LISTENING GUIDE · 02

Bass feels weak or boomy

The fit of your ear tips and your sound settings can change low notes just as noticeably as the headphones themselves. Start with a small adjustment.

1. Check the seal before raising the volume

With in-ear earbuds, a gap between the tip and your ear can weaken low-frequency sound. Gently adjust the angle or try a comfortable ear-tip size. You do not need to press hard or force the earbud in. Open-fit earbuds are designed differently from sealed in-ear models, so a different bass feel is not automatically a fault.

2. Temporarily switch off bass boosts

Your music app’s equalizer, your headphone app’s bass boost and your device’s spatial audio may all be active at the same time. Note your settings, then turn off one effect at a time. If the sound feels cleaner with an effect disabled, try using less of it. Keep playback quiet rather than increasing the level to make bass more dramatic.

3. Compare short low tones

Choose Sine wave in Earphone Check and use the 60, 100 or 180 Hz preset. Tones stop after 15 seconds; you can pause earlier by tapping the active headphone control. A lower tone sounding quieter does not, on its own, indicate a problem. This is not a test where all frequencies should be adjusted to sound equally loud. Use a low level and notice whether an unfamiliar buzz or rattle accompanies the tone.

4. Check cushions and nearby objects

Worn or uneven headphone cushions can change the seal. A cable touching your clothing or desk can also create a vibration that seems to come from the bass itself. Move the cable and check for hair or glasses caught under a cushion. If cleaning or maintenance is needed, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your exact model.