How to choose headphones with good bass

What affects bass quality?

Each characteristic when choosing inexpensive or premium wireless and wired headphones has an impact on sound quality and ease of use. You can focus on brands - leaders often use original developments and diligently improve the sound. And they do it well! But in the search for the best bass and clear sound, you should still focus on the parameters on which their quality greatly depends:

• Acoustic design
  . Open headphones do not isolate from the external environment and are characterized by reduced volume in the low frequency spectrum. This form factor is not suitable for the best bass. Closed devices handle this better, but not 100%. Choosing a model with active noise cancellation that turns off is a good solution.
• Minimum and maximum frequency
  . The standard range from 20 to 20,000 Hz fully covers the low and high frequencies audible to humans. If it is smaller, starting from 30 or 50 Hz, then you can forget about deep bass and multifaceted music. But an indicator of 5 Hz increases the chances of purchasing a model with better bass.
• Dynamic transducer membrane size
  . The characteristic is more important for vacuum wireless headphones, since in over-ear headphones, manufacturers can use a fairly large, flexible and rigid membrane from 3 to 4.5 cm in diameter. In “plugs” it must be at least 7 mm, otherwise the sound will be flat.

But we should not forget about such a parameter as the sensitivity of the headphones. It is measured in decibels and ranges from 90 to 120 dB. A lower value will not give the desired volume, and a higher value may harm your hearing.

Best In-Ear and Vacuum Headphones with Bass

Sennheiser CX-300 II

Perhaps the best and most affordable model of vacuum headphones on the market with high-quality sound and punchy bass. For many years, headphones from the German brand have been proving to all other models that for a very low price you can produce not only good bass, but also have high-quality sound insulation coupled with durability.

The popularity of the CX-300 II is legendary; the number of reviews on Yandex.Market has reached almost a thousand, and the average lifespan of the headphones is three years.

“Three hundred senkhs” are sold in durable plastic packaging and come with three pairs of ear pads and a small case for carrying them. The asymmetrical wire does not tan in the cold, and, despite its thinness, is very durable. One of the small disadvantages is the lack of a control panel, but this problem has been solved on the older model.

True, this minus is rather a nitpick, since most buyers actually don’t care whether the cable has a remote control with a microphone or not.

Reviews Review

Advantages:

• clear and deep bass, high volume reserve;
• unisex design, characteristic of the entire German brand;
• one of the best ratios of quality, functionality and price;

Flaws:

• lack of a microphone and control panel on the wire, as a result, the inability to use it as a headset;
• simple plastic packaging.

Recommendations: 6 Best In-Ear Headphones with Enhanced Bass

, 6 Best Studio Headphones , Simple and Effective Ways to Increase Bass in Headphones

Sony STH-30

Representatives of the earbuds segment with well-developed bass and stylish appearance. Classic “tablets” from Sony are positioned as a bass model, as a result of which the emphasis on low frequencies actually pulls the stage down. The case of the earbuds and the wire are made of high-quality materials and are dust and moisture resistant. The three-button remote control with microphone is convenient for both switching tracks and answering an incoming call.

Reviews Review

Advantages:

• solid and powerful bass with a good lower range;
• interesting appearance;
• long, durable cable and L-shaped plug;
• microphone and control panel on cable;
• protection from moisture and dust.

Flaws:

• poor noise reduction when using a microphone;
• low sound insulation.

Sony MDR-XB50AP

Vacuum headphones from a Japanese manufacturer with powerful bass and a wide range of reproducible frequencies from 4 to 24,000 Hz. The headphones are made in the proprietary “Extra Bass” concept, have good sound insulation and a good set in the form of a case and four pairs of ear pads.

Light weight of eight grams and well-developed ergonomics of the headphones allow you to forget about discomfort when listening to music for a long time. For those who like to chat on the phone, there is a highly sensitive microphone on a thin “noodle-shaped” wire.

Reviews Review

Advantages:

• rich bass coupled with high-quality sound;
• highly sensitive microphone on cable;
• sophisticated design in several colors;
• acceptable sound insulation;
• high range of reproduced frequencies;
• well-developed ergonomics and comfortable fixation of the earphone in the ear;
• use of neodymium magnets in the driver design;
• L-shaped mini-jack, four pairs of ear pads and a case included.

Flaws:

• thin, flimsy wire;
• Glossy surface of the case, not resistant to scratches.

9 best vacuum headphones

Sennheiser IE80

The legendary “senheisers” with adjustable bass, which are still relevant today among fans of “heavy music and clubbing”. Despite the high price, the headphones have the widest stage, reliability and fault tolerance.

