The 8 Best Bass Bluetooth Speakers

Bass is, in many ways, at the core of modern music. It makes us want to get up and dance or nod our heads with the powerful, vibrant rhythm it creates. Recently, many Bluetooth speaker manufacturers have phased out heavy bass in preference for a more balanced sound. However, some speakers still put bass first, and we’ve compiled a list of the best for our fellow bass heads.

JBL PartyBox 710

Intended for the most demanding of listeners, the PartyBox 710 has deep and powerful bass that is unmatched by other Bluetooth speakers.

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Other Category Winners

Best Small Bass Bluetooth Speakers ( <1 lb )

Our Top Pick: Sony SRS-XB100
Runner Up: JBL Clip 4

Best Medium-Sized Bass Bluetooth Speakers ( 1-10 lbs )

Our Top Pick: Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3
Runner Up: Treblab HD-Max

Best Large Bass Bluetooth Speakers ( 10-30 lbs )

Our Top Pick: Soundboks Go
Runner Up: Tribit Stormbox Blast

Best Extra Large Bass Bluetooth Speakers ( >30 lbs )

Our Top Pick: JBL PartyBox 710
Runner Up: Soundboks 4

Understanding The Terminology

When audio reviewers discuss bass, they typically use one of the three terms to describe it. Punchy, thumping, or boomy, the reader is expected to understand these terms without any explanation.

Boomy or booming is typically used to describe a strong low-bass. The types of frequencies that rattle windows and rumble like thunder.

Punchy is a term used to describe a speaker that has a strong upper bass. These frequencies are tighter and don’t rumble like low bass. Instead, they provide a punch, hence the term punchy.

Thumpy or thumping is often used to describe a strong mid-bass but is sometimes used interchangeably with punchy and boomy, depending on the writer. In this article, I’ll use the term thumping to describe the prominence of midrange bass, as this feels most accurate.

For more insight into your preferred bass frequencies, listen to our bass samples below to gauge the differences between these ranges and find which you prefer.

Small Bluetooth Speakers With Big Bass

These speakers weigh less than a lb and are made for ultimate portability. While their compact design makes them ideal for carrying wherever you go, it limits the amount of bass they can produce. Speakers of this size can enhance the upper bass frequencies, but the drivers are too small to create a deep, low bass. Still, these bass-heavy models sound great if you’re after a small speaker.

Best Overall: Sony SRS-XB100

Bass Depth

Low Bass

Mid Bass

Upper Bass

Sony’s SRS-XB100 is the updated model of their XB13, offering improved audio quality and eco-friendly changes in design. The XB100 utilizes recycled plastics for much of the outer shell. It’s a small speaker that can be carried in one’s hand or placed in a handbag or backpack.

The design is relatively stripped back and doesn’t have additional inputs or outputs. However, the SRS-XB100 is IP67-rated, meaning it can be submerged in up to 3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes without damage. It’s available in several color variations and weighs just 0.4 lbs.

When we reviewed the XB13, it immediately stood out for its high-quality sound and thumpy bass. The XB100 has refined the sound by creating a punchy bass that interferes less with other frequencies. Most of the bass elevation on this speaker occurs within the upper bass, while the midrange and treble are relatively balanced. The result is a speaker that retains clarity and detail in the vocals while giving an extra thump that many speakers of this size lack.

The built-in battery lasts over 15 hours off of a single 3-hour charge. Additionally, you can use Sony’s Music Center app to control the speaker, but it lacks EQ support.

Runner Up: JBL Clip 4

Bass Depth

Low Bass

Mid Bass

Upper Bass

The Clip series of Bluetooth speakers from JBL remains one of their most popular models, providing ease of portability and unique design to create the ultimate personal outdoor speaker.

The built-in carabiner is a standout feature of the Clip, making it ideal for mountain bikers and hikers. College students often clip it to their backpacks for easy listening between classes. The Clip 4 is wrapped in a tight fabric to make it more durable and reduce accidental damage outdoors. It also has an IP67 rating, illustrating that it is protected from dust and water.

The Clip 4 puts bass first with an amplified upper bass, creating a powerful punch for such a small speaker. The lower midrange is also elevated, which enhances lower frequencies but reduces some clarity in the vocal range. The bass doesn’t extend very deep, owing to the compact design. Soundstage, however, is fairly impressive on the Clip 4 and surpasses the similar Go 3.

The Clip 4 has a modest battery life of just 6 hours and a charging time similar to the XB100. The Clip 4 lacks app support, but this will change when the Clip 5 is released. The Sony is the better of the two speakers regarding battery life and sound quality, but the Clip 4 is still a bassy little speaker that has earned its spot on this list.

