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Best bass earbuds

Giving you the lowdown on buds with low end
By

Published onApril 17, 2024

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
MSRP: $299.00
7.7
Check price
Positives
Fit
Comfort
ANC
Battery life
Negatives
App
Price
Too bassy
Sony WF-1000XM5
MSRP: $299.99
8.3
Check price
Positives
Excellent ANC and Isolation
Comfortable
SBC, AAC, and LDAC support
Great app support
Great battery life
Negatives
Price
Default sound too bassy
Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
MSRP: $99.99
8.1
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Positives
Price
ANC
Battery life
LDAC, AAC, SBC codecs
IPX4
Fast pair
Wireless charging
Negatives
Chunky case
Many EQ presets are too bassy
JBL Endurance Peak 3
MSRP: $99.95
7.8
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Positives
Good battery life
Stable fit
IP68 water and dust resistance
JBL Headphones companion app
Affordable
Negatives
Large earbuds and case
Bass-heavy sound
No ANC
TOZO T12
MSRP: $36.99
8
Check price
Positives
Great isolation
Good sound quality
Price
Wireless charging
Battery indicator on charging case
Negatives
No companion app
No ANC

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.

What's new?

  • This article was updated on April 17, 2024, to add a section on the Raycon Everyday Pro earbuds.

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

The capacitive touchpads of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are the main control interface.
Christian Thomas / SoundGuys
The capacitive touchpads of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds allow you to control your earphones without worrying about a compromised seal.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are pretty much designed for those who prioritize a robust low-end response in their audio experience. Not only do they come with a naturally strong bass response, but also 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 20bd. You’ve been warned.

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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.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra EarbudsBose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Excellent sound quality • Immersive audio • Customizable fit
MSRP: $299.00
Next-level ANC and comfort from Bose
Designed for maximum comfort and the ultimate in ANC from a wireless earbud, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds offer enhanced spatialized audio, solid battery life, and multiple configurations to ensure a solid fit.

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

Close up of a man wearing the left earbud of the Sony WF-1000XM5
Harley Maranan / SoundGuys
The Sony WF-1000XM5 excels in blocking out sounds around you.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 strikes up 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 if you want to dial in more low-end.

Boasting some excellent ANC and a suite of functionality, including Sony’s 360 Reality Audio for the spatial audio fans out there, 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.

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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.

Sony WF-1000XM5Sony WF-1000XM5
SoundGuys Editors Choice
Sony WF-1000XM5
Great ANC • Improved sound quality • Comfortable fit with four ear tip options
MSRP: $299.99
The Sony WF-1000XM5 have even better noise canceling than the WF-1000XM4. Sony made these its most comfortable earbuds by shrinking them and including XS-L memory foam ear tips. The WF-1000XM5 support advanced features like multipoint connectivity and spatial audio with head tracking. You also get plenty of customization options through the free mobile app.

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

A close up of the shut case for the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC on a wood table.
Harley Maranan / SoundGuys
That prominent button is for pairing.

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.

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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 nearly 10 hours of playback on a single charge with ANC activated, 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.

Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NCAnker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
SG recommended
Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
Price ANC • Battery life • LDAC, AAC, SBC codecs
MSRP: $99.99
These are definitely a contender for some of the best affordable noise canceling earbuds based on performance and value. With an IPX4 rating, long battery life, and good ANC, these are worth a go. You might not want to go for a run with them, but otherwise they're decent.

Don’t sweat it with the JBL Endurance Peak 3

JBL Endurance Peak 3 earbuds, ear tips, and charging cable on table
The JBL Endurance Peak 3 tackles any workout you throw at it.

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.

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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.

JBL Endurance Peak 3JBL Endurance Peak 3
SG recommended
JBL Endurance Peak 3
Good battery life • Stable fit • IP68 water and dust resistance
MSRP: $99.95
The JBL Endurance Peak 3 brings all of the essential features you need in workout earbuds. The secure and durable design makes these earbuds perfect for use in the gym or when running the trails. At an affordable price, these are the best bang-for-your-buck workout earbuds you can buy.

Keep the change with the Tozo T12

TOZO T12 earbuds on a table with a plant in the background
Chase Bernath / SoundGuys
The TOZO T12 is one of the best bang for your buck earbuds on the market.

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.

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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.

