Speaker Test
Play a tone through the left speaker, the right speaker or both - plus a frequency sweep - to find dead or swapped channels.
Tones are generated in this page. Nothing is downloaded or uploaded unless you save the tone.
What this tool does
A speaker test plays a known sound through each channel of your speakers or headphones so you can check they all work and are the right way round. This one plays a tone through the left, the right or both, and adds a frequency sweep to show how low and high your speakers can go. It runs in your browser.
Generates a sine tone, a square tone, white noise or a 20 Hz to 20 kHz sweep in your browser and routes it to the left channel, the right channel or both.
Lets you set the volume and tone frequency, and saves the sound as a WAV file if you want to play it on another device.
How to use it
- Set the volume low, then raise your system volume gradually.
- Choose a sound. A 440 Hz sine tone is a good default; use the sweep to hear the range.
- Press Left speaker. You should hear the sound only from the left. Then press Right speaker.
- Press Both speakers to hear the two together.
- Press Stop at any time, or Download tone (WAV) to save the sound.
Why test speakers or headphones
A speaker can sound fine on music and still have a dead channel, or be wired the wrong way round. Plays through the left speaker, the right speaker or both on separate buttons, which is what actually exposes a dead or swapped channel. The only way to know is to isolate each side.
The sweep tells you something music cannot: where your speakers stop. Cheap laptop speakers give nothing below about 150 Hz, and many headphones roll off at high frequencies.
Why we built it
We built the speaker test to play through the left, right or both speakers on separate buttons, plus a sweep. Generate exact tones with the tone generator and check microphones with the microphone test.
Handy alongside this: the Mechanical Keyboard Simulator.
Who this tool is for
- People checking headphones and speakers
- Home theatre and desktop audio setups
- Technicians finding swapped channels
When to use it
- After setting up speakers, a soundbar or a pair of headphones.
- When one side sounds quieter or silent.
- To check that left and right are not swapped after re-plugging cables.
- To compare how low two speakers reach.
What the sounds are for
| Sound | Best for |
|---|---|
| Sine tone | Clean check of a single channel at one pitch. |
| Square tone | A harsher sound that exposes rattles and buzzes. |
| White noise | Checking both channels evenly across the whole range. |
| Frequency sweep | Hearing the lowest and highest sound your speakers produce. |
Issues you may run into
| What you see | Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No sound at all | System volume muted or wrong output device. | Check volume and the selected playback device. |
| Only one side works | Dead channel, loose plug, or a balance setting. | Re-seat the plug and check the system balance control. |
| Left and right swapped | Speakers connected the wrong way round. | Swap the cables or the speaker placement. |
| Sweep fades out high up | Your hearing or speakers do not reach 20 kHz. | This is normal - few adults hear above about 16 kHz. |
| Rattle at one pitch | Loose part in the speaker or its housing. | Note the pitch and check the speaker. |
Assumptions and limitations
- The browser sends sound to your default output device; to test another, change the playback device in system settings.
- Tones are idealised test signals, not a measurement of speaker quality.
- A phone's speaker is often mono, so left and right may sound identical there.
- High-frequency results depend on your hearing as much as your equipment.
Frequently asked questions
How do I test my speakers online?
Set the volume low, press Left speaker and then Right speaker, and check that each plays only on its own side. Press Both speakers to hear them together.
How can I check if my left and right speakers are swapped?
Press Left speaker. If the sound comes from the speaker on your right, they are swapped. Swap the cables or the speaker positions.
What is the frequency sweep for?
It glides from 20 Hz to 20 kHz so you can hear where your speakers stop producing low and high sound.
Why can I hear nothing when I press play?
The system volume may be muted, the wrong output device may be selected, or the page volume is at zero. Check the volume slider and your playback device.
Is it safe to play loud test tones?
Test tones can be harsh, especially through headphones. The volume starts low; raise your system volume gradually and avoid loud sustained tones.
Why does only one side of my headphones work?
It can be a dead channel, a loose or damaged plug, or a balance setting pushed to one side. Re-seat the plug, check the balance control, and try another device.