A Brief Buyer’s Guide To Small Bass-heavy Bluetooth Speakers

Going small is great for portability but limits the bass potential. You can still achieve a bass-heavy sound from speakers in this size range, but the performance will fall flat when compared to larger speakers that produce a deeper bass. Because these speakers are typically limited to an increase in the upper bass, this may cause muddiness in the midrange.

When buying a small Bluetooth speaker for increased bass, set realistic expectations for yourself and put the majority of your focus on the various other aspects that make a speaker pleasurable to use. Consider the controls, battery life, and durability.

Medium-Sized Bluetooth Speakers With Powerful Bass

We’ve classified Bluetooth speakers that weigh between 1 and 8 lbs as medium-sized. These speakers are similar in size to popular models like the JBL Flip or Charge series; however, unlike those models, they have much to offer in the bass department. These speakers have slightly larger drivers than their more compact alternatives, which results in slightly more bass extension and more amplitude in the midrange bass. They retain portability while giving more bass and volume.

Best Overall: Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3

Bass Depth

Low Bass

Mid Bass

Upper Bass

The Megaboom 3 has a cylindrical design, boasting a robust build that can withstand an outdoor lifestyle. Like many of Ultimate Ears’ products, it features an IP67 rating, ensuring protection against water and dust, making it suitable for poolside parties or beach outings.

A notable feature of the Megaboom 3 is its unique “Magic Button,” which allows seamless control of music playback and playlists directly from the speaker. This adds convenience, especially when your smartphone is out of reach.

Sound-wise, the Megaboom 3 delivers an extremely strong upper bass that gives the speaker a punchy sound. The middle bass frequencies are less pronounced but still provide some deeper response. Still, the bass extension is limited compared to larger speakers; the Megaboom 3 has a tighter bass than these larger alternatives. The midrange is relatively balanced and lends itself to clear and defined vocals.

Battery life is another area where the Megaboom 3 shines. With up to 20 hours of playback on a single charge, you can enjoy uninterrupted music throughout the day and night. Additionally, the speaker supports fast charging and can be fully charged within just 2.5 hours.

The Megaboom 3 can be controlled using the Ultimate Ears mobile app, which lets you adjust the sound qualities using a graphical or preset EQ. This will allow you to tailor the sound to your preferred signature.

Runner Up: Treblab HD-Max

Bass Depth

Low Bass

Mid Bass

Upper Bass

With its sleek design and durable build, the HD-Max can withstand the challenges of outdoor adventures. Its IPX6 water resistance and rubberized exterior protect it against splashes and sprays of water, including rain, making it well-suited for indoor and outdoor use.

Despite its compact size, the HD-Max delivers impressive volume and a very powerful bass. The majority of the bass is in the upper bass range, and the HD-Max also has a punchy sound that doesn’t extend very far in terms of bass depth. Still, its lively low end brings EDM to life in a way that will appeal to many. An area of potential improvement for Treblab is the HD-Max’s recessed vocal frequencies, which the strong bass can drown out.

The built-in rechargeable battery offers over 20 hours of playtime on a single charge, while USB-C charging ensures quick and convenient recharging. Intuitive controls make it easy to adjust settings and navigate through your music library without the need for an app. Still, the option to EQ would be welcome, especially in elevating some of the treble.

Whether you’re hiking, camping, or simply relaxing at home, the Treblab HD-Max provides premium sound quality and durability in a portable package, making it the perfect bass-heavy companion for music on the go.

A Brief Buyer’s Guide To Medium-Sized Bass-heavy Bluetooth Speakers

Speakers of this size and weight are less versatile than smaller alternatives but still easily portable. The increase in size equates to a noticeable increase in volume and bass power. Still, speakers in this size range aren’t very good at providing deep bass extensions, which requires large drivers.

Because these speakers cost a bit more than smaller alternatives, it’s worth paying close attention to speakers that provide mobile app support, particularly preset or graphical equalizers, as this goes a long way in tweaking your speaker to your preferred sound.

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Large Bluetooth Speakers For Bigger Bass

Bigger bass requires bigger drivers. These speakers weigh between 8 and 30 lbs, and their larger size allows for bigger drivers to be used, improving both the depth of the bass and the power it carries through the additional volume. These speakers are relatively easy to carry and well-suited for indoor and outdoor use. If you’re looking to entertain a group of people without breaking the bank, these are what you’re looking for.

Best Overall: Soundboks Go

Bass Depth

Low Bass

Mid Bass

Upper Bass

Built for durability, the Soundboks Go features a robust shell that can withstand the demands of an adventurous lifestyle. Its rugged design is complemented by an IP65 rating, offering protection against dust and water and ensuring stress-free use in rough weather.

The Soundboks Go’s relatively large size ensures bigger drivers and more bass. The Soundboks Go’s bass spans wide, with a particularly elevated middle bass that provides a thumping low-end. The Go has enough power and bass to entertain fairly large groups of people and has the power to get them on the dance floor, too. This speaker has a v-shaped sound with boosted low-end and treble, but the midrange is notably recessed.

