Here’s the ultimate sub-bass test playlist for audiophiles.
Not all bass is created equal. Most systems can handle a bit of thump, but true sub-bass—the deep, rumbling stuff below 60 Hz—requires serious control. Dip below 20 Hz, and you’re in infrasonic territory where the bass isn’t just heard, it’s felt.
This playlist features 25 tracks designed to test that low-end without wrecking your woofers. From sustained tones and fast transients to natural bass and cinematic pressure drops, each song brings out a different aspect of sub performance. Whether you’re tuning a new sub or just want to shake the room a little, this is the list to start with.
How to Use This List
Before you hit play and crank the volume, a few quick tips to get the most out of these tracks (and keep your gear in one piece):
- Start low. Sub-bass pulls a lot of power, and pushing too hard too fast can stress or even damage your speakers, especially if your sub isn’t properly filtered or powered.
- Go high-res. Use FLAC, WAV, or at least 320kbps MP3s. Subtle compression artifacts get way more noticeable in the low end, and nothing kills a bass test like a fuzzy floor.
- Mind the room. Your space matters a lot. Sub-bass doesn’t just play through your speakers; it interacts with your walls, floor, and furniture. Expect standing waves and weird resonances between 20–80 Hz, especially in untreated rooms.
- Know your setup. Sealed subs are tighter and faster, while ported ones can hit harder but may lag a bit. Neither is “better”, but knowing how your sub behaves helps you interpret what you’re hearing.
- Check for subsonic filtering. If your subwoofer or amplifier doesn’t include a subsonic (high-pass) filter, be extra careful with tracks that dip below 20 Hz. Without a filter to block infrasonic content, your sub could be pushed into unsafe excursion—causing distortion, mechanical stress, or even permanent damage, especially with ported designs.
Ready? Let’s go deep.
Sustained Sub-Bass (20-40 Hz)
This section is all about those long, deep bass tones. The kind that rumbles in your chest and slowly builds pressure in the room. These tracks will show if your subwoofer can hold its ground when the lows just keep coming. No rattling, no muddiness, just clean, controlled power. If your setup handles these smoothly, you’re in good shape.
| # | Song | Timestamp | Frequency Range | What to Listen For & What It Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Angel – Massive Attack | 1:30–2:15 | 25–35 Hz | Listen for a thick, sustained bassline that rolls in and hangs around. This one's great for checking if your sub can keep pumping out low-end without turning muddy or losing its grip. |
| 2 | Limit to Your Love – James Blake | 0:55–1:10 | 22–28 Hz | A sudden, deep bass drop that comes out of nowhere. It's a solid way to test how quickly your system reacts—and whether it can handle those instant low-end hits without distorting or choking. |
| 3 | Teardrop – Massive Attack | 0:40–1:30 | 25–40 Hz | A smooth, melodic sub-bass line that weaves into the mids. It’s perfect for spotting how well your system transitions from sub to main speakers—and whether it handles harmonics with finesse. |
| 4 | Silent Shout – The Knife | 0:00–0:45 | 25–40 Hz | Minimalist and moody, with pure, deep tones. Great for hearing exactly what your system does wrong—like port noise, cabinet rattle, or just plain fuzz. |
| 5 | Deus Ex Machina – deadmau5 | 1:30–2:15 | 20–30 Hz | Slow-building bass pads that feel like they’re floating. You’re listening for whether your sub can stay consistent and composed without losing detail as the low end evolves. |
| 6 | Paper Trails – Darkside | 1:50–3:10 | 25–35 Hz | Subtle, analog-style synth bass. Each note should bloom and fade naturally—no lingering echoes or awkward drop-offs. If you hear overhang, your sub’s struggling with decay control. |
| 7 | The Robots – Kraftwerk | 1:00–1:45 | 25–35 Hz | Super clean, repetitive bass pattern. If something’s off—like cabinet resonance or poor timing—you’ll hear it loud and clear. There's nowhere for flaws to hide here. |
| 8 | Sleep Sound – Jamie xx | 0:30–1:15 | 20–30 Hz | Heavy, physical bass pulses designed to be felt. Great for figuring out if your room or car shakes in the right way—or the annoying, buzz-in-the-walls kind of way. |
| 9 | Collapse – Zola Jesus | 1:40–2:30 | 25–40 Hz | Low-end that's tucked underneath vocals and strings. It's not front and center, which makes it a sneaky test of whether your system can pick up on subtle bass details without overhyping them. |
| 10 | Why So Serious? – Hans Zimmer | 3:25–4:45 | 15–30 Hz | A slow, ominous bass sweep that rises in pressure. This one's great for seeing how well your sub handles long-term excursion and whether it starts to complain with rattles or compression. |
Dynamic/Transient Sub-Bass (40-80 Hz and Beyond)
This section’s all about low-end reflexes. Fast-moving bass, sharp kicks, and rhythm changes that don’t give your sub a second to breathe. These tracks hit hard and change pace quickly, so they’ll let you know right away if your setup can stay tight and controlled during rapid low-frequency hits or overlapping elements.