TOZO T12TOZO T12
SG recommended
TOZO T12
MSRP: $36.99

Should you get the Raycon Everyday Pro earbuds?

Top down view of an open Raycon Everday Earbuds Pro charging case
Dave Carr / SoundGuys
Cap

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.

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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.

Raycon Everyday Earbuds ProRaycon Everyday Earbuds Pro
Raycon Everyday Earbuds Pro
Hybrid ANC • Comfortable fit • Clear calls
MSRP: $149.99
The Raycon Everyday Earbuds Pro offer three EQ presets, one of which applies a ludicrous amount of bass! These familiar looking earbuds with stem offer reasonable value.

Are the Master & Dynamic MW09 worth it?

Master & Dynamic MW09 earbuds in charging case held above a table.
Austin Kwok / SoundGuys
You get what you pay for with these premium earbuds.

Marrying exceptional battery life with premium materials, the Master & Dynamic MW09 not only offers an eye-catching design but also ensures durability and longevity. The default sound profile significantly emphasizes the low end, making them an ideal choice 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.

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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.

Master & Dynamic MW09Master & Dynamic MW09
SoundGuys Editors Choice
Master & Dynamic MW09
High-quality design and build • Bluetooth 5.4 • ANC
MSRP: $349.00
Premium wireless earbuds available in a luxurious aluminum or kevlar design.

The best bass earbuds: Notable mentions

Two hands hold the Nothing Ear (2) with a blue SoundGuys shirt in the background.
Harley Maranan / SoundGuys
Fortunately, you can use the Nothing Ear (2) and its app, Nothing X, regardless of whether your phone uses Android or iOS.
  • 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 your goal is 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 features 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 supply exaggerated bass response for only $23 at Amazon. However, 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?

A frequency response chart showing the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 with Crusher mode at 80% contrasted with our house curve.
If you consider that frequency responses work on a logarithmic scale, this is an intensely loud bass response.

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

A close up photo shows the Nothing Ear stick sitting on a Yamaha CS01.
Jasper Lastoria / SoundGuys
While nice to look at, no swappable ear tips limit the fit for some on the Nothing Ear (stick) and contribute to a low bass volume.

How earbuds fit in your ears contributes greatly to the way they 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 a lot of 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.

A frequency response chart showing how the Apple AirPods 2nd generation drops 10-20dB of all sounds under 1kHz depending on fit.
Varied fit changes sound quality a lot, so you may have a less-than-ideal fit (shown in yellow) if you find yourself asking “Where’s the bass?”

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.

Sometimes you think you need more bass, but your earbuds actually just have too much treble and a poor fit.

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

Sennheiser HD650 mounted on B&K5128 test head, viewed from the front.
Our Bruel & Kjaer 5128 does a lot of the heavy lifting in our tests.

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. Settling on the criteria of what to look for in bassy earbuds (and similarly any good earbuds) and considering the various priorities of users are important pieces. 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

Master & Dynamic MW09 earbuds in a human ear.
Austin Kwok / SoundGuys
We try stuff out so you don’t waste your dollars. We also don’t do promotional reviews, preferring to cut through marketing jargon.

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.

Frequently asked questions

Take a look at any of our headphone’s frequency response charts to see the bass response of the earbuds and headphones we’ve reviewed. As far as we’re concerned, good bass follows our headphone preference curve, but others may disagree. If that’s you, we’d suggest a modesty exaggerated bass volume. Maybe you’re not like most people and prefer super-exaggerated bass; look for that.

The two tips for prolonging the life of your earbuds, particularly Bluetooth ones, are to practice good hygiene and good battery hygiene. Making sure to periodically clean your earbuds and occasionally replace the ear tips will go a long way. Finally, choosing earbuds with a greater battery life should ensure they last longer overall and don’t charge them too often.

In days past Beats was known for its loud bass emphasis, but in recent years, the low end has been toned down on several Beats models compared to older models. We like that actually, because you can hear other frequencies better, and these newer models (such as the Beats Studio Buds Plus) hew closer to our headphone preference curve with still a good amount of oomph. Skullcandy has been on a similar journey as well but still has some select models with loud bass, like the Mod XT on this list.

Yes, Bose earbuds are known for delivering good bass. They typically offer a balanced sound profile with emphasis on the low end without overwhelming the mids and highs. Bose’s active EQ technology ensures the bass response is dynamic, letting you adjust the volume to your preference.