customizable Controls: Responsive capacitive touch controls that can be tailored in the app.
How We Chose the Best headphones for Bass
Shortlisting the best headphones for bass, we aimed to provide you with options across various types of headphones.
For this selection, we’ve focused on closed-back, over-ear, ANC headphones; open-back wired headphones; and two of our favorite earbuds known for exceptional bass response.
What is Good Bass?
Good bass response in headphones is determined by several factors, including driver design, build quality, DSP (digital signal processing), fit and seal, impedance, and sensitivity.
You’ll recognize good bass response when you hear it—it’s full, well-defined, and visceral. The best bass typically features a lift in the sub-bass range and tapers off around 60 Hz, leaving space for the mids at 250 Hz.
Inferior drivers often rely on DSP to boost the 60–250 Hz range to create more bass “feel,” which results in bass bloat rather than clarity.
We avoided overly “bass-focused” headphones like the Sony ULT Wear. However, for bass enthusiasts who prioritize quantity over quality and enjoy exaggerated bass, we’ve raised the white flag and included the best of these niche options: the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2.
See here for more headphone roundups and audio gear reviews.
Sennheiser Momentum 4
our rating
4.5
(out of 5)
Type: Over-ear, ANC Headphones, Bluetooth
Bottom Line:
Great bass response, great value, good ANC, best battery life out there.
Bass lovers will be pleased with the Sennheiser Momentum 4. In addition to having great bass response, we were impressed by the Sennheiser Momentum 4’s superior battery life and detail retrieval in our tests.
Build
With a solid combination of plastic, pleather, and fabric, the Momentum 4 headphones boast excellent build quality. They are lightweight at just 293 grams and fold flat for portability. The touch controls on the right ear cup add to their ease of use.
Sound
Upon first listen, the Momentum 4 offers pleasing tuning and detail resolution. The stock tuning is maybe a bit bass heavy, but we figure bass lovers will be pleased with this. The Momentum 4 respond well to EQ adjustments, if you would like more separation and overall balance.
The midrange of these headphones is well-tuned, giving acoustic instruments a realistic sound. The high frequencies are also balanced, neither too sharp nor sibilant, yet still airy.
The Momentum 4 excels in dynamics, offering a greater dynamic range and slightly more punch than its competitors. The soundstage, typical for closed-back headphones, is just large enough to separate instruments and voices.
Other Features
The Momentum 4 uses Bluetooth 5.2 and supports Bluetooth Multipoint for simultaneous connections to multiple devices. It also offers a wired connection option and supports various high-res codecs. The ANC performance is commendable, allowing incremental adjustments through the Sennheiser app.
The most standout feature is the 60-hour battery life with ANC on, significantly outperforming popular models like the Sony WH-1000XM5 (See here for our comparison of the Momentum 4 and XM5). Additionally, the headphones offer USB-PD rapid charging, providing an hour of playback per charging minute.
Verdict
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones offer an impressive blend of sound quality (with satisfying bass), comfort, and exceptional battery life, making them a strong contender among ANC headphones. At current sale prices, they are some of the best value headphones out there.AirPods Max
our rating
4.5
(out of 5)
Type: Over-ear, ANC Headphones
Bottom Line:
Very good stock tuning with lovely full bass. Elegant, very comfortable, great in the Apple ecosystem, tied for best noise-cancelling.
Bassheads can get what they are looking for with the Apple AirPods Max (See here for our full review of the AirPods Max). With a full bass, excellent overall sound quality, and best-in-class noise cancellation, they really impressed us during testing.
Build
The unique and elegant design of the AirPods Max, with anodized aluminum earcups and a cushy mesh headband, offers comfort even after extended use. However, their case design and battery life did not quite meet our expectations.
Sound
The AirPods Max deliver impressive bass and sub-bass clarity. Though the bass sometimes overshadows the mids, a little EQ adjustment brings balance. The highs could use some refinement to avoid sharpness.
While the soundstage is spacious for closed-back headphones, the dynamic range doesn’t quite hit the audiophile-grade mark. Still, for ANC headphones, they offer a lot to appreciate. For a more dynamic range, we recommend the Focal Bathys.
Other Features
For Apple users, the AirPods Max offer seamless device switching but Android users may experience dropouts. They use Bluetooth 5.0 and offer a wired USB-C connection (on 2024 or later models), supporting SBC and AAC codecs. However, they do not simultaneously support multiple device connections via Bluetooth.
