“Anyone know why I have more bass with the traps than without?”
You’re probably not getting more bass, you’re just getting better, cleaner bass. Without bass traps, low-frequency waves bounce around the room and interact with each other, often canceling out at certain points (called nulls). Bass traps absorb some of those reflections, which reduces cancellation, meaning you hear more of the bass that’s actually there.
Bass traps help flatten peaks and nulls in the bass range. So while the biggest peaks may be reduced slightly, the valleys are raised giving the perception of more consistent and solid bass.
Enjoy your new found musical bliss!