The 8 Best Bass Headphones - Summer 2019
Reviews

If you like bass-heavy genres like hip-hop, dubstep, or EDM, picking headphones with great bass performance can make a big difference in your listening experience. Having the right amount of thump and punch can really get you going and make you feel pumped up. However, it’s important that the bass isn’t too much and that you don’t lose detail in the rest of the mix.

We’ve tested over 350 headphones and below are our recommendations for the best bass headphones to buy in 2019 that won’t sacrifice too much detail for a bass-heavy sound. It should be noted that these picks are not the ones with the highest scores in the bass category box, but rather the ones with the most enjoyable bass performance, even if their bass is over our target curve. See our recommendations for the best headphones for music, the best earbuds for bass, and the best audiophile headphones.

1. Best Bass Headphones: Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless

   

   Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless

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   Amazon.com
   Usage Ratings - Version 1.2

   7.2

   Mixed Usage

   7.2

   Critical Listening

   7.7

   Commute/Travel

   7.1

   Sports/Fitness

   7.7

   Office

   5.8

   TV

   5.4

   Gaming
   Type : Over-ear

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : Yes

   Noise-Cancelling : Yes

   Mic : Yes

   Transducer : Dynamic

   The best bass wireless headphones we’ve tested so far are the Sony WH-1000MX3. They are one of the best noise cancelling headphones on the market and have amazing isolation, which makes them great for daily commuting and office use. They have a more premium look and feel than the previous models and are more comfortable, too.

   These Sony headphones place more emphasis on bass than earlier generations of the series. They have deep, thumpy bass, but don’t overdo it. They’re also compatible with the Sony | Headphones Connect app that offers a graphic EQ, to get more or less bass depending on what you’re listening to and find a sound profile that suits you. They have a great 27-hour battery life with a quick 2 hours of charge time, and also have a 15-minute quick charge feature that gives you 5 hours of playback, which can be very useful.

   These headphones have a touch-sensitive control scheme that’s easy to use in most conditions but can be difficult to get the hang of if you’re used to physical buttons. It also doesn’t work properly in all weather conditions, especially the cold, which can be a deal-breaker if you live in a colder climate. However, if their touch functionalities aren’t a concern for you, they’re well-rounded headphones that are sure to please bass lovers with an eye for quality.

   See our review

2. Easier-To-Use Alternative: Jabra Elite 85h Wireless

   

   Jabra Elite 85h Wireless

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   Amazon.com

   Type : Over-ear

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : Yes

   Noise-Cancelling : Yes

   Mic : Yes

   Transducer : Dynamic

   If you’re not a fan of touch-sensitive control schemes, then get the Jabra Elite 85h. They don’t isolate noise as well as the Sony 1000-XM3, but they have an excellent physical control scheme that provides better feedback. Their default sound profile is more neutral, but still packs lots of deep, rumbling bass. Unfortunately, these headphones have some issues with frequency response consistency, so if you have glasses or long hair, you might find they sound different than what we measured. Thankfully, you can change the way they sound with the Jabra Sound+ app to better suit your tastes.

   Get the Sonys if you’re a fan of touch-sensitive controls and want bass-heavy headphones with excellent noise cancelling; however, if you’re concerned about cold weather performance or simply prefer the ease-of-use of physical buttons, you’ll want to go for the Jabra.

   See our review

3. Cheaper Alternative: Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 Wireless 2016

   

   Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 Wireless 2016

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   Amazon.com

   Type : Over-ear

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : Yes

   Noise-Cancelling : Yes

   Mic : Yes

   Transducer : Dynamic

   If the Sony WH-1000XM3 are too expensive but you still want great wireless bass-heavy headphones, get the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2. Their active noise cancelling feature isn’t as powerful, but they have excellent bass that’s deep and powerful without drowning out lead vocals and instruments. They have a simple yet complete control scheme that’s efficient and easy-to-use, a great 30-hour battery life, and have plenty of power-saving features. They aren’t the best-looking headphones out there, but they perform exceptionally well for their price.

   You’ll want to go for the XM3 if they’re within your budget and you prefer a more high-end, premium design with better noise cancellation, but if you don’t want to break the bank and don’t mind a bulkier design if it still performs great, then get the BackBeat Pro 2.

   See our review

4. Best Bass Earphones: Jaybird Tarah Pro Wireless

   

   Jaybird Tarah Pro Wireless

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   Amazon.com
   Usage Ratings - Version 1.2

   7.2

   Mixed Usage

   7.2

   Critical Listening

   7.6

   Commute/Travel

   8.2

   Sports/Fitness

   7.4

   Office

   5.9

   TV

   5.7

   Gaming
   Type : In-ear

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : Yes

   Noise-Cancelling : No

   Mic : Yes

   Transducer : Dynamic

   The best bass earphones that we’ve tested so far are the Jaybird Tarah Pro. They’re very well-built in-ear headphones with a comfortable, earbud-like fit. They’re great for use while running or working out thanks to their stable, breathable design and even have magnetic earbuds that clip together for easier cable management when not in use.

   While these well-designed earphones have great bass right out-of-the-box, they’re also compatible with the excellent Jaybird MySound app. You get a great parametric equalizer so you can fine-tune their bass in greater detail. The app also provides access to an online community where you can share EQ presets and playlists to help you stay motivated.

   Although their 13-hour battery life is quite good, they use also use a proprietary charging clip that some may find a bit restrictive. The truly wireless Jabra Elite Active 65t come with a great charging case that uses a regular micro-USB cable, but their default sound is a touch light on thump and rumble. Overall, if you want durable in-ears with great bass that you can customize to your heart’s content, the Jaybird are hard to beat.

