How to Increase the Bass on Headphones | Sound You Can Feel

Boost headphone bass with the device equalizer or headphone-accommodation settings, then check the seal.

Weak bass usually isn’t a hardware problem — it’s a settings problem. Most phones, laptops, and headphones ship with a flat sound profile, so the low end sounds thin until you adjust it. Whether you want more punch from a pair of over-ears or earbuds that rumble, a few targeted changes solve it. If you’re comparing models and want one that thumps out of the box, our tested roundup of the best bass wireless headphones shows which ones deliver that sound naturally.

Use the Built-In Equalizer First

The equalizer is the most direct way to boost bass on nearly any device. It lets you raise the low-frequency bands, typically labeled 60Hz to 250Hz, without changing anything else about the sound.

On phones, the EQ lives in the music app or the system sound settings. Spotify, Apple Music, and most Android devices include one. For dedicated controls, headphones like Sony’s WH-1000XM series have their own app with a Clear Bass slider — Sony’s support documents note that increasing it delivers “more bass without distorting the music,” as long as you don’t push it to the extreme.

Apple Devices: Use Headphone Accommodations

Apple’s iPhone and iPad include a feature called Headphone Accommodations that works with supported Apple, Beats, and Bluetooth headphones on iOS and iPadOS 14 and later. It’s under Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Headphone Accommodations.

Once enabled, you can tune the audio for Balanced Tone, Vocal Range, or Brightness, and set the level from Slight to Moderate to Strong. You can apply the setting to phone calls, media playback, or both. Apple also includes a Play Sample button and a Custom Audio Setup that walks you through a listening test.

Google Pixel Buds and Android Phones

Google’s Pixel Buds settings include a full equalizer. On a Pixel phone running Android 10 or newer, open the Pixel Buds settings, go to Sound > Equalizer, and either pick a preset or customize the sliders. On other Android devices, the Google Pixel Buds app offers the same controls.

Two presets stand out for bass: Heavy bass, which boosts lower frequencies to put the low end first, and Light bass, which cuts it. If neither fits, drag the lowest two or three sliders up a few decibels to taste.

A Proper Seal Matters More Than EQ

Bass is physically produced by air pressure, and a poor seal leaks that pressure away. If your earbuds sit loosely or your over-ears don’t fully cup your ears, no EQ setting will fix the low end — the frequencies simply escape.

Try the largest ear tips that fit comfortably, or adjust the headband so the cups seal completely around your ears. With in-ears, push them in gently until they feel snug. This one change often delivers more bass than any slider, and it’s the first thing to check before you blame the headphones. Once the seal is solid, the EQ adjustments actually have something to work with.

If you’re in the market for a pair that brings the low end without heavy tuning, a selection of the best bass wireless headphones covers models built around deep, punchy sound.

Skip the temptation to max out the bass boost. Pushed too far, the low end overwhelms the mids and vocals, and the signal clips — which sounds like buzzing or crackling. Raise the slider in small steps, play a track with a strong bassline, and stop at the point where the bass feels present but the rest of the mix stays clear.