Best Bass Earbuds (Updated 2020)

Bass, we can’t get enough of it.

It’s what makes us move and dance. It gives music power and intensity. Without it, music just isn’t the same. If you want an optimal sound and the best listening experience, you have to have earbuds with plenty of low-end.

There is a lot to consider when buying the best bass or bass extended earbuds for your budget. There are also a lot of misconceptions out there, especially in regard to frequency response and flat vs. extended bass designs.

I will try to clear up some of those to give you a better understanding and allow you to make a more informed decision. Because in the end, it’s all about having the best earbuds for your particular needs.

7 Top Bass Earbuds Reviewed

We have included amazing bass earbuds for all budget types and with many different styles and features as well from top headphone manufacturers. Regardless of your needs, you’ll be able to find the perfect pair to satisfy your bass cravings.

Shure SE846 Sound Isolating In-Ear Headphones (Clearest, Most Accurate Bass Available If Money Isn’t an Object)



If money isn’t an object and you want the closest thing to a subwoofer implanted in your ears, this is the earbud for you.

These are simply phenomenal, with the richest, clearest, and lowest bass I’ve ever heard in an earbud. The bass response is flat and accurate, with the sub lows and lows reproduced so vividly you can hardly believe your ears. If you want to hear bass the way it really is, the way it was intended, you won’t be disappointed.

Not just great for bass, these represent the entire frequency spectrum well, with clear shimmering highs and a detailed vivid midrange. This is due to Shure’s three-way distribution design with separate processing of highs, mids, and lows, as well as a dedicated low filter for sub-bass frequencies.

In addition, they do an amazing job of blocking outside noise. They have the best passive noise isolating design I’ve ever experienced in an earbud, with 37dB of outside noise reduction.

Inserting different nozzles allows you to customize the sound quality from balanced, to warm, too bright. The design is comfortable, lightweight, and stays in your ears. Users who are not accustomed to in-ear designs my find they take a bit of getting used to, not because they are uncomfortable but because they feel different than most earbuds. However, the quality of the design and incredible stereo sound field is well worth the getting used to period.

I personally like the over the ear wire configuration. It keeps the wire out of the way and helps the earbuds stay put. The wire is Kevlar reinforced and formable so you can adjust for secure placement. The cable is also removable, allowing for easy replacement if something were to go wrong. Plus, the nozzle and nozzle components are easy to remove, clean, and replace.

If you’re not familiar with Shure, they have been making pro audio microphones and headphones for recording studios, concert halls, and sound stages worldwide for many years. They make many of the wireless in-ear monitor’s musicians use in world-class concerts.

If you want the best sound and don’t mind the price, this is most likely the best bass earbuds on the market today.

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PROS Amazing sound quality with the richest, deepest bass I’ve heard in an earbud; excellent outside noise attenuation. CONS Wearing them may take a bit of getting used to for some; some may not like the over ear wire design; expensive.

Sennheiser IE60 (Best Bass Earbud in a Compact Design For Under $250)



The Sennheiser IE60 features a small, compact earbud design with powerful bass and a fantastic stereo image. Like the Shure earbuds, these have a bass response that is deep, rich, and clear, without hype or unnatural boosting. It’s incredible such a small design can have such deep lows. The entire frequency response is excellent, with detailed, clear mids and bright highs that aren’t at all thin or brittle.

Because of their secure fit and design, they provide 20dB of outside noise attenuation. The build quality is excellent as well, with durable housing and a rugged cable. Included are different sized ear tips so you can get the perfect fit.

The IE60s can be used with or without the included ear hooks depending on your preference. I personally like the ear hooks and believe they help the earbuds stay in place.

The set also includes a protective case, a pair of ear hooks, a cable clip, and a cleaning tool. These earbuds don’t offer a lot of bells and whistles; they’re just earbuds and a cable. However, what they lack in high tech features they more than makeup for in high fi sound quality and rich, deep bass.

If you’re looking for an exceptional sounding set of no-frills earbuds, this is the set for you.

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PROS Rich, deep, detailed bass; honest midrange and clear, accurate highs; great fit; small ergonomic design; includes multiple ear tip sizes; no unneeded features to get in your way; does a good job of attenuating outside noise. CONS Some may feel there are few features for the price, but the sound quality is worth every penny.

