Everyone has had that moment where they thought their headphones were broken because the bass was not as prominent as it should be. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. This post is to help with solving your problem!
There are many ways to fix this issue and all of them are easy to do at home without any special tools or skills needed. You can even try some of these methods if you have a pair of old headphones laying around-just make sure before starting that they are in working condition!
Table of Contents
How To Fix Bass in Headphones
We’ll discuss the different ways to fix it. If you have a pair of broken headphones laying around, then feel free to check out the following article about how to use them as a resource for better sound: Fixing up your old headphones
1. Tightening the Headband Covers
If you notice that your bass is lacking and it isn’t just because of the music you are playing, then this is probably your issue. This fix will require some patience but can be done with items found in any household.
You will need an elastic band (most things like headbands work best), scissors, and any kind of adhesive tape (duct tape works great). Sit on a chair or stand so that you can pull the headphone covers tight while working on them. Cut the elastic band to the desired length and apply the adhesive tape to one end. Lay your headphone covers flat with the inside facing up. With a little bit of pressure, stretch one side of headband cover open about an inch or two while pressing down firmly on it with your fingers.
This might make a small ripping sound but that is okay because you won’t notice it when everything is done. Slip your new elastic band under the stretched out section and then use scissors to cut off any excess material sticking out beyond where you just inserted it. Once this is done, simply close back up the headband by folding the fabric over itself so that you can stick it back in place, stretching out if need be.
There should be only slight resistance when closing the headband back up to fit snugly around where the headphone covers meet. Test it out by lightly pushing on the headphones from both sides and adjusting as necessary. Once you are satisfied with how your fix came out, enjoy a more satisfying bass response!
Note:
- Use an elastic band that is the same color as what you will be using for this method of fixing
- The adhesive should be placed on the part of the elastic band that will go under the stretched fabric
- After closing, test everything again before allocating any time to actually fixing these headphones
2.Tightening Driver Compartment Screws
If adjusting the headband cover does not help at all, then there is a strong possibility that your screws for tightening the driver compartment are worn or that they have become loose. This is commonly found with headphones that are made out of plastic materials. To fix this, you will need a screwdriver set to fit the size of your screws, adhesive tape similar to Fix #1, and patience.
If you do not have any headband covers on your headphones, then go by the orientation of what will be face up after turning it inside out. Place all screws in a safe place so that they do not get lost while working on them. Use the adhesive tape to secure each screw into place once inserted back into their appropriate holes.
This should give you about an additional 1/2 inch or so of space between your driver compartment and headphone covers when tightened back down. If this does not solve your bass response issue, then you might need to consider replacing the screws entirely or adjust the position of the screws that are already inside if they feel like they are still loose even with adhesive tape on them.
Note:
- When tightening screws, do so in small increments or else your driver compartment will be too tight and your headphones won’t produce any sound (worse case scenario)
3. Glueing Leaking Filling Gaps
If there is a leaky filling gap between where headphone covers meet, then using glue can quickly fix this problem for good! This will also require some patience but is one of the easiest fixes there for lack of bass in headphones. Use a good quality adhesive tape with the cheapest roll of paper towels or toilet paper you have so that it can be used as an applicator to put a little bit of glue between each headphone cover. Just a small dab will do so don’t go overboard!
Make sure not to use too much because if it seeps out from underneath the covering, then you will have some wet spots on your headband or ear muffs that will eventually start producing their own foul odor as time goes by until you just throw those away as well as these now-broken headphones.
In fact, one thing about using glue is that unless there are gaps in your driver compartment made specifically for sound tuning purposes (like mesh nets, etc), then you might consider getting another pair of headphones that are comparable to what you have just repaired because the glue will permanently fix that issue for good! Don’t worry, there is always eBay or Craigslist if ever in this case.
Note:
- Use quality adhesive tape with the cheapest roll of paper towels or toilet paper you can find to use as an applicator
- A small dab of adhesive is all it takes; don’t go overboard!
4. Sanding Speaker Covers
The last method in fixing low bass in headphones without spending too much on repairs (or at least compared to buying a brand new set) is through sanding. This is best used when both covers are made out of plastic materials and not metal like chrome or titanium because that could produce unwanted results.
Sanding should only take about 20-30 minutes to complete depending on your sanding skills and the condition of your headphones before starting this step. Use low grit sandpapers (i.e. 120, 220, etc) for making grooves in between both headphone covers. You can even purchase special sandpaper made just for this purpose so you won’t have to waste time changing the paper when you get fed up with how long it takes to sand through plastic versus metal!
Once you are done, take one last look at what you’ve accomplished and then place the headphones into their proper orientation if they were not already like that (headband cover side up).
Note:
- This is best used when both headphone covers are made of plastic material; don’t go near metal like chrome or titanium with your sandpapers!
- Use a low grit sandpaper (i.e. 120, 220) and simply groove your way through
- You can purchase special sandpapers made just for this purpose so you don’t have to waste time changing the paper when it gets worn out
5. DIY Gel Pads
If all else fails but you really want that extra bass back in your old faithful headphones, then one method is to use gel pads that are originally meant for placing on small items such as handheld gaming systems, USB drives, calculators, etc.
These gel pads usually come in a set of 4 or 5 and can be found at any dollar store chain like Dollar Tree or Family Dollar for less than $1. Use one of the gel pad stickers and fold it in half once so that you can stick both ends over the covering area that needs to be lifted up just enough for where your driver compartment is underneath. Once you have it positioned right, then simply lift up the outer headphone cover just a slight amount and place another small piece of adhesive tape on top of your shiny new gel pad.
Note:
- You can find these gel pads at any dollar store like Dollar Tree or Family Dollar (looks like Scotch Tape)
- Use one of the gel pads and fold it in half; stick both ends onto an elevated location but make sure there’s no bubbles!
Final Words
The ideal solution to fix low bass in headphones is by looking at the different methods of fixing it. However, if you are unwilling or unable to spend money on a new set then there are DIY solutions that can be applied instead. We hope this article has helped you understand how these fixes work and what they entail so that you know which one will best suit your needs!
