Best earbuds for bass

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For the folks who are all about that bass, we’ve got some earbuds picked out that ought to satisfy. Just like bass-heavy headphones, these earbuds will reproduce your music with a good amount of low-end volume for all you lovers of EDM, hip-hop, doom metal, or any other bass-dominant genre. Let’s crank it up.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra are the best base earbuds for most people

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are designed for those who prioritize a robust low-end response in their audio experience. They have a naturally strong bass response and offer users the ability to enhance this further through an in-app EQ feature, specifically the Bass Boost EQ, raising the low end up to a ridiculous 20dB. You’ve been warned.

They also come with a suite of features, such as support for Snapdragon Sound with aptX Lossless, ensuring high-resolution audio playback over Bluetooth, which is a significant upgrade for audiophiles looking for wireless convenience without compromising on sound quality. The design of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is both unique and functional. Their ovoid-shaped nozzle and ear fins ensure a secure and comfortable fit, a crucial aspect for long listening sessions. The earbuds also boast impressive active noise cancelation (ANC) capabilities, rivaling other top-tier ANC earbuds on the market.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 have a well-balanced bass

The Sony WF-1000XM5 strikes a great balance of features with a slight bass boost in the default frequency response. This keeps the active noise canceling (ANC) capable earbuds flexible no matter what genre of music you listen to, but you can always use the in-app equalizer to dial in more low-end.

Boasting excellent ANC and a suite of functionality, including Sony’s 360 Reality Audio for spatial audio fans, these buds deliver your bass emphasis in stereo or surround. Plus, you get DSEE Extreme, Sony’s version of digital signal processing (DSP), and the option of LDAC, AAC, or SBC Bluetooth codecs to connect.

In terms of daily use, the touch controls work well and are customizable. The battery reaches 9 hours and 32 minutes (with ANC enabled) on a single charge (wirelessly or USB-C). Plus, the memory foam earbuds do a solid job of isolating you from noise while you can adjust your ANC as well. Of course, the sound is bassy in that there’s some low-frequency emphasis, which is slightly more balanced than the previous Sony WF-1000XM4, which also has treble frequency de-emphasis. If you truly want some crazy bass volumes, we’ve got those options here, too.

The Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC delivers bass without breaking the bank

The Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds emerge as a formidable option for those seeking powerful bass performance without breaking the bank. Offering a blend of active noise cancelation (ANC), long battery life, and an IPX4 rating at an affordable price, these earbuds cater to bass enthusiasts and budget-conscious consumers alike. Notably, the Soundcore app’s many EQ presets all lean a little too bassy, but hey, that’s an advantage within the context of this best list. It allows users to tailor the listening experience to their preference for enhanced low frequencies.

Featuring Bluetooth 5.3 with support for LDAC, AAC, and SBC codecs, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC is especially well-suited for Android users who can take full advantage of the LDAC codec for high-quality audio streaming. The inclusion of Bluetooth multipoint connectivity further enhances the user experience by allowing simultaneous connections to more than one device, a feature often reserved for more expensive models.

Battery performance is impressive. With ANC activated, the device provides nearly 10 hours of playback on a single charge, and the case provides up to 50 hours of total playback time. The option for fast charging, where a 10-minute charge yields 4 hours of playback, is an added convenience for users on the go.

Don’t sweat it with the JBL Endurance Peak 3

For the workout fiends out there looking to get some added bass volume to keep up the rhythm, the JBL Endurance Peak 3 has a lot to offer. These buds have hooks meant to secure the buds over your ears with a robust IP68 rating against dust and water submersion.

As for sound, the JBL Endurance Peak 3, by default, exaggerates bass quite a bit, while the mids and treble roughly follow our preference. Combine that with the app support, and you can tinker with EQ a bit to get a better sound for your taste. You don’t get any ANC, but the secure fit of the Endurance Peak 3 does an excellent job of isolating you from the environment.

Sporting a battery life of 8 hours and 47 minutes on a single charge, these buds will keep up with you throughout the day. On the downside, the buds and case are bigger than hookless designs but remain portable for most folks. For under $100, they’re a winner.

Keep the change with the Tozo T12

The TOZO T12 earbuds are a great choice for budget-conscious consumers seeking quality bass performance. Priced at just $36.99, these earbuds offer impressive value, providing decent sound quality and wireless charging. Although they lack a companion app and active noise canceling (ANC), the TOZO T12 compensates with strong passive noise isolation, making them suitable for listeners who prefer to immerse themselves in their music without external distractions.

They come equipped with Bluetooth 5.3, ensuring a stable connection across devices, and support both SBC and AAC codecs for optimized performance with Android and Apple devices, respectively. Despite their affordability, these earbuds boast a durable build with an IPX8 water resistance rating, making them resilient enough for workouts and outdoor activities.

