With so many types of headphones on the market today, it is hard to know which ones are the best. Each brand and style seems to have its own unique sound and it can be difficult to decide which would be the best option for you. If you are looking to find the best bass headphones, this article is for you.
One great thing about bass headphones is that you don’t always have to spend an exorbitant amount of money on them. You can find headphones under $200 that work great and provide excellent sound that you are looking for. Unlike cheap $10 headphones you can buy at a convenience store, there are many options that cost a bit more but provide much better sound.
If you’re looking to expand your headphone collection or upgrade your studio headphones, continue reading.
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Last update on 2022-07-04 // The links above are affiliate // Images from Amazon
How to Choose The Best Bass Headphones
As with just about everything in life, you have to know what you are looking for before you start looking. Things to consider when choosing the best bass headphones are price, style, weight, comfort level, and sound quality.
How thick and what style do you want the headphone cord to be? Instead of a standard corded headset, are you looking for the best bass in-ear headphones? There are countless options for you to choose from and they all have their pros and cons.
Do you want wireless or Bluetooth capabilities? An article from The Verge recently noted that wireless headphones are “improving faster than anything else in tech,” so are you looking to invest in some of those? Determining the connectivity of your choice is critical.
You do “get what you pay for,” but when it comes to bass headphones, this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to spend thousands. There are even sets that cost under $100 but provide exponentially better sound quality than more expensive pairs.
Bass headphones are unique because they have a lot of, well, bass. Even if the pair of bass headphones you choose has excellent bass, you will also want to make sure it also has the proper amounts of mids and trebles. If mids or trebs aren’t also high-quality, it can ruin your overall experience.
Bass headphones can be very loud, so if you are looking for headphones that outsiders can’t hear, you should consider finding closed headphones. Closed back headphones are great if you are the type who likes to listen to great bass-heavy music while you’re in public. Quality pairs won’t leak sound and disturb other people around you.
As you can probably guess, open back headphones do leak sound and may not be the best for recording in the studio but they do a great job of enhancing the listening experience. Semi-open headphones are also available, which typically give off a more realistic sound with little distortion and great low-frequency responses.
If you’re looking to avoid talking to your coworkers, a Harvard study says noise-cancelling headphones might be a really good idea for you if you’re trying to be more productive.
One complaint often seen with headphones is the lack of comfort in some models. Many people, especially musicians working in their studios, have their headphones on several hours a day. You’ll want to find headphones that are comfortable and don’t indent your skin or irritate your head.
Weight is also a factor to consider when choosing a pair of bass headphones. Heavy headphones can become annoying after long, so most users choose lighter headphones. Also, beware of headphones that collect sweat, as this can be very uncomfortable.
Below is a list of some of the best bass headphones to choose from.
10 Best Bass Headphones
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
Critically Acclaimed Bass Headphones
Priced at about $150 depending on the color you want, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones are critically acclaimed, and for good reason.
The 45mm large-aperture drivers give off great bass quality and a circumaural design that happens to be great for on-the-go listening. As we’ve discussed, comfort is crucial, and these come with high-grade earpads to make sure they feel good.
These work well regardless of what you plug them into and they also come with durable cords made of quality materials. Overall, this set of bass headphones will work for any use whether it be DJ-ing or simply listening to music on the train.
- Comfort
- Great sound isolation
- 45-mm driver size
- Complaints regarding one or both sides stop working after a few months
- Some sets are poorly balanced
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro
The Best Studio Headphones Under $200
The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro headphones come in on our list at some of the best bass headphones under $200. Priced at approximately $180, these are excellent headphones to use in your studio. They work well with laptops and desktops alike.
This set is handmade in Germany and the sound quality is impeccable because you are able to hear even minor sound details with them. The closed-back design keeps sound in and you really can’t go wrong with an impedance of 80 Ohm and frequency of 5 Hz – 35,000 Hz.
The velour earpads are a nice touch as well because they prevent sweat from gathering and making you uncomfortable. The pad on the headband is also detachable so you can add or remove padding if necessary.
- Comfort level
- Great amp
- Price for what you get
- Not very durable
- Weak cable
Marshall Mid ANC
The Best Bass Bluetooth Headphones
Equipped with Bluetooth aptX technology, the Marshall Mid ANC headphones have 40-mm drivers that ensure you are getting great sound quality. These are wireless but there is also a 3.5 mm socket should you choose to share your music with a friend as well.
These are great if you’re on-the-go, as they are one of the more compact bass headphones and they are also noise-cancelling.
The comfortable headband has 3D hinges so that you can adjust them the way you need to. One of the best features of these headphones is that the Bluetooth aptX technology allows you to hook your phone up to them and answer the calls wirelessly. You can then speak using the built-in microphones or make voice memos to yourself.
