Speaker Test
Play a tone through the left, right or both speakers to check that each side works.
Speaker and headphone tests
Confirm speakers and headphones work, left and right, and hear the full frequency range, bass, treble, balance and distortion.
All audio tests
Headphone Test
Play a tone in each ear to check both sides of your headphones or earbuds.
Audio Balance Test
Move a tone between left and right to hear whether one side is louder.
Tone Generator
Play a sine or triangle tone at any frequency from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, or sweep the range.
Bass Test
Play low tones from 20 to 250 Hz to hear how deep your speakers, subwoofer or headphones go.
Treble Test
Play high tones from 2 kHz to 20 kHz to check tweeters, headphones and earbuds.
Audio Distortion Test
Play clean tones, level steps and a slow sweep to hear crackling, buzzing and rattles.
Speaker Cleaner
Play a low tone or sweep through a phone speaker to try to push water droplets out of the grille.
Speaker Polarity Test
Play the same sound in phase and out of phase to hear whether one speaker is wired + to −.
Surround Sound Test
Play a noise burst on each channel of a 5.1 or 7.1 system to check every speaker and the subwoofer.
Audio Latency Test
Line up a click with a flash to estimate how far sound lags or leads the picture.
What audio tests can show
Audio tests play known sounds, such as a tone in one channel or a slow sweep from low to high, so you can hear whether each speaker works and whether anything rattles, buzzes or drops out. The sound is generated in your browser; nothing is streamed or recorded.
Start with the Speaker Test to confirm left and right, or the Headphone Test for headphones and earbuds. The Bass Test and the Tone Generator help you hear how low and how high your speakers can play.
These are listening tests, not measurements: a browser cannot measure frequency response or loudness, and none of them is a hearing test.
Which test do I need?
| If you notice | Try |
|---|---|
| Sound comes from only one side | Speaker Test, Headphone Test, Audio Balance Test |
| Left and right are swapped | Speaker Test, Headphone Test |
| One side is louder than the other | Audio Balance Test |
| Crackling, buzzing or rattling | Audio Distortion Test, Bass Test |
| Weak or missing bass | Bass Test, Tone Generator |
| Dull or muffled sound | Treble Test, Tone Generator |
| You need a tone at an exact frequency | Tone Generator |
| Muffled phone speaker after water | Speaker Cleaner, Speaker Test |
| Thin bass or a vague stereo image | Speaker Polarity Test, Speaker Test |
| A 5.1 or 7.1 speaker is silent or in the wrong place | Surround Sound Test |
| Sound lags behind the picture | Audio Latency Test |
Before you start
- Turn the volume down before you start, especially with headphones.
- Nothing plays until you press a button on the page.
- Turn off audio enhancements or spatial sound in your system settings for a more accurate result.
Frequently asked questions
How do I test my speakers?
Turn the volume down, open the Speaker Test and press Left, Right and Both. Each tone should come only from the side named. If a side is silent, check the balance setting and the cable before assuming the speaker is faulty.
Why do left and right sound the same on my laptop or phone?
Many laptops and phones have a single speaker, or mix both channels together. Use headphones to check stereo, and look for a mono audio option in the accessibility settings.
Is this a hearing test?
No. The tones are for checking speakers and headphones. How loud a tone sounds depends on your equipment and volume, so they cannot measure hearing. For a hearing test, see a hearing professional.
Can test tones damage my speakers or my ears?
At a normal volume, no. Very low bass at high volume can strain small speakers, and high tones can be unpleasant, so start quietly and turn up slowly. Nothing plays until you press a button.
Guides
- One earbud not working? How to fix sound from one sidePlay a left-right test to see which side fails. If one side is only quieter, check the balance setting and clean the mesh. If it is silent, check that mono audio is off, put both earbuds back in the case and reconnect, then reset or re-pair them the way the maker describes.