If you listen to a lot of bass-heavy genres like dubstep, EDM, or hip-hop, you likely want a pair of headphones that can add a solid amount of punch and thump to your music. While a lot of headphones are bass-heavy, it's important to find a pair with a balanced enough sound profile that maintains detail in the rest of the mix so your music doesn't sound muddy or muffled.
We’ve tested over 560 pairs of headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best bass headphones to buy that won’t sacrifice too much detail for a bass-heavy sound. It should be noted that these picks aren't the ones with the highest scores in the bass accuracy category box, but rather the ones with the most enjoyable bass performance, even if their bass isn't accurate. See our recommendations for the best headphones for music, the best earbuds for bass, and the best audiophile headphones.
The best bass headphones we’ve tested are the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless. These wireless over-ears have an even bass-heavier default sound profile than their predecessor, the Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless, which should suit fans of genres like EDM and hip-hop. While their overemphasized bass response can slightly muddy mids, their sound profile can be customized in-depth via a graphic EQ or audio presets in their feature-rich Sony | Headphones Connect app.
They're very well-built and comfortable enough to wear throughout extended listening sessions. Thanks to their superb ANC system, you can listen to your music without being interrupted by loud background noise. Their nearly 38-hour battery life should be more than enough to get you through a couple of days, but they do come with a 1/8" TRS audio cable if you want to listen to music passively. Audio is delivered relatively consistently, so you shouldn't experience much of a deviation in your listening experience, regardless of their fit and positioning.
Unfortunately, they aren't the best choice if you plan on making a lot of calls, as their integrated microphone delivers sub-par recording quality. They're also a little bulky, so carrying them around can be a bit of a nuisance if you don't use their carrying case. Otherwise, their fantastic ANC feature and rich feature set make them some of the best headphones we've tested.
If you aren't a fan of touch-sensitive controls, you may want to consider the Sennheiser Momentum 3. These Bluetooth over-ears aren't as comfortable as the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless and have a much less effective ANC system, but their physical control scheme offers a lot more tactile feedback, which may be helpful if you live in a colder climate and wear gloves. They're also very well-built, with genuine leather padding and a solid metal frame. Their default sound profile has a slightly boomy bass range, but their mid and treble response are quite well-balanced overall, yielding clear, present, and detailed vocals and lead instruments. Unfortunately, their roughly 18-hour battery life is much shorter than that of the Sony, and their Sennheiser Smart Control offers fewer configuration options.
Get the Sony if you want longer battery life and a more effective ANC system, but take a look at the Sennheiser if you want premium over-ears with a physical control scheme.
The Skullcandy Crusher Evo are the best bass wireless headphones with powerful bass that we've tested. These wireless over-ears have a boomy sound profile out-of-the-box, but, like previous models in the Crusher lineup, they're fitted with a haptic slider that can be used to increase the amount of thump and rumble in your listening experience. At its most powerful setting, they should satisfy even the most bass-hungry listeners.
Despite their wildly exaggerated sound profile, they have a somewhat conservative appearance, so they shouldn't look too out-of-place during your daily commute or at the office, and they feel quite solid overall. They supply over 34 hours of playback time on a single charge, which should be more than sufficient for most uses. They also come with a 1/8" TRRS cable that allows for passive audio playback and microphone usage on a wired connection if you forget to charge them before leaving the house.
Unfortunately, they're quite bulky and don't do the best job of staying on your head, especially during workouts. Also, they block out very little ambient noise and leak quite a bit of audio, so they're best suited for use in a quiet environment. All of that said, these headphones are a great choice if you're looking for very powerful bass response.
The best bass headphones with an earbud design that we've tested are the Jabra Elite Active 75t. These truly wireless in-ears are quite comfortable thanks to their small earbuds that don't put too much pressure on the inner ear. They have good physical controls that are decently easy to use and look and feel premium and well-built. Their 6.5-hour battery life is decent for truly wireless earphones, and they have an auto-off timer to help you conserve battery.
Their default sound profile packs a good amount of thump and rumble but is well-balanced enough that vocals and instruments won't get drowned out. If you want to add even more bass, their dedicated companion app gives you access to a graphic EQ and presets, so you can customize their sound to match your taste. While they lack active noise cancellation like some other options, they still do a good job of blocking out background chatter, making them helpful to keep you concentrated at work.
They're a good choice to take to the gym as well, thanks to their stable fit and IP57 rating for dust, sweat, and water resistance, though this isn't something we test for. If you aren't planning on using your headphones for working out, you can also check out the slightly cheaper Jabra Elite 75t Truly Wireless, which are identical but with a slightly lower IP55 rating.
The Beats Flex Wireless are the best budget bass headphones that we've tested. These simple wireless in-ears have a lightweight, comfortable design that makes them comfortable enough to wear for extended periods. Their flexible silicone and plastic construction are flexible and sturdy, so they should easily survive a couple of drops and bumps.
They have a slightly overemphasized bass response that adds extra thump and rumble to genres like EDM or hip-hop but without completely overwhelming vocals or lead instruments. Their audio latency on mobile iOS and Android devices is also quite low, which is great if you plan on watching videos while wearing them. Even though they don't have any power-saving features like an auto-off timer or a standby mode, their roughly 11-hour battery life should still manage to last you throughout your day.
Unfortunately, they lack any sort of sound customization features, like built-in audio presets. Also, the buds do a decent job of blocking out ambient noise across the board, they struggle with isolating against low-pitched ambient noise, like the rumble of bus or plane engines. Still, if you're looking for a pair of no-frills wireless in-ears with a bit of extra bass, these are a good option.
If you prefer the unrestricted freedom of movement that comes with a pair of truly wireless headphones, consider the Anker SoundCore Life P2. These in-ears have a less comfortable fit than the Beats Flex Wireless and higher wireless latency, but they're even easier to carry around due to the total lack of audio cables. Their sub-six-hour continuous battery life is less than that of the Beats, but they come with a case that supplies roughly five additional charges, so you shouldn't need to worry about completely running out of battery too often. Their bass range is emphasized to an even greater degree than the Beats, though their mid and treble ranges are fairly well-balanced, so most mixes don't sound too dark or veiled. Unfortunately, their integrated mic makes your voice sound muffled and struggles to isolate it against even moderate background noise, so they aren't the best choice for making phone calls.
Get the Beats if you want longer continuous battery life and a more comfortable in-ear fit, but consider the Anker if you prioritize go-anywhere portability.
Feb 19, 2021: Replaced Anker SoundBuds Curve Upgraded 2019 with Beats Flex Wireless due to current availability. Added Anker SoundBuds Curve Upgraded 2019 to Notable Mentions.
Dec 23, 2020: Replaced Skullcandy Crusher Wireless 2016 with Skullcandy Crusher Evo Wireless. Added Skullcandy Crusher Wireless 2016 to 'Notable Mentions'.
Oct 30, 2020: Replaced Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless with Sony WH-1000XM4. Replaced SoundPeats TrueFree/True Wireless with Anker SoundCore Life P2 Truly Wireless due to current availability. Added Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless with Notable Mentions.
Sep 01, 2020: Minor changes to text for accuracy and clarity. No change in recommendations.
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best bass headphones to buy for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our reviews for headphones with an overemphasized bass response. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and where you use the headphones will matter more in your selection.