- Phone functionality
- Easy to travel with
- Not as good of bass as competitors
Jabra Elite 85h
The Complete ANC Package
There’s an old saying that goes something like “I’m too poor to afford cheap stuff”, and the same can be told about the Jabra Elite 85h: a relatively expensive (but not the most expensive) wireless headphones with noise-canceling technology and Bluetooth connectivity. To make a long story short, the Jabra Elite 85h have it all: cross platform compatibility (works both on Android and iPhone), impressive battery life, can be used outdoors regardless of weather conditions as it’s resistant to rain and water via nano-coating technology, and has an over-the-ear design, which is the best thing since sliced bread for noisy environments, but not so much for sound purists.
Basically, these headphones are built to literally give Bose and Sony a run for their money, as they feature state of the art noise cancelling technology (on par with Bose) and amazing battery life in a cool looking package. To give you a hint on how good these cans really are, they’re comparable (sound quality wise) to Bose’s QuietComfort 35 II, but they definitely look better, while the price is roughly the same, give or take a few bucks. Keep in mind that these babies are playing in the “premium category”, and Jabra is a Danish company specialized in implementing cutting edge technology in their products, hence the Elite 85h benefit from a number of AI smart features that can be customized using Jabra’s Sound+ app.
- impeccable workmanship
- very comfortable and light
- stylish design, class leading battery life (30 hours with NC on)
- excellent in regard to call quality and noise cancelling
- will automatically “take a break” when taken off
- lack support for high end codecs like AAC, aptX or LDAC
- the ear cups are a bit bulky for some people
- sound quality could be better considering the price tag
Bose QuietComfort 45
Bassy Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
If you’re looking for headphones with bass and you have a lot of money to spend, the QuietComfort 45 from Bose would make for an interesting choice. The thing is, these bad boys were just released, on September 23rd actually, and if you’re lucky enough, you may find a pair online or at your local mortar and brick store.
The QuietComfort 45 retail for a little bit over $300, and they’re a direct sequel to the QuietComfort 35 released a few years ago. It’s worth mentioning that the 35s are arguably some of the best noise cancelling headphones on the market.
The new model offers improved battery life, which is claimed to be 24 hours, and a state of the art beam-forming array microphone, designed to isolate your voice during phone calls. There’s also a new Aware mode, that allows the user to pipe in outside audio, and there are rumors that Bose stole this feature from Sony’s legendary MDR-1000X headphones.
The QuietComfort 54 uses Bluetooth 5.1 to connect to your smartphone, and you’ll also get Bose SimpleSync to pair the QC45 with compatible Bose Soundbars for seamless transition when coming home from work.
- Improved battery life
- Quiet & Aware Modes
- Hi Fi audio
- Over ear design
- Expensive
Sennheiser Momentum 3
Don’t Lose your Momentum Wherever you Are!
These headphones are designed to keep you company in almost any scenario. Designed with modern elegance in mind, these over-ear headphones are comfortable for long-term usage and have a well-built ANC module that filters out the world around.
Momentum 3 has controls on the earcups that allow users to make the switch between ANC and Transparent Hearing with just a switch. Also, they are equipped with auto On/Off and Smart Pause features, so you won’t lose anything while the headphones are off.
The sound quality is truly remarkable, almost managing to recreate the experience of a studio recording. To make sure you hear the bass, mid-range, and treble, the headphones separate each frequency, creating a beautifully rich audio experience.
- Stylish & modern design
- Superior comfort for endless listening
- Breath-taking sound quality
- Customization with the Sennheiser Smart Control app
- A bit pricey
- They don’t fold flat
Jabra Elite Active 75t
Compact & Comfortable, but with a Big Sound
Jabra managed to prove that their Elite Active 75t are more than just regular earbuds. Fitted with an advanced ANC module and superior sound technology, these buds deliver an amazing sportive experience.
Besides the secure fit and IP55 durability rating, the 75t buds are accompanied by a compact charging case that’s easy to put in your pocket. Also, even though the design is compact, the bass is strong enough to get you fired up and ready for action.
With the ANC on, you get about 24h autonomy (with the charging case) and around 5.5h on a single charge, which is an impressive feature. Even more, you can use them to take calls without worrying about the surrounding environment too much.
Lastly, the buds can connect to the Jabra Sound+ app, which provides users with lots of settings and control options.
