Speaker & Headphone Test
Check left and right channels, bass and the frequencies you can hear.
How to use Speaker & Headphone Test
- Turn your volume down first. Press ◀ Left, Both (centre) and Right ▶: each sound should come only from that side.
- Play the bass check (50 Hz) to hear whether a subwoofer or headphones reproduce low notes, or set any frequency and press Play tone.
- Play the sweep from 20 Hz to 20 kHz and note where you start and stop hearing it: that is the range of your speakers (and your ears).
What each test shows
The left and right tests send short bursts of noise to one channel only, using the Web Audio API’s stereo panner. If the left sound comes from the right, the speakers or headphones are swapped; if both come from both sides, the system is set to mono (an accessibility setting on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS).
Noise is used for the channel test because the ear locates it far more easily than a pure tone. The sweep rises smoothly from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz over 12 seconds on a logarithmic scale, so each octave takes the same time. Small laptop speakers usually start around 150–200 Hz; most adults stop hearing somewhere between 14 and 17 kHz, and the upper limit falls with age.
Volume is capped and every tone fades in and out to protect your ears and speakers. Sounds are generated on your device; nothing is downloaded or sent.
Example
Laptop speakers: left and right correct, the 50 Hz tone is barely audible, the sweep becomes audible near 180 Hz. Earbuds: the 50 Hz tone is clear, and the listener stops hearing the sweep at about 15.8 kHz.
Frequently asked questions
How do I test left and right speakers?
Press ◀ Left, then Right ▶. Each sound should come only from that side. If they are swapped, check how the headphones are worn or the speaker cables.
Why does sound come from both sides in the left test?
Mono audio is turned on in your system settings (Windows: Settings → Accessibility → Audio; macOS: Accessibility → Audio; phones: Accessibility), or the device itself is mono, like many phone speakers.
What frequencies can humans hear?
Roughly 20 Hz to 20 kHz for young people; the top end falls with age, typically to 14–17 kHz for adults. The sweep shows where your own range ends, though small speakers may stop first.
Is the high-frequency sweep safe?
At low volume, yes. Start quiet: very high tones can sound piercing in headphones even when low tones seem soft.
Limitations
- The sweep tests the whole chain (sound card, speakers and ears); it cannot tell which one stops first.
- Bluetooth headsets in “call” mode play only in mono and with a narrower range.
- This is not a hearing test; see a professional for hearing concerns.
Guides for this tool
- Microphone Not Working? A 5-Minute Fix ChecklistFix a microphone that is not picked up in the browser, Zoom, Teams or Discord: mute switches, the right input, Windows and macOS privacy settings, and level checks.
Last reviewed November 9, 2026. How we build and test tools.