How to test your speakers
Turn your volume down to about a third first. Then press Left. You should hear a steady tone from the left speaker or left earcup only. Press Right and it should switch sides. Both plays the tone in the center.
If left and right are swapped, the cables or headphones are on backward, or a system setting has reversed the channels. If one side is silent, check the plug, the cable and the balance setting in your sound settings.
Bass and frequency sweep
The bass test plays a deep 50 Hz tone. Small laptop and phone speakers often can't reproduce it at all, which is normal. A subwoofer or good headphones should make it clearly audible.
The frequency sweep glides from 20 Hz, the lowest note humans hear, up to 20,000 Hz, the highest. Watch the number as it plays. You'll find the low point where sound starts and the high point where it fades for you. Both depend on your speakers and your ears, since hearing at the top end drops naturally with age.
What to listen for
- Rattling or buzzing at certain frequencies: a loose part or damaged speaker cone
- The sound dropping out in one channel: a loose plug or a cable fault
- Crackling during the sweep: a worn driver or a bad connection
No sound at all?
- Check that the right output device is chosen in your system sound settings.
- Make sure the browser tab isn't muted. Right-click the tab to check.
- For Bluetooth headphones, disconnect and reconnect them.
Next, check your input with the mic test.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if my left and right speakers are correct?
Press Left and Right and listen. Each tone should come only from the matching side. If it's reversed, swap the cables or check the balance in your sound settings.
Why can't I hear the 50 Hz bass tone?
Small speakers, like the ones in most laptops and phones, physically can't reproduce very low notes. Try headphones or a speaker with a subwoofer.
Why can't I hear the highest frequencies in the sweep?
High-frequency hearing naturally declines with age, and many speakers roll off above 15 kHz. Not hearing the very top of the sweep is common.
Is the speaker test safe for headphones?
Yes, at a sensible volume. Start low and raise it slowly. Never run the sweep at full volume in headphones.
Sources
Results depend on your device, browser and settings. Nothing you test on this page is uploaded or stored.
Spotted a mistake? Email [email protected] and we'll check it.