The built-in rechargeable battery allows for nearly 30 hours of playtime on a single charge, which takes just 2 hours. The Soundboks Go is one of the best performers on the market in its ratio of battery life to charging time, providing unrivaled efficiency.

Use the Sounboks mobile app to adjust your sound using the graphic EQ or presets. Alternatively the app can be used to easily pair two Soundboks Gos together for premium TWS sound.

Runner Up: Tribit Stormbox Blast

Bass Depth

Low Bass

Mid Bass

Upper Bass

Created with outdoor enthusiasts in mind, the Stormbox Blast features a rugged, waterproof design with an IPX7 rating. Its waterproof and dustproof design makes it ideal for almost any outdoor adventure.

The Stormbox Blast produces a relatively deep bass with pronounced mid and upper bass, creating a thumping low end that bass heads will appreciate. The dual passive radiators and precision-tuned drivers produce mostly balanced sound, particularly in the upper midrange and treble.

The built-in battery offers more than 25 hours of playtime at moderate volume, allowing you to enjoy music all day without recharging. The fast-charging USB port takes shy of four hours to fully charge.

The Stormbox Blast uses Tribit’s mobile app to provide additional speaker controls from the comfort of your phone. The app has both graphic and preset EQ settings but doesn’t let you pair the speaker with another for true wireless stereo from within the app.

A Brief Buyer’s Guide To Large Bass Speakers

Speakers in this size range retain viable portability but need to be carried in one’s hand rather than being able to fit into a backpack. Most will come with a built-in carry strap, an important feature for any speaker weighing over 8 lbs.

The bass frequencies these speakers cover vary between models but offer more depth than their smaller counterparts. In the case of the Soundboks Go, they can produce impressive low-end bass, a feat that most smaller speakers can’t.

Ensure the speaker you buy can produce the volume you require. Options in this range vary greatly in their maximum output, with similar-sized speakers varying by up to 20 decibels. The manufacturer doesn’t always provide the exact SPL, and it is often best to refer to third-party test results.

These speakers are often designed for party environments; if that’s your intended use – consider opting for a model with built-in lights to improve the ambiance and drive the party.

Extra Large Speakers With Extra Powerful Bass

These powerful, bass-heavy Bluetooth speakers shake the floors and rattle the windows. Weighing more than 30 lbs, they’re best suited to those looking to host parties or those who enjoy the feeling of sound waves crashing against their bodies. Speakers of this size have deeper and more powerful bass and are the closest thing you’ll get to a club environment in your home using Bluetooth speakers. While expensive, these speakers are only for the most dedicated bass lovers.

Best Overall: JBL PartyBox 710

Bass Depth

Low Bass

Mid Bass

Upper Bass

Arguably the bass king, the PartyBox 710 from JBL, is an extremely loud and powerful party speaker with an intense, thumping bass. Suitable for entertaining large groups of people, the 710 is a big speaker with plenty to offer.

Unlike all other speakers on this list, the PartyBox 710 has the most power in its low-bass frequencies, ensuring deep rumbles and thumping soundwaves that you’ll physically feel at higher volumes. The added elevation to the upper bass pairs with its low booming sound, adding a solid punchy element to its sound. The treble is somewhat recessed with the 710, resulting in a slightly dull sound in the upper frequencies.

Aside from its impressive audio performance, the PartyBox 710 has a vibrant, dynamic lighting feature that can be controlled via the speaker or through the PartyBox app. Additionally, this app will allow you to dial in the way the 710 sounds; brightening up some of those highs can go a long way toward refining its sound.

Despite being an extremely heavy speaker, the built-in wheels retain portability. However, the lack of battery means the 710 needs to be plugged into an AC outlet to use it, which is a limiting factor in its portability. An extension cord can cater to outdoor listening, with the speaker being rated for IPX4 water resistance.

Runner Up: Soundbox 4

Bass Depth

Low Bass

Mid Bass

Upper Bass

Large and loud, the Soundboks 4 is touted as the world’s loudest portable Bluetooth speaker. It can be cranked to 11 (literally) and produce up to 126 dB of sound. For perspective, that’s within range of fireworks and jet engines.

Like the PartyBox 710, the Soundboks 4 utilizes its large drivers to drive a deep bass effectively that is particularly dominant in the mid-bass and upper bass. It creates a thumping bass ideal for pop, hip-hop, and EDM. Its strong bass presentation is paired with a relatively bright, detailed midrange and treble, creating a slightly v-shaped signature that sounds lively and exciting.

Despite its power, the Soundboks 4 remains portable with a built-in battery that can keep playing for up to 40 hours on just 2.5 hours of charge. The Soundboks also has a swappable battery, allowing you to swap in a freshly charged one should the other deplete.