Their noise attenuation is commendable, rivaling even the Sony WH-1000XM5. (See our matchup of the AirPods Max and Sony XM5) Battery life, at 20 hours with ANC on, is somewhat lacking and is further impacted by the absence of a power button. They fully charge in 2 hours.
Verdict
The elegant, comfortable design, impressive noise cancellation, and excellent sound make the AirPods Max a great choice for bass lovers, particularly for those in the Apple ecosystem.
Focal Bathys
our rating
4.7
(out of 5)
Type: Over-ear, ANC Headphones, Bluetooth
Bottom Line:
ANC (Active Noise-Cancelling) Headphones that are joy to listen to. If sound is your ultimate priority, look no further. Bass with dynamic slam.
During our testing, we loved exceptional sound quality of the Focal Bathys (See our full review of the Focal Bathys), a pair of ANC Bluetooth headphones from the French high-end audio company. As well as bass, they do so many things right.
Build
The Focal Bathys headphones have a premium aesthetic, featuring magnesium yokes, a real leather headband, and signature Focal aluminum grilles. Despite their high-quality build, they incorporate some plastic elements for travel-friendly lightness. The headphones come with a chic carry case and 1.2-meter long USB-C and standard mini-jack cables.
Sound
The Bathys deliver an outstanding audio experience, with less than 0.2% harmonic distortion, as confirmed in our tests. The audio quality is similar to the Focal Celestee, offering dynamic punch and excellent detail resolution. The sound is warm and non-fatiguing, with the gentler treble not compromising detail retrieval. The midrange is prominent, making the music climax exhilarating. The bass is punchy with a fast transient response, providing clarity and slam where other models offer overpowering bloat.
The dynamic punch of the Bathys delivers the emotional quality of music, a significant achievement for headphones. This gives a visceral element to the bass response that is not found in other ANC cans.
The soundstage is generous for closed-back ANC headphones, similar to that of most closed-back wired headphones.
Other Features
The Bathys headphones have a power button and volume and play/pause controls on the right earcup. They lack an automatic play/pause feature when removed or worn but offer good active noise cancellation, although not as effective as competitors like the AirPods Max or the Sony WH-1000XM5. They provide a ‘soft’ mode for subtle noise reduction and a ‘transparency’ mode to allow ambient sounds through.
The battery life matches most of the competition, with 30 hours of listening time on a full charge and 5 hours from a 15-minute charge. The call functions are straightforward, with good audio quality in normal conditions but less so in windy conditions.
Verdict
For those who prioritize sound quality, the Focal Bathys are a worthwhile investment. The bass is part of this overall excellence, making them a joy to listen to.
For those who prioritize noise-cancellation, the AirPods Max or the Sony WH-1000XM5 may be a better choice.
Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2
our rating
2.9
(out of 5)
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AmazonType: Over-ear, ANC Headphones
Bottom Line:
For bass heads only. The bad: Ridiculous sound, poor ANC performance. The good: quality build, excellent battery life.
The Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 (full review of the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2) are “bass focussed” niche headphones meant for bass heads who don’t care about anything else. They have a lever on the side to increase the bass.
We have included them in this roundup because despite disappointing overall sound quality, they impressed us with their robust build quality and exceptional battery life.
Build
The Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 strikes a balance between comfort and durability with high-grade plastic, a brushed metal headband, and metal-reinforced joints. Its design is low-key, and the matte plastic finish, while prone to fingerprints, is easy to clean. The memory foam ear cushions and adjustable headband provide a comfortable and secure fit for long listening sessions.
Sound
The headphones offer a unique “sensory bass” experience. However, the sub-bass is almost non-existent, and the predominant sound is a mountain of bass bloat in the 60-150 Hz range. The midrange is washed out, and while the high frequencies are mostly fine, details are often lost due to an overall sound imbalance. Despite this, the Crusher ANC 2 will likely please bassheads who aren’t seeking balanced sound.
Other Features
The headphones support Bluetooth 5.2 for a stable wireless connection and offer multipoint pairing capability. They also integrate with the Skull-iQ app for hands-free voice control, customisable button functions, adjustable ANC, and custom EQ modes. However, the active noise cancellation is mediocre. The standout feature is the battery life. With ANC on, the headphones can last up to 50 hours, and they also support rapid charging.
Verdict
Despite their impressive build quality and lengthy battery life, we cannot recommend the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 for those seeking sound quality and balance. But for bass lovers who just want headphones that literally shake from the bass, these might do the job.
