Speaker Test
Play test tones on the left, right or both channels to check your speakers or earphones.
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Speaker Test: complete guide
Walk through the steps and examples, or jump straight to the topic you need.
At a glance
- Sound direction
- Outputs in three ways: left only, right only, or both. The opposite side of your selection is switched off completely.
- Test tone
- Uses a sine wave; choose from 220Hz, 440Hz, 1kHz and 4kHz.
- Volume
- Adjustable from 0 to 100 percent.
- Applied immediately
- If you change direction, tone or volume during playback, it applies to the sound right away.
- Microphone
- Not used. It only generates and outputs sound and doesn't record.
- Where it runs
- The browser generates the test tone itself. No audio file is downloaded.
How to use Speaker Test
Set the volume low and start
High frequencies sound loud even at the same volume. At first keep the volume low, play, and raise it as much as needed. If you're wearing earphones, it's better to be especially careful.
Check left and right separately
Choose Left only and play, check that you really hear it on the left, then switch to Right only and check the same way. The L and R markers on screen show which side the sound is going to now.
Check the balance with both sides
If you choose both, sound comes out at the same level from both directions. If one side sounds quieter, check the speaker condition or the device's left-right balance setting.
Switch test tones and listen
If you can't hear low tones well, you can look at bass playback ability; if you can't hear high tones, treble playback or your hearing. You can switch right during playback, which makes comparing easy.
What it’s good for
When only one side can't be heard
Play Left only and Right only one after the other. If you can't hear anything on only one side, suspect the cable connection or a faulty device. Conversely, if you choose left but it plays on the right, left and right are swapped, so check the device's stereo settings.
Start with the volume low
High frequencies sound loud even at the same volume. Keep the volume low when you start playing, then raise it slowly. If you change the direction or volume during playback, the sound changes immediately. On speakers that output mono, no left-right difference appears.
Worked examples
When left and right are normal
Left only · 440Hz · volume 30%Sound only from the left, only L highlighted on screenWhen left and right are swapped
Left only selectedSound comes from the rightHow to choose a test tone
Swipe the table sideways to see the rest.
| Test tone | Use it when | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| 220Hz | Checking that bass comes out | Small speakers play low tones weakly. |
| 440Hz | Basic checks and left-right comparison | A pitch that sounds the most neutral. |
| 4kHz | Looking at treble playback and hearing | It sounds much louder even at the same volume, so be careful. |
When the result isn’t what you expected
No sound comes out
First check the device volume and whether the browser tab is muted. Some browsers don't make sound until the user presses a button, so you must press the play button to start.
I can't tell left from right
On speakers that output mono, left and right aren't separated. Laptop built-in speakers and single Bluetooth speakers fall into this. Check with earphones or stereo speakers.
The sound cuts out or crackles
If the volume is too high, the speaker may not cope and the sound can distort. Lower the volume and listen again. If it's the same at low volume, you need to inspect the speaker or the connection.
Key terms
- Sine wave
- The simplest form of sound. It has no noise, so it's easy to judge problems.
- Hertz
- A unit showing the pitch of a sound. The larger the number, the higher the sound.
- Stereo
- A method that sends different sounds to left and right. In mono, both sides are the same.
Speaker Test FAQ
I hear no sound at all.
First check the device volume and whether the browser tab is muted. Some browsers don't make sound until the user presses a button, so you need to press the play button to start.
Which frequency should I use?
440Hz is the safest choice. If you can't hear low tones well, you can check bass playback; if you can't hear high tones, you can check treble playback or your hearing.
Does it record anything?
It doesn't use the microphone. It only generates a test tone in the browser and plays it, and it doesn't record or transmit any sound.
Can I check whether my earphones' left and right are swapped?
Yes. Choose Left only and see whether you really hear it in your left ear.
Can I test my hearing?
It is not a hearing test tool. If you can't hear a certain pitch it can serve as a reference, but get a diagnosis from a professional.
Is it accurate on a Bluetooth speaker?
The connection itself works fine, but depending on the device, left and right may be merged into one. To tell left from right, use earphones or speakers that operate in stereo.