Sound Test
Test your speakers and headphones: left and right channels, a frequency sweep and a phase check
Speakers and headphones
Start quiet and raise the volume slowly, especially with headphones.
Left and right
Frequency sweep
Phase
In phase should sound full and centred. Out of phase should sound thin and come from nowhere; if it is the in-phase test that sounds thin, one speaker is wired the wrong way round.
Pick a test. Sound starts at 30% volume.
Speakers
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Most adults hear up to about 15 to 17 kHz; the upper limit falls with age. Small speakers rarely play below 80 Hz.
About Sound Test
This page checks your speakers and headphones in a minute: a tone on the left, on the right and on both, with the speaker that should be playing lit on screen.
A frequency sweep from 20 Hz to 20 kHz shows how low your speakers go, where they rattle and how high you can still hear.
The phase test finds a speaker wired the wrong way round, a common cause of weak bass in a stereo setup.
Key Features
- Left and right test: three beeps on one side at a time, so a swapped or dead channel is obvious.
- Frequency sweep: full range, bass only or treble only, with the current frequency shown live.
- Phase check: noise in phase and out of phase to reveal reversed speaker wiring.
- Safe volume: every test starts at 30% and the slider follows how loud it sounds, not just the signal.
- Visual channel display: the left and right speakers light up as they play.
- Any output: laptop speakers, headphones, Bluetooth earbuds, monitors and home cinema.
How to Use
- Set the volume low: start around 30% and raise it slowly.
- Play left, right and both: each sound should come only from the side that lights up.
- Run a sweep: listen for where the sound fades in and out, and for rattles.
- Try the phase test: in phase should sound fuller and more centred than out of phase.
- Stop at any time: Stop sound ends every test at once.
Common Use Cases
- Headphones on the right way: check left and right before gaming or mixing.
- New speakers or monitors: find their lowest usable bass and any rattling frequency.
- Bluetooth trouble: see whether one earbud is silent or quieter than the other.
- Home cinema wiring: catch a reversed speaker cable with the phase test.
- Hearing check: find the highest frequency you can still hear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I hear nothing on one side?
The cable or plug may be half inserted, the balance may be set to one side in your system sound settings, or one earbud may be off. Try the other device to tell which.
Why can I not hear the start or end of the sweep?
Small speakers rarely reproduce below 80 Hz, and most adults stop hearing somewhere between 15 and 17 kHz. Both are normal.
What does out of phase mean?
When one speaker’s wires are swapped, it pushes while the other pulls. Bass cancels out and the sound loses its centre. The phase test lets you hear the difference.
Is the test safe for my speakers?
Yes at moderate volume. The tones are generated at a fixed, modest level; avoid full volume with the bass sweep on small speakers.
Can I test surround speakers?
This test covers the left and right channels, which is what browsers send to most headphones and stereo systems.
Does it work on phones?
Yes. On a phone, use headphones: phone speakers are usually mono or too close together to tell left from right.
Pro Tips
- Check system balance first: a balance slider set to one side looks exactly like a dead channel.
- Listen for rattles in the sweep: a buzz at one frequency often means a loose panel or object nearby.
- Use the bass sweep for subwoofers: it shows where the subwoofer takes over from the main speakers.
- Compare earbuds: play left and right at the same volume and listen for a level difference.
- Check your microphone too: the mic test shows the level and lets you hear yourself back.