Audeze LCD-X
our rating
4.8
(out of 5)
Type: Over-ear, Open-back Headphones, Wired
Bottom Line:
Cleanest bass on this list. With a well-tuned frequency response, lightning-fast transient response, and expert dynamic control, these cans are a joy to listen to.
The Audeze LCD-X (full review of the Audeze LCD-X), with their planar drivers, offer a crisper, cooler sounding bass to anything on this list. It’s a different bass experience, one with fullness as well as speed and separation.
Build
The Audeze LCD-X headphones are built with metal, pleather, and leather, weighing 612 grams. They share the same premium build quality as the entire LCD line, including the LCD-2 Classics, with a glossy finish on the leather earpads. The stock cables are shielded, non-microphonic, and tangle-resistant, and the headphones have large, pleather earcups that provide a natural boost to the bass frequencies.
Sound
What stands out about the LCD-X headphones is their balanced, natural-sounding frequency response and fast transient response. The dynamic punch in the bass is notable, and there is some warmth in the upper mids and treble regions, which makes them suitable for mixing without any need for EQ adjustments.
The high frequencies are warm with a lot of air at the top, with a slight attenuation around 7-8 kHz that is friendly to sibilant sounds. The midrange in the 2021 release is pleasingly natural, with electric guitars and vocals smoothed out in the 3.5-5 kHz range. The bass is dynamic and becomes clearer as the volume increases. The headphones excel in their subtle, precise gradations of quieter dynamics, making quiet details apparent.
Other Features
The LCD-X headphones are efficient, requiring little power to drive, with an impedance of 20 Ω and 103 dB sensitivity. Although they work without an amp, a dedicated amplifier or an audio interface with an integrated amp is recommended for best results. The headphones have lateral left and right imaging out of the box, but adjustments can be made using the Audeze Reveal plugin for a wider or tighter soundstage.
Verdict
If you’re looking for lightning fast transient response and crisp bass that only planar drivers can provide, these cans are a great choice.
Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro
our rating
4.8
(out of 5)
Type: Over-ear, Open-back Headphones, Wired
Bottom Line:
Premium headphones with remarkable detail retrieval, spacious soundstage, dynamic punch, and bass love.
The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro headphones (full review of the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro) offer more dynamic excitement to the bass response than any other headphones on this list.
Build
These headphones exude a premium feel, sturdy and hard-wearing, yet luxurious. They offer a single-unit design, with a size-adjustable headband and a cable that attaches only to the right ear side, ideal for studio use. All the accessories, including the case, extra ear pads and cables, are top quality.
Sound
The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro headphones provide outstanding detail resolution, with an extensive soundstage, satisfying dynamic punch, and minimal distortion.
The bass response is superb for an open-back design, offering a natural bass boost and fast transient response. The midrange is extremely natural, with full-bodied guitars and vocals. The upper frequencies can be pronounced on some tracks, leading to sibilance, but they generally reveal remarkable details in tracks.
The headphones deliver a satisfying dynamic punch, rendering distinct force in our binaural tests, making you feel the music. The extensive soundstage feels natural and immersive, making it easier to identify individual instruments in a mix, adding a palpable atmosphere to tracks.
Other Features
Despite their 250 Ω impedance, these headphones are easy to drive thanks to the efficiency of the new Tesla-designed drivers. However, for best results, a dedicated amplifier or an audio interface with an integrated amp is recommended. In terms of comfort, they rank around 8 out of 10, being comfortable and lightweight, but the clamping force can be a bit too tight for long sessions.
Verdict
The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro headphones are a high-quality, premium choice for those seeking outstanding sound quality with full bass, detail, and dynamic slam.Sennheiser HD 650
our rating
4.6
(out of 5)
Type: Over-ear, Open-back Headphones, Wired
Bottom Line:
A favorite among audiophiles, these high-end cans will satisfy any bass lover.
The Sennheiser HD 650, like their cousins the Sennheiser HD 600, offer exceptional clarity across all styles of music. The HD 650 also have an increased bass response, providing a pleasing combination of detailed resolution and rich bass.
Build
The Sennheiser HD 650 headphones impress with their good build quality, despite the initial skepticism regarding the plastic folding parts. The robustness of these headphones is commendable, with their 3-meter Kevlar-reinforced oxygen-free copper cable and easily replaceable foam padding under the headband and ear pads. However, the lack of a carry case was a minor disappointment.
Sound
The headphones shine with their excellent sound quality, thanks to the tight production tolerances, resulting in a total harmonic distortion of less than 0.05% (1 kHz, 1 V).
