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The Best Headphones for Bass

by Stuart Charles Black
Published: Last Updated on

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Hey there friend, and Welcome aboard!!

Before we get into The Best Headphones for Bass, grab a snack, sit back, and relax because…

You’ve come to the right place!!


The Best Headphones for Bass

The Best Headphones for Bass

What I will bring you in this article

  1. Introduction
  2. Considerations
  3. Amp/DAC?
  4. Sensitivity
  5. Criteria
  6. Entry level
  7. Mid-tier
  8. High end
  9. Final Word and Link to official reviews

Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!!

Introduction

Determining the best headphones for bass doesn’t always mean a bass that slaps you in the face.

Sometimes all we’re looking for is a low-end with texture, nuance, and detail.

It is true though: A lot of people that might read this will be looking for something heavy, and fortunately for them, we’ll get into some face-melting bass headphones as well 😛

We’ll also cover some bass that does roll off but provides an incredibly accurate and eye-opening experience.

With that, let’s talk about some considerations you should take into account!


Considerations

Budget

How much are you willing to spend or what is your price range?

We’ll try and cover a range of headphones from the most affordable to a few that are very expensive (but well worth it).

Intended Use

Will you be primarily in the studio or on the go? We’ll go into some of both today.

Closed or Open?

In line with that, you’ll need to decide if you want a headphone that blocks sound or lets some in.

We’ll discuss some of each today. Closed back vs. Open back headphones.

Bass

As mentioned above, more bass does not always equal better.

There is a fine line between plenty of slam and a headphone that just sounds obnoxious.

I’m of course referring to some of the early Beats headphones which sounded downright awful.

We’ll try to stay realistic today but also provide some options with plenty of thumping bass for you fiends. 😛


Should you get an Amp or DAC?

An amp:

If your headphones have a high impedance, they’re going to require more voltage (power) to perform optimally. 

Generally speaking, most headphones above 100 Ohm, (and even some below) need an amp of some sort.

It just depends. I go into much more detail here: How to choose a headphone amp!

A DAC:

A Digital to Analog converter’s job is to convert the 1’s and 0’s from your computer, into an analog sound that you hear (and vice versa).

During a microphone recording, the computer takes the analog (your voice) and converts it into data that it can understand (1’s and 0’s).

Basically, either of these exchanges is always happening depending on what you’re doing.

The only reason you would upgrade a DAC is if your existing one is crappy.

You’ll know because it either won’t be loud enough or just generally sound bad (noise, crackling, etc).

I also go into more detail about it in the article mentioned above.

Also check out my article on: What is Headphone Impedance?


Sensitivity and low Impedance cans

For low-impedance headphones, the Sensitivity will usually be fairly high, resulting in a can that generally does well with mobile devices. What is Sensitivity in Headphones?

That said, the quality of the song will still largely depend on the source file, as well as your DAC.

For instance,

if you have a bad DAC and buy an amp, you’ll only be magnifying bad sound by raising the volume level.

This is why it’s important to consider just what you will need and not need.

At the end of the day though, I’m nitpicking a little.

Most entry-level closed-backs will sound great and the discrepancies in sound quality are somewhat marginal when you’re starting out.

Now let’s get into some great options!

 


Well that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this article on The Best Headphones for Bass.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Do you have a headphone to add? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!

What do you think about these? Which is worth the investment? I would love to hear from you! Until next time..

All the best and God bless,

 

 

-Stu

[Xtr@Ba$eHitZ]

Can’t decide which headphones to purchase? Interested in a complete buyers guide outlining over 40 of the best options on the market? Click on over to the best audiophile headphones to learn more!!

Be sure to also check out my Reviews and Resources page for more helpful and informative articles!

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10 comments

Paul January 20, 2019 - 5:30 pm

Hi! What is your opinion on the Skullcandy Crusher wireless and Beats Studio 3 wireless headphones for bass?

Thank you!

Reply
Stuart Charles Black January 20, 2019 - 7:10 pm

Haven’t heard the Crusher but I want to try it out. The Beats Studio 3 I got a chance to try out at Best Buy but of course they don’t loan them out. It actually wasn’t too bad. Kind of too bass heavy for my tastes but I’m kind of an audiophile so there’s that. Were those the ones you narrowed down? I’d love to discuss it further.

Reply
Paul January 20, 2019 - 9:41 pm

Thank you for replying! I was also interested in the V-Moda Crossfade M-100 headphones. I just finished reading your review on them. I searched Amazon and found the V-Moda Crossfade Wireless marked down from $299 to $99! Can you tell anything about the difference between the two?

Reply
Stuart Charles Black January 21, 2019 - 5:34 pm

Unfortunately have not heard the Crossfade Wireless but I’ve heard some good things about it. I’m in the market for a wireless headphone actually and it’s come down to the M50xBT, Grado GW100, and now I’m considering the V Moda Crossfade Wireless now that you mention it.

