How to test your speakers
- Set your volume low and put on your headphones or sit between your speakers.
- Click Left. You should hear the sound only on the left.
- Click Right. You should hear it only on the right.
- Click Both. The sound should come from the middle.
If left and right are reversed, check that your headphones are on the right way round or that your speaker cables are not swapped.
Frequency sweep and bass test
The frequency sweep plays a tone that rises from 20 Hz (very deep) to 20,000 Hz (very high) in 20 seconds. Notice where you start and stop hearing it. Small laptop speakers usually can’t play the lowest notes, and most adults can’t hear above about 15–17 kHz.
The bass test plays 30 to 120 Hz. Use it to check a subwoofer, or to hear rattling and buzzing that point to a loose or damaged speaker.
No sound? Try this
- Check that the right output device is selected in your system sound settings.
- Make sure the browser tab is not muted (right-click the tab).
- Unplug and reconnect headphones or Bluetooth devices.
- Check the “Mono audio” accessibility setting: if it is on, left and right play the same sound.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I hear sound in both ears when I click Left?
Mono audio may be turned on in your system’s accessibility settings, or your speakers or headset may only support mono.
Can this test damage my speakers?
Not at normal volume. Keep the volume low for the sweep and bass tests, especially on small speakers.
Does it work with Bluetooth headphones?
Yes. Bluetooth adds a small delay, but the left and right test works the same.
What frequency range can people hear?
Roughly 20 Hz to 20 kHz for young people. The upper limit usually drops with age, so not hearing the highest part of the sweep is normal.