We’ve been following the Soundboks journey since the start, having recommended them for years as our pick for the loudest Bluetooth speaker. The Soundboks 4 retains everything we love about the Soundboks 3 but with improved design, durability, and sound.

A Brief Buyer’s Guide To Extra-Large Bass Speakers

With extra big speakers comes extra big responsibilities. If you want to own one of these monster Bluetooth speakers, it is expected to have what’s needed to impress friends and family. Numerous similar speakers from unknown brands are available at half the price, but what JBL and Sounboks have created with these speakers doesn’t come cheap; expect to pay substantially more than smaller alternatives.

Consider what you can carry when buying an extra large Bluetooth speaker; some speakers weigh close to 100 lbs and can be challenging to move. Look for speakers that retain a reasonable weight despite their size, such as the Soundboks 4, or look for speakers with built-in wheels, making the speaker much easier to move.

Be careful with other speakers on the market that advertise a large form factor but lack the volume to match the build. The JBL PartyBox 710 reliably measures between 103 and 108 dB in third-party tests, while the Soundboks 4 is the loudest commercially available Bluetooth speaker with up to 126 dB SPL.

The Difference Between Deep Bass and Amplified Bass

If you thought that all bass is equal and each bass-heavy speaker sounds similar, that’s not the case. When we talk about the bass of a Bluetooth speaker, we’re referring to how deep the bass extends on the X-axis and how amplified it is on the Y-axis. This way of approaching bass stems from frequency response charts. If you’re interested in reading more on frequency response, we have a separate guide – but let’s keep it simple here.

The bass amplitude or level refers to how elevated or recessed the bass frequencies are. In other words, it’s what makes the bass sound louder. Bass depth refers to the lowest frequencies the speaker can reproduce.

The best bass-heavy Bluetooth speakers strike a balance between depth and amplitude. Excessive low bass can cause midrange and treble to sound drowned out, and not enough depth can leave the bass sounding mediocre.

What Type of Bass Head Are You?

Each speaker on this list has its bass frequency elevation shown for low bass, mid-bass, and upper bass. But perhaps you don’t know which bass frequency you find most appealing. Don’t fret! We’ve compiled some audio samples to illustrate the differences between these bass frequencies.

Low Bass ( Up to 50 Hz )

I cut off all frequencies above 50 Hz using a parametric EQ to represent the low bass range. What you hear in this sample is an example of low bass frequencies.

Mid-Bass ( 50 to 150 Hz )

Next, I isolated frequencies between 50 Hz and 150 Hz. These fall into what one refers to as the mid-bass, creating the thumpy sound we discussed earlier.

Upper Bass ( 150 to 300 Hz)

This sample illustrates the upper bass. It has a tighter sound and bordering on the low-midrange frequencies. This is what represents a punchy sound.

** Keep in mind that what you hear will vary depending on the nature of the speaker or headphones you’re listening through. For the best results, use quality headphones and avoid a phone’s speaker, as this will usually not have enough low-frequency response to illustrate bass.

While we have opted to use a common defining frequency range between low, mid, and upper bass – there is no standard definition for these frequencies, which may vary between websites and authors.

Listening to these samples will help you find whether you prefer a punchy upper bass, thumpy mid-bass, or booming low bass.

EQ Options For Bassy Bluetooth Speakers

Take full control of your music by investing in a Bluetooth speaker with an app that allows you to adjust the EQ. Equalizers are a great tool to change the way your speaker sounds. Before investing in a bass-heavy speaker, see if your existing speaker’s mobile app has EQ. You may be able to improve your bass and negate having to spend more money.

The ability to adjust your speaker’s sound varies between apps and speakers, with some having simple 3-band EQs while others allow you to change frequency amplitude on a more granular level, adjusting the low bass, mid-bass, or upper bass instead of the whole bass range.

Equalizing works both ways, too. If you buy a bassy Bluetooth speaker and there are times when you’d prefer a more natural sound, using a graphic or preset EQ can help you tone down the bass.

Bass Heavy Speakers vs. Balanced Sound

If you’ve browsed Reddit or any other online audio forums, you’ve more than likely encountered the argument of bass or balance. In these communities, there is often a tendency towards promoting balanced sound ahead of bass and with reason.

Neutral-sounding speakers are best for studio work or critical listening, where the producer’s art is pivotal to the experience. However, no matter how much shade gets thrown at bassy speakers, we need to remember that music is an art form, and our preferences vary between individuals. There is no right or wrong way to listen to music.

By opting for a bass-heavy speaker over a balanced speaker, you may have to make some sacrifices. If a powerful bass is more important to you than neutrality, you can ignore the prominent narrative that flatter sound is better. Still, one should know the trade-offs between heavy bass and vocal clarity (though most speakers on this list can do both).

Frequently Asked Questions About Bass-Heavy Speakers

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