This is a practical guide on how to get better bass from headphones without necessarily buying a new pair, aimed at everyday listeners who feel their current headphones underperform. The advice focuses on simple adjustments to fit and software settings, emphasising that good bass should be deep and punchy rather than simply loud or overpowering.

– Get a proper seal first: closed-back headphones or well-fitted earbuds work best, while open-back or open-fit designs (e.g. AirPods 4, Shokz OpenFit Pro) are less suited to strong bass.
– Try different ear tip sizes, or foam tips, to avoid a "thin" sound, and use fit-test tools such as Apple's for AirPods Pro where available.
– Avoid stacking EQ settings across both the music app and headphone app, as this can cause distortion; instead, disable one and adjust gradually in the other.
– Check EQ availability per app: Spotify and Apple Music offer EQ controls, but YouTube Music (on iOS) and Tidal do not.
– Skip "bass boost" presets, which can sound appealing briefly but cause listening fatigue, and instead adjust the EQ curve directly.
– Focus on the 20–150Hz range on the EQ graph, where roughly 20–60Hz controls deep rumble and 60–150Hz shapes punch and weight, noting some apps only offer broad bands rather than a full curve.