Sound-wise, the TOZO T12 impresses with a pronounced bass boost below 100Hz. While the earbuds naturally emphasize lower frequencies, they still manage to deliver a decent balance across mids and highs, especially when the sub-bass is toned down via an equalizer within the music player. The earbuds last nearly 6 hours on a single charge, and the charging case extends total usage time significantly.

Should you get the Raycon Everyday Pro earbuds?

The Raycon Everyday Earbuds Pro have an absurd amount of bass response, which may attract users seeking earbuds with intense low-end emphasis, suitable for genres like hip hop and EDM. They come equipped with a few useful features, such as a multipoint connection, wireless charging, and a variety of ear tips to improve fit and comfort. Additionally, the active noise canceling is effective, particularly for low-frequency noises.

However, the earbuds are hampered by several drawbacks. The absence of a companion app and graphic EQ significantly restricts audio customization, which could be a dealbreaker for those looking to tweak their sound profiles. The limited codec support (SBC and AAC only) might also detract from the overall audio quality. Users with smaller ears might find the fit uncomfortable, which can affect sound isolation and the consistency of the audio experience across different music genres. Despite these issues, their price point and bass-heavy sound may still make them a viable option for bass enthusiasts, though they may not appeal to everyone.

The Anker Soundcore Life P3 have enough bass to satisfy the most hardcore bass-heads

For those who crave earth-shaking bass, the Anker Soundcore Life P3 delivers in spades. These earbuds offer an extreme emphasis on low frequencies that will satisfy even the most hardcore bass heads. With ANC enabled, they produce more bass than any other earbuds tested, making them perfect for fans of bass-heavy genres like EDM, hip-hop, and dubstep.

While this intense bass response may be too much for casual listeners, it’s exactly what many bass enthusiasts are seeking. The Life P3 doesn’t just stop at powerful lows, though. It backs up its bass performance with an impressive 13-hour battery life, effective noise cancelation, and a feature-rich companion app. At an affordable price point, these earbuds offer bass lovers a compelling package that doesn’t skimp on extra features.

Are the Master & Dynamic MW09 worth it?

Marrying exceptional battery life with premium materials, the Master & Dynamic MW09 offers an eye-catching design and ensures durability and longevity. The default sound profile significantly emphasizes the low end, making it ideal for those who prioritize a powerful bass response in their music listening experience.

Equipped with the latest Bluetooth 5.4 technology, the MW09 supports a broad array of codecs, including AAC, AptX Adaptive, AptX Lossless, LC3, and SBC, ensuring high-quality sound across various devices. The inclusion of Bluetooth multipoint allows for seamless switching between devices, enhancing user convenience. Additionally, the earbuds’ best-in-class battery life of nearly 16 hours on a single charge, complemented by a fast-charging case that provides an additional 32 hours, sets a new standard for wireless earbud performance, ensuring that users can enjoy their music without frequent recharging interruptions.

Master & Dynamic’s M&D Connect app enhances the MW09’s appeal by offering a comprehensive suite of customization options, including a 5-band EQ for fine-tuning the sound profile. This allows users to adjust the bass-heavy default tuning to their preference, whether seeking a more balanced sound or further enhancing the low frequencies.

The best bass earbuds: Notable mentions

• Anker Soundcore Life A1: These cheap-as-chips earbuds ($49 at Amazon) supply a generous amount of bass no matter which EQ preset you choose. You don’t get any apps, updates, or ANC, but they do the job as advertised.
• Campfire Audio Honeydew: Maybe you want wired buds with added bass response. These premium-priced buds ($349 at Amazon) have an extra amount of bass, yet still sound pretty good. They’re also built with replaceable parts.
• Google Pixel Buds A-Series: If you want to achieve some added low-end and easy Google integration, these lightweight buds do a good job for only $94 at Amazon when you use the Bass Boost preset.
• LG TONE Free TF7: These earbuds are made for the gym with their IP67 rating, and three sets of wings to help secure them in place. They’re quite bassy out of the box, but offer some flexibility with an in-app EQ for ₹12989 at LG.
• Master & Dynamic MW08: These buds are a tad expensive ($209 at Amazon), even with the glitz of the shiny case and ceramic composition, but they do offer up some additional low-end volume.
• Nothing Ear (2): For only $149 at Amazon, these earbuds feature the LHDC and AAC codecs, alongside some luxuries like ANC and a comprehensive app with an EQ if you want to adjust the mildly exaggerated bass and sub-bass.
• Skullcandy Mod XT: Anyone looking for budget, true wireless earbuds will appreciate the simplicity and durability of the Skullcandy Mod XT, as well as the bass emphasis.
• Sony WF-1000XM4: The chunkier predecessor to the WF-1000XM5, these have a similar default tuning as the newer model. For the added comfort and improved noise canceling, we prefer the new ones, but these are still very good (for $278 at Amazon).
• Sony WF-XB700: For folks who want earbuds that fit well, try these. They were a bit steep when they came out, but they’re cheaper now ($106 at Amazon) and a bit simple in function, but they might be right for you.
• TOZO T10: These earbuds offer an exaggerated bass response for only $23 at Amazon. However, the build quality might not impress. They are fine for the budget price tag if you want to dip your toes into bassy earbuds without shelling out.