   See our review

5. Best Bass Headphones Under $100: Anker SoundCore Life 2 Wireless

   

   Anker SoundCore Life 2 Wireless

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   Amazon.com
   Usage Ratings - Version 1.2

   6.9

   Mixed Usage

   7.3

   Critical Listening

   6.8

   Commute/Travel

   6.8

   Sports/Fitness

   7.1

   Office

   6.1

   TV

   5.8

   Gaming
   Type : Over-ear

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : Yes

   Noise-Cancelling : Yes

   Mic : Yes

   Transducer : Dynamic

   The best bass headphones under $100 we’ve tested so far are the Anker SoundCore Life 2. They’re not as feature-packed as some of the more premium options we’ve reviewed, but they perform quite well for their price, especially for fans of bass. They’re comfortable, fairly well-built and even come with a great hard carrying case so you can protect them on the go.

   By default, they have very good bass that packs lots of thump and rumble to bring out the excitement of bass-heavy genres like hip-hop and EDM. They also feature a bass boost function that you can trigger to add even more bass to your mix. With over 28 hours of battery life, these headphones will last long enough for you to listen to your favorite albums for at least a couple of days before needing to charge them too.

   Unfortunately, their noise cancelling is mediocre. They also don’t have an auto-off timer, so although their battery life is great, the battery will continue draining unless you remember to turn them off when not in use. The Mpow H10 have better ANC and a standby mode to help save power, but their bass isn’t as exciting. All things considered, if you’re looking for headphones with great thumping bass that won’t break the bank, then the Life 2 are a solid choice.

   See our review

6. Alternative With A Powerful Bass Feature: Skullcandy Crusher Wireless 2016

   

   Skullcandy Crusher Wireless 2016

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   Amazon.com

   Type : Over-ear

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : Yes

   Noise-Cancelling : No

   Mic : Yes

   Transducer : Dynamic

   If you’re looking for even more powerful, headbanging bass, then the Skullcandy Crusher Wireless can be a good choice. They’re less comfortable than the Anker SoundCore Life 2 but they have an even more bass-heavy sound profile and feature a unique bass slider on the left ear cup. The slider lets you adjust the amount of bass the headphones produce, and it can get to a pretty intense level. They have a great 36-hour battery life and feel surprisingly well-built overall. Get the Anker if you want something that sounds more balanced overall, but if you’re after the most powerful bass you can find under $100, the Skullcandy are the best we’ve tested so far.

   See our review

7. Best Budget Bass Headphones: Anker SoundBuds Curve Wireless

   

   Anker SoundBuds Curve Wireless

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   Amazon.com
   Usage Ratings - Version 1.2

   6.8

   Mixed Usage

   6.9

   Critical Listening

   7.0

   Commute/Travel

   7.9

   Sports/Fitness

   6.9

   Office

   5.6

   TV

   5.4

   Gaming
   Type : In-ear

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : Yes

   Noise-Cancelling : No

   Mic : Yes

   Transducer : Dynamic

   The best budget bass headphones we’ve tested so far are the Anker SoundBuds Curve. They’re surprisingly comfortable for wireless in-ear headphones and deliver the deep thump and rumble that bass-lovers crave. They’re fairly well-built considering their budget price and they even come with a nice hard carrying case, which is a pleasant surprise at this price point.

   These earbuds have an exciting, bass-rich sound that’s balanced enough to be suitable for a wide range of music genres on top of the bass-heavy staples like EDM or hip-hop. Their 13-hour battery life is quite good and they charge relatively quickly too.

   On the downside, their comfortable in-ear fit comes at the expense of noise isolation. While they’re still versatile enough to wear during your daily commute, you’ll find they’re not very effective at blocking out noise. They don’t leak too much, though, so you can raise your listening a bit to experience more of their heart-pumping bass without having to worry too much about bothering those around you.

   See our review

8. Over-Ear Alternative: Superlux HD 681 EVO

   

   Superlux HD 681 EVO

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   Amazon.com

   Type : Over-ear

   Enclosure : Semi-Open

   Wireless : No

   Noise-Cancelling : No

   Mic : No

   Transducer : Dynamic

   If you like to wear over-ear headphones instead of in-ears but don’t want to spend too much on something with decent bass, then get the Superlux 681 Evo. They have a pretty bulky design so they’re not as portable as the Anker SoundBuds Curve, but their semi-open design results in a more spacious sound that still packs quite the punch. They sound very good overall, with excellent, thumpy bass and are quite comfortable. Unfortunately, they feel rather cheaply made and their bulky design can feel a bit unstable at times.

   Get the SoundBuds Curve if you prefer more portable headphones for bass, but if you like the soundstage that over-ear headphones provide, then you’ll want to check out the 681 Evo.

   See our review

9. Truly Wireless Alternative: SoundPeats TrueFree/True Wireless

   

   SoundPeats TrueFree/True Wireless

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   Amazon.com

   Type : In-ear

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : Truly Wireless

   Noise-Cancelling : No

   Mic : Yes

   Transducer : Dynamic

   If you prefer the unbeatable portability of truly wireless headphones, get the SoundPeats TrueFree. They don’t sound as good as the Anker SoundBuds Curve overall, but they still pack deep, thumpy bass. They only provide about 3 hours of playback, but their charging case holds a couple of extra charges, so you can get up to 15 hours of battery life if you take breaks to charge them throughout the day.

   These earbuds have very powerful bass, but some may find it slightly overpowering. Get the SoundBuds Curve if you want something with great bass but that sounds a bit better balanced overall; however, if you’re really all about the bass and would rather have a truly wireless design, go for the SoundPeats TrueFree.

   See our review