The upper-mids (2-6 kHz) are particularly impressive, reproducing overdriven or broken-up guitar sounds beautifully and allowing the distortion to bloom naturally. When it comes to mixing and mastering, the imaging precision of these headphones is outstanding, providing a lovely and expansive soundstage that enhances listening.
The bass might feel overpowering for monitoring purposes, but for bass enthusiasts, it’s perfectly tuned, offering just the right amount of depth and impact.
Other Features
These are some of the most comfortable headphones I have ever worn.
They are lightweight at just 260 grams and featuring velour ear cups and an adjustable, center-folding frame. The ear cups are large enough to not touch the ears.
The out-of-the-box clamp force relaxes over time, adjusting to the size of your head.
Verdict
The Sennheiser HD 650 headphones are an excellent choice for those seeking full bass, excellent detail, comfort, and durability.
Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro
our rating
5
(out of 5)
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AmazonType: In-ear, true wireless earbuds
Bottom Line:
Our top choice for ANC earbuds. Excellent bass response, fanatastic overall balance.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro (full review of the Galaxy Buds3 Pro), developed with AKG, delivered impressive sound quality that made them a standout product in our testing.
Build
The Galaxy Buds3 Pro feature a stemmed design, providing a comfortable and lightweight fit. The soft silicone ear tips come in multiple sizes for an optimal seal in the ear canal, enhancing sound quality and noise cancellation. The redesigned charging case is more compact, with a transparent lid for quick battery checks, and supports USB-C and wireless charging.
Sound
The Buds3 Pro have a dual-driver system, a 10.5mm dynamic driver for lows and mids, and a 6.1mm planar driver for highs, each with its dedicated amp.
This dual driver setup allows the bass to be full, while the treble is clean. 10.5mm drivers are quite large in contrast to other earbuds giving them unusual ease at the bottom.
The high frequencies deliver fast transient response with cymbals, hi-hats, and sibilants clear without any harshness. The midrange performance is exceptional, producing natural-sounding vocals and instruments.
All these elements create a balanced and natural sound profile that outshines competitors like the Apple AirPods Pro 2 or the Sony WF-1000XM5.
Other Features
The Buds3 Pro connect via Bluetooth 5.4, ensuring fast, stable connections with little latency. They can seamlessly switch between Samsung devices on the same account, and support Samsung’s SSC codec for high-quality streaming.
Their active noise cancellation effectively reduces high-frequency sounds and some low-frequency rumble. The earbuds offer around 5 hours of playback with ANC on, while the charging case extends total listening time to about 18 hours. Fast charging delivers an hour of playback from a 5-minute charge.
Verdict
With their balanced, natural sound, dependable noise cancellation, and comfortable fit, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro are our favorite earbuds on the current market. Bass lovers in need of earbuds should look no further.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4
our rating
4.7
(out of 5)
Type: In-ear, true wireless earbuds
Bottom Line:
Great buds. A compelling mix of great bass and overall sound, premium build quality, advanced features, and solid performance.
We think bass lovers looking for earbuds will be very pleased with the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 (our full review of the Sennheiser Momentum TW4).
Build
The TW4 earbuds have a premium build, resembling high-end IEMs rather than typical consumer earbuds. They come with a compact, fabric-wrapped charging case, and multiple ear tip and fin sizes for a perfect fit. The memory foam ear tips are particularly good for bass response.
The earbuds also have an IP54 rating, indicating sweat and splash resistance.
Sound
The sound quality of the TW4 earbuds is satisfying.
The bass is rich and the treble is well-handled, providing sharpness and warmth. The midrange, however, might lack some upper definition, resulting in a less immersive listening experience.
Despite this, the earbuds excel in terms of imaging and soundstage, offering brilliant panning and an expansive, comfortable soundstage. The earbuds use Qualcomm’s S5 Gen 2 Sound Platform, ensuring high-res audio with aptX Adaptive and Lossless codecs, improved power efficiency, and enhanced connectivity.
Other Features
The TW4 earbuds are equipped with Bluetooth 5.4, providing a solid, reliable connection. They support a wide range of audio codecs and, after a firmware update, offer LE Audio and Auracast. The Sennheiser Smart Control app offers easy setup and customization, including a fit test and a 5-band EQ.
The earbuds offer excellent noise cancellation, particularly for low and midrange frequencies, and a customizable Transparency Mode that lets you adjust ambient sound levels.
Verdict
Considering the excellent bass response, premium build, and advanced features, the Sennheiser TW4 earbuds are a worthwhile investment for bass lovers seeking high-quality audio in a sleek and durable package.
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