Some people, regardless of whether they are disc jockeys or merely music lovers, cannot live without bass. Bass quality and quantity are two of the most important factors to consider when judging music and mixes. Bass lets any listener feel the weight and power of the music. It makes you feel like Darth Vader as you stomp your feet and move to the beat of the music as if the force is with you.
Bass brings out the full potential of a mix or music. Because of this, a lot of music lovers would prefer a surround sound system in their homes with big subwoofers at almost every corner of the house. With today’s technology, it is not a surprise that you can bring the wonderful sound quality even outside your home using bass headphones.
Bass headphones, obviously, power up the bass. Bass is the low-pitch sound in a particular music. It is formed through low frequency and has long sound wavelength. Simply put, it is the sound that can make windows vibrate or make your heart pound hard when you listen to Linkin Park’s Paper Cut. Although headphones are not as big as subwoofers, they too can, surprisingly, produce some powerful bass. Every headphone manufacturer artistically balances the size of the headphones and bass quality to produce headphones with sufficient amount of bass without sacrificing the aesthetic and functional characteristics of the product.
What makes bass headphones powerful?
- Dynamic drivers
Your surround sound system at home can produce fantastic sound quality because of its drivers. Bass headphones, too, have drivers which function similarly. These drivers may appear smaller than the ones found in loudspeakers but they work just the same to reproduce the same music.
There are two types of drivers: balanced armature driver and dynamic driver. The balanced armature driver is commonly used in hearing aids. It uses a magnetic armature to move the electric current running through the coil. Pressure is put on the diaphragm to create the sound. Some headphones pair balanced armature driver with dynamic driver for an improved sound quality.
The dynamic driver, on the other hand, is a bit more complicated. It is the same drivers used in big loud speakers. Dynamic drivers are difficult to miniaturise but it produces a nice bass response. This is the rationale why bass headphones manufacturers boast that their products use dynamic drivers. Because the technology requires sophisticated technique to replicate, bass headphones are pricier than other ordinary headphones.
A dynamic driver operates by setting up a static magnetic field through attaching a stationary magnetic element to the frame of a headphone. Most often than not, the magnetic element used is neodymium. Sony’s bass headphones use this element for their 40mm driver. Other manufacturers use ferrite. Inside the static magnetic field lies a coil of wire attached to the diaphragm. The latter is made from lightweight polymer carbon material. As the music plays, a current will flow through the coil creating an alternate magnetic field. This will react against the static magnetic field causing the coil and diaphragm to move the air. This reaction produces the sound.
- Wide range Frequency response
Frequency response is often found in a headphone’s specification table. It describes the range of musical tones a pair of headphones can reproduce. It is measured in Hertz (Hz), and sometimes referred to as Cycles per Second.
Human ears can detect tones as low as 20Hz to as high as 20,000Hz. This is what inspires headphone manufacturers to make sure that their products are within that range. In technical specifications, the low number refers to the bass response of the headphones while the high number refers to its treble response. Headphones which can reproduce this range will sound as accurate as the real thing. Bass headphones go lower to deliver more powerful and amazing bass. Some bass headphones offer as low as 4Hz.
- Impedance
Impedance is an electrical measurement representing the relationship between the current a headphone can accept or deliver and the voltage. The range of impedance in headphones is from 16 ohms to 600 ohms. There are models which even offer multiple impedances.
Impedance affects the volume of a pair of headphones. The higher the impedance, the more difficult it would be for your device or music player to drive and attain a particular volume. Higher impedance may equate to a better sound quality but it would sometimes require an amplifier to have a stable and enough supply of power.
Impedance also changes with frequency. The higher the output impedance is, the larger the range of its frequency response. However, one fall back is that the bass may sound more powerful but less controlled. Hence, you may encounter trouble in controlling the volume of low tones.
If you will be using your bass headphones with a portable music player, mobile phone or laptop, an impedance range of 16 to 32 ohms will be ideal and energy efficient. Depending on the brand and quality of headphones, there are some which have impedance as high as 80 ohms yet still work well with mobile devices. If you are a person who likes things loud, higher impedance will work for you. Otherwise, lower impedance is better. It helps preserve battery without sacrificing sound quality.
The 5 best bass headphones in 2015
Finding the most suitable bass headphones for you is like finding a needle in a haystack. However, with the points discussed above, you will find yours in no time. To make it easier for you to find the perfect headphones, jumpstart your search with 5 of the best headphones ever manufactured.
- Sony MDR-XB600 Extra Bass 40mm Driver Premium Headphones
Sony has gone a long way with extra bass headphones. MDR-XB600 is a pair of comfy street fashion cans. It has a slimmer built compared to other extra bass headphones from Sony and technically a lot better too! Its overall padding, though reduced, is still thick enough to let it snugly sit on your head. It still has a thick headband to support the entire headphone. The ear cups are well padded and it will not hurt your ears even during long hours of wearing. Its cable is not removable unlike the other modern headphones but it is still easy to carry around. MDR-XB600 is foldable and very lightweight. Its frame is entirely made of plastic and the covers are made of synthetic leather. You can enjoy it in any position you want because the ear cups swivel without creaking.