Bass lovers have the ability to customize the low frequencies by adjusting them on each earphone. The package includes six pairs of ear pads, a screwdriver for cleaning and adjusting the bass, as well as ear hooks, a case and a cable clip.

Advantages:

• wide stage with the presence of both mid and high frequencies;
• abundant low frequencies and deep spacious bass;
• possibility of manual adjustment of low frequencies;
• high volume and clear, balanced sound;
• durability and high-quality assembly;
• replaceable cable with Kevlar thread and a large delivery set;
• non-standard appearance.

Flaws:

• wire hardening in the cold;
• expensive detachable cable;
• straight mini-jack.

Right choice

In order for the product to bring only positive emotions, it is important to take care of some criteria in advance. It is important to understand that each model has its own technical features, but there are also common features that will help you find a quality option.

When purchasing, you should pay attention to:

• Connection type. There are two possible options - wired and wireless. Here, each buyer must decide for himself what suits him;
• Sensitivity. In order for the bass to be juicy, it is necessary to select models where there will be no rustles, noise, interference, etc. Sensitivity should not be higher than 150, but the optimal value is 95.
• Frequency range. This criterion can easily be devoted to a separate article, since the topic is quite complex. However, if you do not go into details, it is recommended to purchase models where the start is at around 5-8 Hz, and the final value is more than 22 kHz. But finding such options is not so easy, and their cost will be several times higher.
• The last thing that is important to pay attention to is impedance. It is important to remember one simple rule - resistance always affects maximum volume. Accordingly, if a person wants to get the maximum, he should pay attention to models where the resistance is 100 Ohms, but if you plan to play music through a special amplifier, then options where the value is 200-250 Ohms are suitable.

Why is bass so popular?

Many people love the bass sound, and there is even scientific evidence behind this phenomenon. There are entire musical trends and arrangements that are specifically built based on the potential of low-frequency sound. As electronic music developed, ready-made sound “palettes” were continuously supplemented and improved, which ultimately led to the emergence of club culture. And she, due to her popularity, sowed her “seeds” in other genres - from hip-hop to pop music. If you also want to experience this phenomenon, you just need the “right” headphones.

Safety when using in-ear headphones

Finally, it's worth paying attention to safety issues when using in-ear headphones.

• Hearing protection

They are usually characterized by low resistance and high sensitivity at 95-105 dB. This makes it easy to control almost any portable player, not to mention headphone amplifiers. The level of sound that can be produced from them may be harmful to hearing. For this reason, it is recommended not to listen to music too loudly; when connecting the device to the player, the sound should be turned on and the volume reduced to a minimum. You should also remember that even when listening to music quietly, you should remove them from your ears from time to time and let them rest.

• Movement

External noise cancellation, which is one of the main benefits of in-ear headphones, is a serious disadvantage in situations where it could put us and others at risk. This occurs mainly in traffic conditions - a pedestrian should be especially careful when crossing the road. However, using in-ear headphones while driving or cycling is, to put it mildly, impractical.

How to properly care for your headphones?

In-ear headphones, which are primarily used with portable players and smartphones, are much more likely to be damaged than large, stationary in-ear headphones. Because they are taken with them to listen to music on the road or while playing sports. They put them in a pocket or backpack because they take up little space and can come in handy.

Helpful Tips:

• Try to bend the wires as little as possible, as they and the plug are the elements that are most often damaged in portable headphones. Even plugs and cables that look durable have a limited lifespan. If you bend them hundreds of times in the same place, you will eventually break the copper wires inside.
• When you carry your phone or music player in your front pocket, the plug and cord next to it flex with every step. It is best to carry the player in the pocket of a sweatshirt or jacket. Compact players can be attached to the shoulder or worn around the neck. When such options are not available, the pocket on the back of the trouser will be slightly better than the one on the front. Remember to take your phone out of your pocket before sitting down.
• After you finish listening to music, do not wrap the cord around the player; wrapping the cord with the plug left in the player will keep it taut for several hours. This can lead to deformation of the plug and ultimately damage to the cable cores.
• Keep them in a case. Using a case will allow the device to safely withstand any trip. If a case was not included, feel free to use any other mini-case. A hard one is best, but a small bag made of fabric or leather will also work. Some manufacturers attach such bags to their products.
• Remove and wash silicone caps regularly. This way, you will avoid polluting the filters that protect your headphone drivers. Headphones with replaceable filters without regularly cleaning the headphones will have to use new filters more often, which entails additional costs.

An analysis of complaints shows that the same headphones last for several years for one user, while for another, on average, two to three months.

Important! By changing your personal habits and following a few simple recommendations, you can significantly extend the life of your devices and enjoy using your devices for longer.