V-MODA Zn Audiophile (Audiophile Quality Bass Earbuds at a Great Price)



I hadn’t heard of V-Moda and so I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and sound of these incredible earbuds.

Their bass is rich, clear, and really holds its own against much more expensive models. These go deep and provide accurate bass without hype, resulting in a richer, more powerful overall sound. The highs and mids compliment the bass as well.

They have a nice presence in the 5 to 10k range which makes the music vivid but not overly bright or trebly. The mids are well balanced and honest, with a vivid character that sounds good on almost any type of music. I love that the bass is powerful and big without interfering with or overriding the midrange. That’s the mark of a great pair of earbuds.

You also get rugged construction with zinc alloy metal housing and patented Active Flex sport ear hooks for a fit that is both comfortable and secure. The cable is tangle-free, which is something I’m all for and feels stronger and more durable than most others in this price range.

Additional features include a built in remote mic that is perfect for taking calls and giving voice commands. It’s a nice-sounding microphone which is clear and easy to understand. If you will be taking a lot of calls while you have your earbuds in, this is a great model to consider.

Eight ear tips are also included allowing you to choose the right fit. Since the sound of in-ear earbuds is so dependent upon a good fit, this is a great addition. Even with a great fit, however, the passive noise attenuation is not that great. In fairness, this is not their main purpose or design. However, any passive reduction you can get from earbuds is welcome as it quietens the outside world while also allowing you to listen to lower volumes.

Considering these audiophile sounding headphones, low price, and additional features, you really can’t go wrong with this set. If you’re like me and hadn’t heard of Zn’s before, you should certainly check them out.

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PROS Outstanding sound quality; rich, full, deep bass that isn’t at all hyped; great midrange and high end as well; built in mic; excellent build quality; comfortable to wear; audiophile quality at a great price. CONS Passive noise isolation isn’t the best I’ve tried.

Shure SE215-K (Best Value in a Bass Enhanced Earbud)



The SE215s have a boosted bass that is clean and clear without being overpowering.

The sound is best described as clear and detailed, with enhanced bass that is powerful without being muddy. They also block out 37dB of outside sound due to their incredible design and fit. With this type of in-ear design, the fit is essential.

Without an accurate fit, you won’t get the best sound and best frequency response. The outside noise attenuation will also suffer. This is why Shure has partnered with Sensaphonics to produce a wide array of ear tip sizes so everyone can have a perfect fit.

The SE215s rest comfortably in your ears and are comfortable to wear. If you’ve never tried in-ear designs before you will notice they feel different than most earbuds and take a little getting used to. The fit is different and the way they sit in your ear is also different. But once you get used to them you will love their sound and effective outside noise isolation.

An over the ear wire design keeps the cables out of the way. This is great if you’re moving a lot. The cable is reinforced and ruggedly designed, but it’s also removable and replaceable if something goes wrong. A soft, zippered carrying case allows you to safely store your earbuds when not in use and also keeps them from tangling.

This model doesn’t offer any additional features, just massive bass, great sound, and effective noise isolation. Still, for the price they are worth every cent are could be the best value bass earbuds on the market.

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PROS Boosted bass that is powerful without being muddy; great overall sound; excellent passive noise isolation; comfortable design with additional ear tips to provide a perfect fit. CONS No additional features such as a microphone or inline controls; some may find in ear designs take some getting used to at first.

Beats UR Beats (Most Bang for the Buck, Most Comfortable Bass Earbuds)



Beats UR Beats really don’t have enhanced or hyped bass. Still, you won’t be complaining about not having enough bass as they feature great sounding low end that is well balanced and powerful at any volume level.

One thing I noticed about these was that the bass was clear, distinct, and powerful whether I was listening at low volume or at higher levels.

These earbuds are incredibly consistent across the board and their overall sound quality doesn’t change as much as some models when you listen to different volumes.

I found the UR beats to be extremely comfortable to wear, more so than most other designs. Plus, a variety of ear tips lets you choose the right fit for your ears. If I had to wear an earbud all day long, I would choose these.

They’re also a great pick for working out at the gym. If you’re looking for an everyday headphone that you will use on the go, at the gym, at work, or while walking or running, this is a great value-priced set.

I personally like the wingtips and feel they really help keep the buds in place. They are optional, however, so if you don’t like them you don’t have to keep them on. I like that Beats gives you lots of wearing options because everyone is different and what is comfortable for me might not be comfortable for you.