What you should know about the best bass earbuds

We get it; sometimes, your music needs more low-end emphasis. The headphones and earbuds manufacturers get it, too, as demonstrated by Sony’s longstanding XB (for extra bass) line. Besides the usual concerns you should have when purchasing Bluetooth headphones and earbuds, there are special considerations for bassy earphones.

What’s your bass frequency?

Choosing the best bass earbuds is a tad tricky in that we typically evaluate sound quality by objectively comparing a product’s frequency response with our headphone preference curve. Given that our preference curve already supplies you with a good amount of bass, that’s what we would pretty much recommend you aim for. So, for the best sound, earbuds for bass ought to generally follow our curve, but that’s probably not what you’re hoping we recommend if you’re a basshead. (If it is, check out our best wireless earbuds.)

Otherwise, let’s consider frequency responses as a primary concern when seeking the best bass earbuds. Technically, bass frequencies span 60Hz to 250Hz, but for the purposes of describing bassy earbuds, we’ll include the sub-bass frequencies below 60Hz as well. If you’re a fan of bassy earbuds, check the charts in the image galleries above and in our reviews to see which earbuds appear to supply an elevated volume in that region. Conversely, you should also key into how much treble you’re seeing in a chart because you can achieve a more bassy sound by listening to earbuds that simply have quieter treble as well.

Regardless, we still recommend you choose something that loosely apes our preference curve and possibly has a few more decibels in the low frequencies. Maybe don’t go too wild unless the earbuds come with an equalizer that sufficiently targets bass so you can reign it in for the times you want to listen to content for which you don’t need a ton of bass.

Fit influences your bass response and isolation

How earbuds fit in your ears contributes greatly to their sound and to how well they block environmental noise. If your earbuds don’t sound bassy enough, try different ear tips to adjust the fit, and avoid earbuds that don’t seal the ear canal. For instance, Apple AirPods (2nd generation) have an open-seal design that doesn’t seal the ear canal adequately, and these don’t sound very bassy to many listeners.

Apple revised the design with the AirPods (3rd generation) so that you can hear bass a bit better, but it’s not as good as the sealed fit of the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation). The bass volume of the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) more closely mirrors our preferred curve compared to the unsealed AirPods, and part of that is because of an improved fit. Simply put, you gain a more predictable and consistent listening experience when you have earbuds with ear tips you can swap to fit your ears.

Secondly, good old-fashioned isolation is the other important reason to pay attention to fit. Isolation applies mainly to high-pitched noise; having a good fit will help you keep your volume at a safe level.

Watch out for signs like increasing volume as your listening session goes on. This can indicate poor isolation, particularly if your environment is noisy. Alternately, it’s a sign that your earbuds’ frequency response doesn’t adequately reproduce your audio, so you might need to tweak the EQ. The latter possibility brings us back to frequency responses, as discussed above.

How we test the best bass earbuds

We subject all our best bass earbud picks to the same series of tests in order to compare them directly. This includes objective tests such as battery testing and consistent microphone demonstrations. To measure isolation and noise canceling, frequency responses, and a plethora of other measurements, we apply the same tests using our Bruel & Kjaer 5128 setup. In combination with our subjective experiences, we consider all of the specs to see how they hold up in real-world circumstances. At SoundGuys, our testing and review process aims to provide readers with reasonable and comparable assessments between products.

How we choose the best bass earbuds

Our picks come from pouring through our existing reviews by our experienced team of contributors. It is important to settle on the criteria of what to look for in bassy earbuds (and similarly any good earbuds) and consider the various priorities of users. Essentially, our picks all provide bassy tunings to differing degrees and with different consumers in mind. Finally, these earbuds range from affordable to sporty to flagships.

Why you should trust SoundGuys

At SoundGuys our editors and writers won’t endorse any product for any reasons other than we think it’s good based on our testing methods. The company receives income from affiliate links found on the site. However, our writing staff doesn’t know which products you buy or don’t buy. Our editors and writers are paid solely for their work. It’s in our best interest to suggest good products to our readership because we want you to trust us.

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