| # | Song | Timestamp | Frequency Range | What to Listen For & What It Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Shellshock – Noisia ft. Foreign Beggars | 1:00–1:45 | 40–100 Hz | Rapid, layered bass hits. A brutal workout for your sub’s reflexes. Great for checking how fast it can stop and start, and whether your amp keeps control when things get wild. |
| 12 | Uh Uh – Thundercat | 0:20–1:20 | 40–60 Hz | Fast bass guitar lines. Can your sub reproduce each note clearly without smearing or delay? |
| 13 | Breathe – The Prodigy | 0:30–1:30 | 40–60 Hz | Aggressive synth bass with kick drums. Heavy and distorted, with sharp hits that come fast. It should feel powerful but still clear—if things get muddy, your setup’s struggling. |
| 14 | Royals – Lorde | 0:28–1:10 | 45–75 Hz | Pop-style punchy bass. Focuses on how well your sub blends with your main speakers. Kicks should sound sharp and well-defined, not muddy. |
| 15 | One More Time – Daft Punk | 0:45–1:30 | 50–90 Hz | Bouncy synth groove. Timing is everything here. If your crossover isn’t dialed in, the rhythm falls flat. But when it’s right? The groove feels unstoppable. |
| 16 | Money Trees – Kendrick Lamar | 1:00–1:30 | 40–50 Hz | Smooth, laid-back groove. This track doesn’t ask for much volume, but it does expect your sub to stay clean and supportive. If it’s booming or too quiet, something’s off in your room or system tuning. |
| 17 | Animality – JVLA, Maga & Zupay | 0:00–0:45 | 20–30 Hz | Immediate bass drop from silence. No build-up—just low-end right out of the gate. Tests system response to sudden infrasonic impact and amplifier readiness. |
| 18 | Pink Froid – Infected Mushroom | 1:15–2:00 | 40–80 Hz | Dense, modulated synth bass. Lots of texture here. A solid system will keep it detailed and punchy, not washed out or mushy. |
| 19 | Heartsigh – Purity Ring | 0:45–1:30 | 25–40 Hz | Soft bass pulses under dreamy vocals. The low end should blend in, not take over. If it’s distracting or pulling focus, it’s worth adjusting your sub level or crossover point. |
| 20 | Flashback – Fat Freddy’s Drop | 0:45–1:30 | 30–40 Hz | Organic analog groove. Real instruments mean more natural tone and subtle dynamics. Listen for clarity and rhythm—each note should feel intentional, not like one big bass blob. |
Acoustic and Organic Sub-Bass
Not all low-end comes from synths and drum machines. This section dives into tracks where the sub-bass is born from real instruments and live recordings—upright basses, mic’d kick drums, and all the subtle imperfections that make music feel alive.
It’s a great way to hear how your system handles natural warmth and nuance, and whether your subwoofer knows how to blend in rather than steal the spotlight.
| # | Song | Timestamp | Frequency Range | What to Listen For & What It Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Limit to Your Love (Live Cover) – Sasha Keable | 1:00–1:30 | 22–28 Hz | Live upright bass. Reveals low-end realism, mic proximity effects, and how well your sub handles acoustic tones. |
| 22 | Higgs Boson Blues – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | 3:30–5:00 | 30–40 Hz | Subtle kick and bass under a dense mix. Evaluates warmth and sub clarity at lower listening levels. |
Extreme Sub-Bass & Infrasonic Challenges
These tracks go into subsonic territory—frequencies you don’t hear so much as feel. They stress your gear’s physical limits, testing driver excursion, port tuning, cabinet integrity, and amplifier headroom.
| # | Song | Timestamp | Frequency Range | What to Listen For & What It Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 3 A.M. – Young Jeezy ft. Timbaland | 0:57 & 2:01 | ~9–25 Hz | Very low sub drops. Good for testing low-end extension, subsonic filter tuning, and cabinet strength. |
| 24 | Bass I Love You – Bassotronics | 0:50–1:10 | 5–20 Hz | Pure sine wave sweep. Not for the faint of heart—pushes driver limits, checks for chuffing, bottoming, and amp control. |
Honorable Mention
This track isn’t a technical challenge in the usual way—it’s more of a learning moment. It shows how sub-bass changes the feel of a song by filling in the lowest octave. Use this to understand how sub-bass interacts with mid-bass and the rest of the mix.
| # | Song | Timestamp | Frequency Range | What to Listen For & What It Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Feel It Still – Portugal. The Man | ~0:10 onward | Mid-bass to sub-bass transition | Listen to the bassline pre- and post-sub-bass entry (around 10s in). Highlights how sub-bass fills out a mix and adds body. |