Reply
Paul January 20, 2019 - 10:01 pm

I tried to be an audiophile, but it didn’t work out! I’ve purchased the Audiotechnica Ath-40x and 50x, Philips SHP-9500, and the Beyerdynamic DT770 (or 990) 80 OHM and wasn’t blown away. I did appreciate the headphones for what they offered, but I suppose I wanted something a little more fun. My son has the Beats Solo 2 or 3 and for the most part I liked what I heard. It was just a little too much bass and less of everything else. I’m hoping now to find a happy medium between the Beats and the other headphones I have purchased.

Reply
Stuart Charles Black January 21, 2019 - 5:42 pm

Hey man!

Wow you’re quite picky there, picky Paul. 😀 Surprised none of those struck your fancy. The 9500 is probably my overall favorite headphone along with the Sony MDR V6 and HD600. The resolution is just incredible. Beats Solo 3 wasn’t bad, but its signature isn’t something that I’m real into anymore. Used to be a bass head but the HD600 opened my eyes to that sort of thing. I love hearing bass textures much more than pure slam, although I still crave it from time to time. I think a happy medium between a Beats Solo and those others would be.. wow that’s a toughie. You may find the Crossfade Wireless to kind of mimic the ones you’ve already tried actually. I may not recommend that given what you’ve said, even at $100.

When you say you “tried to be an audiophile and it didn’t work out” does that mean you wouldn’t really want to stretch your budget? If not, give the MDR 7506 or V6 a try. For me, that’s the happy medium. The V6 still hits but it’s also more rolled off than your typical headphone.

Let me know!

Reply
Paul January 21, 2019 - 7:48 pm

Haha! I think my wife would agree with you:) I feel really guilty for not enjoying those other headphones more. I also tried the Grado 80e as well! I purchased the 50x a week ago and expected there to be more bass, but found it to be lacking. It was definitely present and pleasant, but I wanted more oomph! I forgot to mention that I do not listen to hip-hop, pop, or electronic music. I listen mainly to classic rock, indie music, soul, alternative rock, etc.

I read your review of the 9500’s and purchased them because of it. But did not find a huge difference between those and my apple EarPods. There must be something wrong with my ears. Well, technically, there is. I’m hard of hearing in my right ear – a lot of ringing in there.

I tried to be an audiophile in the sense, that I’ve purchased quite a few headphones that audiophiles such as yourself recommend, but that I could not connect with. The skull candy crushers came in last night. I’m very pleased with them. Very similar to the Beats solo but $200 cheaper! However, I can’t help but feel there are better cans out there. I wouldn’t mind spending a few hundred dollars on headphones if it could net me what I’m looking for. I’ll research the HD600, V6, and MDR 7506. Excited to continue my search! Oh, any thoughts on the Sony XB950B1 and Corwin E7 pro (2018 updated). Oh yeah, I also listened to the Koss Porta Pro. I liked them, but could not wear them for too long without considerable ear discomfort.

Maybe you can tell me what I should be listening for with the 50X (you liked those, right?) and what I’m not hearing with the Beats solo 3. I still have the 50x with me now. I appreciate all your help! Thank you for taking the time.

Stuart Charles Black January 23, 2019 - 2:09 am

Hey man! The 50x will be mostly bass but they did tame the treble quite a bit from the original M50 that I had for 5 years. It was a great headphone for me but I kind of prefer rolled off/flat bass now akin to something like a 9500 or Audeze LCD. I would suggest an Audeze but they are very expensive. What about something like An Audeze LCD2C? The 2C is the “Classic”, which is a re-work that Audeze has done based on their original LCD 2 (A fantastic headphone). It’s lighter on your head and more affordable.

I would definitely have you check out the HD650 first as it will be better for more casual listening, with a bit more extra bass emphasis than the 600. The 650 doesn’t sound as shouty/forward in the mid-range. I think you’ll really enjoy it. Then if that doesn’t suffice for bass you could try the LCD2 Classic. I honestly believe the Classic will be exactly what you’re looking for given the genres you mentioned.

I’m pretty sure I’ve heard the Sony XB950B1 and didn’t like it. Sounded much too bloated. May have been the N1 though that I heard. I get them all confused lol. Have not heard the Cowin.

Keep me posted and definitely check out the HD650.

David reeves December 9, 2022 - 11:16 pm

Hey. Can you tell me, how does Presonus hd7 compare to Philips shp9500 and Audio Technica m50x in terms of sound quality? I mean bass, clarity and sound separation.

Reply
Stuart Charles Black December 13, 2022 - 3:51 pm

Hey man! Haven’t heard the HD7. Sorry I can’t be of more help.

Reply

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