How to use the speaker and headphone test
- Turn the volume down first. Set your computer or phone volume low, leave the page Volume slider at 30, and raise it slowly. Headphones put the sound right next to your ears, so this matters most for them.
- Press Left. You should hear single pulses only from the left speaker or the left earpiece, and the left speaker on screen lights up. Press Right and you should hear double, higher-pitched pulses from the right only.
- Press Both (centre). The sound should seem to come from the middle, between the speakers or inside your head on headphones. Then press Left-right sweep and follow the sound as it moves smoothly from one side to the other and back.
- Switch Test sound between Pink noise pulses and Tone beeps if one is easier to hear on your speakers.
- Run the Stereo phase test: play In phase, then Out of phase, and compare (see below).
- In the Frequency test, drag the slider or press a preset such as 60 Hz for bass or 10 kHz for treble, then press Play tone. Press Sweep 20 Hz to 20 kHz to hear the whole range in about 20 seconds, and press Mark frequency when the sound disappears.
- If you have a home theatre or a surround headset, press Check surround channels to test each speaker of a 5.1 or 7.1 system.
- Press Stop all sound at any time. Sound also stops automatically when you switch to another tab.
How the sound test works
There are no audio files on this page. Every sound is generated live by the Web Audio API in your browser: pink noise is computed as random samples shaped so that each octave carries equal energy (it sounds like a waterfall and is gentler than white noise), and tones come from an oscillator. The channel test routes the sound to exactly one output channel, so when you press Left there is digital silence in the right channel, not just a quieter signal. Every start and stop is faded over a few milliseconds to avoid clicks, which could otherwise be mistaken for a crackling speaker.
The pulse pattern is deliberate. Because left is a single pulse and right a double pulse, you can check the channels with your eyes closed, or confirm that a Bluetooth headset is not swapping them.
Reading the phase (polarity) test
Each speaker cone should move forwards and backwards in step with its partner. If one speaker cable is connected with plus and minus swapped, the two cones move in opposite directions and their sound partly cancels, especially in the bass. The phase test lets you hear the difference:
- In phase should sound full and firmly centred.
- Out of phase deliberately inverts the right channel. It should sound thin, diffuse and spread out, often seeming to come from everywhere or from inside your head.
If In phase is the one that sounds thin and vague, one of your speakers is probably wired backwards. Check that the red (+) and black (−) terminals match at both the amplifier and the speaker. On headphones a polarity fault is rare, but the test still shows whether both sides play the same signal.
What frequency response means
Frequency response describes how evenly a speaker or headphone reproduces sounds from deep bass to high treble. Human hearing is often quoted as roughly 20 Hz to 20 kHz, though the upper limit falls with age and with noise exposure, so many adults hear only to somewhere around 14 to 17 kHz. A tone generator is a simple way to find gaps:
| Range | What you hear | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| 20–60 Hz | Sub-bass, felt more than heard | Subwoofer, large speakers and closed headphones only |
| 60–250 Hz | Bass and kick drum | Rattles, buzzing, a boomy room |
| 250 Hz–4 kHz | Midrange: voices and most instruments | Should be clear and even; distortion is easy to spot here |
| 4–20 kHz | Treble, cymbals, air | Tweeters; volume naturally seems to fade at the top |
A sweep that fades out early is not always a fault. Small laptop and phone speakers physically cannot move enough air for deep bass, so they roll off below roughly 100 to 200 Hz. A buzz or rattle at one particular bass frequency usually means something loose: a grille, a screw, or an object on the desk. A tone that cuts out in only one ear on headphones points to that driver or its cable. This is a speaker check, not a hearing test, and it cannot replace a hearing assessment by a professional.
No sound, or sound from one side only?
- No sound at all: check that the right output device is selected (Windows: Settings › System › Sound; macOS: System Settings › Sound › Output), that the browser tab is not muted, and that the volume is up. Some browsers block sound until you press a button on the page; pressing any test button here counts.
- No sound on an iPhone or iPad: switch off Silent mode (the Ring/Silent switch or the Action button). Safari can mute web page sound while the phone is silenced, even though videos still play.
- Only one side plays: check the balance slider (Windows sound device properties, macOS Sound › Output › Balance, Android and iOS accessibility settings), and make sure Mono audio is switched off in the accessibility settings, because it sends the same sound to both sides.
- Left and right are swapped: check that the headphones are on the right way round (L and R markings), or swap the speaker cables.
- Crackling or cutting out: for wired headphones, wiggle the plug and try another port; dust in a 3.5 mm jack is common. For Bluetooth, move closer, re-pair the device and charge it.
- Bluetooth headset sounds muffled: when the microphone is in use, many headsets switch to a low-quality hands-free mode. Close calling apps or choose the stereo (not "hands-free") output.
Next, check your microphone with the mic test or your camera with the webcam test, or browse all device tests. If a video call still sounds choppy, run a speed test to rule out your connection.
Privacy: everything runs in your browser. Sounds are generated on your device, nothing is recorded or uploaded, and only your volume and waveform choices are remembered in this browser's local storage.
Frequently asked questions
How do I test my left and right speakers?
Press Left: you should hear single low pulses only from the left speaker or earpiece. Press Right: you should hear double higher pulses only from the right. If both play on each test, Mono audio is probably switched on in your accessibility settings.
Why do I only hear sound from one earphone?
Usually it is the balance setting, Mono audio being on in one direction, a loose or dirty plug, or a damaged cable near the jack. Try another device: if the same earphone is silent there too, the earphone itself is faulty.
Is this a hearing test?
No. The frequency sweep shows what you can hear through this device at this volume, which mixes your hearing with the speaker's limits. It is useful for comparing speakers or ears, but it is not a medical hearing test. See a hearing professional if you are concerned.
What frequency should I use for a bass test?
Try the 40, 60 and 100 Hz presets, or the bass sweep from 20 to 200 Hz, at moderate volume. Listen for the point where the bass becomes audible and for rattles or buzzing at particular frequencies.
How do I test 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound?
Set your operating system's output to 5.1 or 7.1 first, then press Check surround channels. If the browser reports more than two channels, a button appears for each speaker. Many browsers only expose two channels, in which case use your receiver's or operating system's built-in speaker test.
Can a test tone damage my speakers or ears?
At sensible volumes, no. Loud, long tones are tiring and can harm hearing, and very loud low bass or high treble can strain small speakers. Keep the volume low, use short bursts and stop if anything sounds distorted.
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