Another great everyday feature is RemoteTalk, which lets you take calls via the built-in mic, control your music, and even give voice commands. I also like the tangle-free flat cable as I have a gift for tangling cords.

UR Beats also come with a great pocket-sized case which is portable and easy to carry with you. I know it’s just a case but I really love it. Some of my other earbuds have big, clunky cases that you can’t put in your pocket. This is frustrating because earbud size doesn’t at all necessitate such a large case. This one, however, you can store in your pocket and easily carry.

Earbuds tear up when they’re difficult to store. They get put in pockets, thrown in gym bags or backpacks, or are thrown in the backseat of a car, all because the case wasn’t nearby. With this case that won’t be an issue. Keep it in your pocket and it’s always ready to safely store your earbuds when not in use.

The UR Beats gives you some noise isolation but not as much as in-ear type models. Still, this won’t be an issue in most situations. With the buds in your ears and music playing, few outside sounds will get to you.

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PROS Great sound; rich, full bass; top pick for comfort; optional wingtips; multiple ear tip options; inline controls; built in microphone for taking calls and giving voice commands; well designed for everyday life; a top pick for gym use; small, compact carrying case.< CONS Passive noise isolation is not as effective as in in-ear designs.

Sennheiser CX 300 II Precision Enhanced Bass Earbuds (A great budget choice with powerful bass)



These budget model bass earbuds offers a powerful boosted bass driven sound with clarity and an overall sound quality far beyond its price tag.

The bass is big and massive but doesn’t overpower the mids and highs. I found the fit of this model to be extremely important in the overall bass response.

With a loose fit, the bass suffers, as does the overall sound quality. Fortunately, included ear tips in small, medium, and large sizes allow you to choose the perfect fit for your needs.

With a great fit, you also get passive noise canceling, which while not as effective as some of the higher-priced models, offers an impressive amount of noise isolation, especially considering the price.

The CX300s are comfortable to wear and stay put when walking, running, or working out. The cable is designed to stay out of your way so you have maximum freedom of motion. I realize that for some, especially those who are used to stock earbuds, even $35 is a lot to spend. But the jump in sound quality from stock earbuds to these is quite remarkable.

If you’re looking to step into a better set of bass earbuds or if you crave more bass on a budget, this is a great set to try.

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PROS Powerful bass; great sound for the price; good noise isolation for the price; ergonomic and comfortable to wear; multiple ear tips for a precise fit; a solid step up from stock earbuds. CONS Doesn’t have the deep sub lows of more expensive models, but considering the price, it does a great overall job; mids and highs are not as clear and vivid as models in the $99 range.

Sony MDR XB50AP Extended Bass Earbuds (Another great choice for powerful bass on a budget under $30)



If you’re looking for massive bass at the lowest price point possible, look no further. At under $30, the Sony MDR XB50APs deliver powerful extended bass at a price that won’t break your budget.

They feature a powerful 12mm dome driver with high energy neodymium magnets for all the power and level output you need. The bass is huge, hyped, and sounds really good. It is not the most accurate sound, but it’s not designed to be—they’re designed to deliver powerful extended bass and they do this well.

The massive bass, while distinct, doesn’t stop you from enjoying the other aspects of the music; you still hear mids and detailed highs. I especially like the hybrid silicone earbuds for their comfort and secure fit.

Additional ear tips of varying sizes are also included. Considering the size of the earbuds, passive noise isolation is really good. It’s not on par with the more expensive models but does a great job for the price.

Additional features include an integrated microphone and smartphone playback control, a feature no other product in this list offers. The cable is tangle-free and does a great job of staying out of the way.

Whilst certainly not the best bass earbuds they are lightweight and mobile, they are a great pair of bass earbuds for under $30.

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PROS Massive extended bass; good sound isolation considering their size and price; comfortable to wear; tangle free cable; a great step up from stock earbuds. CONS Doesn’t have the overall sound quality of more expensive models, but good for the price.

What is Bass and Low End?

Bass is called low end by people in the music industry in order to avoid confusion.

For example, if a band member says, “Give me more bass in my monitors,” do they mean bass guitar or a boost in the low frequency of their particular instrument? This is why they use bass to refer to the bass instrument such as bass guitar or upright bass, and low end to refer to the low frequencies present in a mix or in a particular instrument. For our purposes, bass and low end mean the same thing.

