Bass
The track opens with deep bass. Listen for how low the bass goes and whether the other instruments stay clear over it.
Chaos at the Spaceship
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Sound effects
Prepared sounds that test one thing at a time.
Start at a moderate volume.
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Note frequency, Hz
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Note frequency, Hz
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Kicks per second
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Bass test for headphones
The track opens with deep bass. The sound effects check the bass on its own:
- Sub-bass dive plays seven equally loud notes from 80 Hz down to 20 Hz, each starting with a click. When you hear the click but not the note, the headphones have reached their lowest frequency.
- Kick roll speeds up from 2 to 16 kicks per second. On headphones with tight bass every kick stays separate. On boomy headphones the fast kicks merge into a hum.
- 808 slides plays an 808 bass line that ends with a slide down to 30 Hz. Rattling or crackling on the long notes is distortion.
- Bass in the mix adds a kick, hi-hats and chords to a bass line. The chords should stay clear when the bass is loud.
If the bass sounds weak
- Check the fit. Ear tips have to seal the ear canal, and over-ear cushions have to seal around the ears. A gap removes most of the bass.
- Check the equalizer or bass setting in the headphone app and in the sound settings of your device.
- Hearing is less sensitive below 30 Hz, so the lowest notes sound quieter even on headphones that play them.