If you need to shut yourself from the world, a pair of MDR-XB600 will be good for you. Its ear cups have an advanced direct vibe structure which helps in tightly sealing the music resulting to a perfect isolation.
Although a pair of these extra bass headphones promises top-notch bass, it actually does not have any bass control. Regardless, MDR-XB600 has a wide range of frequency response of 4–24,000Hz. Hence, it emits detailed lows and mids. It can reproduce powerful and accurate bass with its 40mm neodymium driver yet still resound a smooth treble. Indeed, it is sonic clarity at its finest.
- Behringer HPX2000 Headphones High-Definition DJ Headphones
Behringer’s HPX2000 is a very dynamic and versatile pair of robust bass headphones. These supra-aural headphones have rotating and reversible ear cups for a more comfortable listening experience. The entire HPX2000 is made of high quality materials which make it durable and last a long time. It has oxygen-free copper wires on one side which prevent tangling and delivers good quality sound. Its ear cups are covered in soft leather material which does not, in any way, make the headphones feel like plastic. The headphones have a lot of joints and brackets which make it highly adjustable to fit your head perfectly.
Because it is supra-aural, HPX2000 is not ideal for isolation and noise cancellation. This may make it difficult to hear extra low notes in noisy environments but, overall, the bass quality is top-of-the-line. Its high resolution cobalt capsules assist in delivering high definition bass and super transparent high notes. Its frequency range is very dynamic at 20Hz to 20 kHz. At a very economical price of around £14, you can experience all these and more.
- Symphonized Wraith Premium Genuine Wood Headphones
Have you ever noticed that concert halls and theatres have wooden walls? It is because wood has acoustical properties which can provide the best sound production above anything else. Symphonized took that characteristic and produced high-end, full size headphones, the Wraith Premium Genuine Wood.
As its name suggests, there is no portion in the headphones that is made of plastic. Its entirety is made of natural wood. The ear cups are also made of wood. The shape of the ear cups allows it to tightly seal the ear and facilitate noise cancellation. It also has a gold-plated 3.5mm audio jack which helps avoid losing sound connection. This cord is detachable to allow you to enjoy music in different ways. Despite the fact that it is made of hardwood, the headphones remain light and comfortable to wear. The ear cups are covered with soft leather material. Symphonized wood bass headphones are compatible with iPhones, iPads, iPods, mp3 players and many other gadgets.
Because Symphonized Wraith is made of wood, the quality of the sound is different from headphones made of plastic. The sound reproduced is realistic, balanced, and very natural. It reproduces neutral treble, and a good, deep bass for an overall powerful acoustics. With Symphonized Wraith, you can experience theatrical sonic quality while playing Les Misérables OST on your iPhone.
- Philips SHB9100 White Wireless Bluetooth Over-the-Head Stereo Headphone with Superior Bass & Optimum Clarity
Philips is all about comfort in its on-ear SHB9100 Bluetooth bass headphones. It was designed to allow users to easily control the music during play. It has a single button on the right earpiece which can adjust the volume and choose which track to play or skip. The ear cups are thickly padded and use Philips’ FloatingCushions design which allows for multi-directional, auto-adjusting headphone experience. It can connect to a player via Bluetooth. In case the player has no Bluetooth capability, Philips SHB9100 can connect to it using a 3.5mm audio cord. Long jamming hours is not a problem because it has a 9-hour battery life. It is made of plastic, lightweight material which makes it easy to use and carry around. You will not even feel them resting on top of your head.
Although it has no noise cancellation feature, it is still perfect to use indoors. It has a balanced bass, and dynamic range of frequency from 10Hz to 2800Hz.
- Bose QuietComfort 25 Headphones
Bose’ QC 25 speaks for itself. It is quiet. Its noise cancelling capability is superb. Wearing it will take you to a world where only music matters. As to design, it basically comes in black but buyers can avail of the customisation tool. Bose partners with ColorWave to allow their clients to change the colours of the headphones including the ear cups, headband, spacers, and dome. It is foldable and comes with its own case which makes it perfect as a traveling companion. It has a detachable cord as well. Further, QC 25 is very comfortable to use. Its headband is redesigned by Bose to fit the head easily and perfectly. The headband is covered with an engineered fabric while the ear cups are covered with soft leather. The hinges are made of cast zinc. Overall, the headphones are very durable but light. Its battery life can extend up to 35 hours. It is not a problem should you run out of battery. The headphones will still function sans the noise cancelling feature. When it comes to sound quality, QC 25 has a tight bass and emits a clear, realistic sound.
There are other bass-heavy headphones which offer outstanding listening experience. Remember that great bass quality is not only found in rock music. It can be found in almost any genre and decade of music. Even Adele’s famous Rumour Has It is so full of fantastic, heart pounding bass. Hence, even if you are not a rock music lover, a reliable pair of bass headphones may still be a perfect choice for you.