- Durable & comfortable fit
- Great sound quality
- Compact charging case
- 24h autonomy with the charging case
- Compatible with virtual assistants
- Supports both calls and music
- Can be difficult to get out of the case
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX
High End
We must start this short review with a hard fact: these headphones will cost you almost five hundred bucks. However, if you’re looking for bass and a vivid lively sound, not to mention stellar build quality and an awesome design, the Beoplay HX have no rival.
The Beoplay HX are striking in their appearance, yet their design is relatively understated, as Bang&Oluffsen managed to struck a really pleasing balance between style and performance.
Everything about these headphones is premium: the price, the choice of materials, the workmanship, it’s all superlative. However, the HX do not prioritize design over performance, as they’re focused on making you feel good about life while enjoying your favorite tunes in style and complete comfort.
With high price, comes high expectations, but the Beoplay HX do not disappoint: these headphones incorporate high quality materials and extremely competitive specs, which are put together flawlessly, as they look and feel expensive, due to the combination of aluminum, lambskin, high quality plastics and memory foam, which results in opulent aesthetics. Connectivity is taken care of by Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX Adaptive capability, and you also get a USB-C input, along with a 3.5mm input and a power on/off/Bluetooth pairing button.
Each earcup has 2 microphones, while audio performance is vibrant, with detailed sound, and composed even at high volumes. Bass is exceptional in these bad boys, and bottom line, if you have the money, just go for it.
- Fantastic bass
- Very good SQ
- Premium everything
- Impeccable build quality
- Comfy
- Crazy expensive
Sony WH-1000XM4
Fantastic Wireless Headphones with Solid Bass
The Sony WH-1000XM are arguably the best headphones ever made, and we’re not mincing words here. Retailing for a little bit less than $350, the WH-1000XM feature industry leading noise canceling with Dual Noise Sensor technology, next level SQ via with Edge-AI, co-developed with Sony Music Studios Tokyo, more than 24 hours battery life plus quick charging (10 minutes of charging give you 5 hours of music playback!) and touch sensor controls which allow you to pause play skip tracks, control volume, activate your voice assistant, and answer phone calls, not to mention speak-to-chat technology that automatically reduces volume during conversations.
For what is worth, it doesn’t get any better than that in this price range, even if these headphones are not exactly cheap. Bass response is very good also, but where these headphones really kick hard is the noise cancellation thing, where they are second to none.
Overall sound quality is surprisingly good, and, most importantly, the Sony WH-1000XM are lightweight and supremely comfortable. Other features worth mentioning include multipoint pairing, DSEE Extreme upscaling, conversational awareness and auto-play/pause using a built-in sensor.
Judging by every possible metric, it’s hard to find a flaw in the WH-1000XM, as they deliver on all counts, including cutting edge codec support, which includes the LDAC codec that can send a bitrate of up to 990 kbps.
Bottom line, if you’re looking for the best in class noise cancelation tech and amazing SQ with deep bass, these headphones should rank VERY high on your shopping list.
- Great sound
- Punchy bass
- Stellar noise cancelling
- Impressive battery life
- Awesome phone call quality
- Zero latency
- No water resistance
Skullcandy Crusher Evo
Great Sound and Punchy Bass on a Budget
If you’re looking for the most bass-heavy headphones, the Crush Evo has your name on you. Seriously, if all you look for in a pair of headphones is skull crashing bass, look no further, because you’ve found your soul mate.
If you’re a Skullcandy fan, I’ll make it real easy for you: the difference between the Anc and the Evo is that God made the Anc and the devil made the Evo, as in these are subwoofer headphones that will numb your brain in less than thirty minutes, and your teeth will rattle.
The bass level is insane, hence if all you want from this life is loud volume to block out the outside world, Skullcandy nailed it to the wall with the Crusher Evo.
Moving along, these bad boys retail for a little less than $200, feature an over ear design, and you can actually use their haptic bass slider to add an extra boom and punch to your favorite music. Battery life is rated at 34 hours, and the companion app comes with a few EQ presets to help you customize sound as you see fit.
You must be aware of the fact that there’s no noise cancelling technology in the Crusher Evo, hence they may not be the best choice for commuting or working in a noisy environment. However, if you want a bass heavy sound profile, the Crusher Evo is a solid choice.
Bottom line, the Crusher Evo is the perfect choice for someone on the move shopping for good sound on a budget, and if you like bass, you’ll be absolutely flabbergasted.
- Bass slider
- Bluetooth 5.0
- Solid SQ
- Impressive battery life
- Portable design
- Excellent playback controls
- Bulky
- Not very comfy
Conclusion
Just a decade ago, noise-cancelling headphones and wireless headphones were the rage, but now there are many different types that may suit your needs better. Choosing the best bass headphones doesn’t need to be difficult once you know what your needs are and have your budget set out.