The lowest frequency the human ear can hear is 20 hertz or Hz. Hertz is a measurement of how many cycles a soundwave goes through in one second. A 20 Hz soundwave cycles 20 times per second. A 20 kilohertz or kHz frequency, the highest we can hear, cycles 20,000 times per second—the lower the frequency, the slower and longer the soundwave.

Frequencies between 20Hz and 60Hz are known as sub-bass frequencies. These are the frequencies that subwoofers pick up, the lowest of the lows. Frequencies from 60Hz to 250Hz are regular bass frequencies.

Types of Bass Earphone Concepts

There are two main types of bass earphone concepts — what I call hyped bass and natural bass designs. Each has its proponents. Hyped earbuds are designed to turn up the bass frequencies. Some don’t necessarily reproduce all of the bass frequencies, but instead boost the frequencies around 80 to 120Hz, resulting in louder bass. Think of this as a built-in graphic EQ of sorts where the lower frequencies are boosted.

Some cheaper and inferior earbuds do this to give the illusion of bass; when in reality, they don’t do a good job at all of reproducing the entire range of bass frequencies. They instead turn up the low end they do reproduce to cover up the low end they do not. Watch out for these. Remember that having loud bass doesn’t necessarily mean having full-range bass.

Other earbuds reproduce the entire low-end spectrum well but still turn it up in order to provide bigger, richer bass. These are well made and well designed, and perfect for those who want to hear their music in this way.

It is not an accurate reproduction of the way the recording was intended to be heard, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It just depends on your personal preference. This type of earbud has many proponents, as many enjoy listening to bass that is boosted and more powerful than originally intended.

The second type of bass-oriented earphone has a natural or flat bass response.

These are designed not to boost the bass but to represent it as accurately as possible. There is a misconception that this type of design has less bass than other designs. It is more accurate to say that this type of design has the amount of bass the mix engineer and artist intended.

Just because the low end isn’t hyped doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of powerful, rich bass on tap. In fact, if the sub lows and lows are accurately reproduced, they are often so rich and full that they don’t need to be hyped or turned up in any way.

I personally prefer this approach, but that is just my opinion. There are many others who can’t get enough of boosted bass and their listening preferences aren’t at all wrong, just different.

Frequency Response and Frequency Range

Many manufacturers tout the frequency response of their headphones. For example, some say their headphones offer a 20Hz to 20 kHz frequency range, which is the full range of human hearing. While this is great, it doesn’t tell you the whole story.

Stating a range only tells you that the earbuds reproduce given frequencies. It does not tell you how well they reproduce these frequencies.

For example, if your earbud reproduces 80Hz at 20dB lower than it reproduces a midrange frequency such as 1k, then yes, it is fair to say it reproduces 80Hz. However, its reproduction is so low that you probably won’t be able to hear it.

It would be helpful if more manufactures provided a frequency response chart showing the levels at which each frequency is reproduced. This would give a more accurate view of what the earbuds can actually do. Unfortunately, most don’t include this.

A speaker or earbud whose frequency response is similar across the entire spectrum is said to be “flat,” meaning that on a graph the line would be close to flat and straight. So if I say an earbud has a flat frequency response, I mean it reproduces all of the frequencies, from the highest highs to the lowest lows, pretty evenly.

Here is a fictional graph of a less than ideal frequency response for headphones. Ideally, the line should be somewhat straight around zero. No earbud frequency response will ever be perfectly straight and all have some degree of variance.

In this chart, there is a sharp decline in the frequencies below 100Hz and by the time it gets to about 50Hz, the reproduction is 30dB lower than at 1000Hz. There is also a boost in the high frequencies from around 3 kHz to 12 kHz which could result in a brittle sound.

In addition, there is a dramatic drop in response to the frequencies above 12 kHz. I could say, however, that this fictional headphone has a frequency range from 40Hz to 20 kHz and be correct. What I would not be telling, however, is that low, lows and high, highs are reproduced at significantly lower volume levels and probably won’t be heard at all.

So, take frequency range claims with a grain of salt unless there is a graph accompanying them. As you can see, the numbers without a graph don’t tell you much of anything.

Right Pair of Bass Earbuds for You

I hope this article has helped to inform you of the different types of bass-oriented earbuds available on the market today. Regardless of your budget and personal sound preferences, there is a perfect pair out there for you.