Speaker & Headphone Test
Test speakers and headphones in-browser with left, right, and stereo tones plus a 20 Hz-20 kHz sweep. Find silent or swapped channels instantly.
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What is Speaker & Headphone Test?
The Speaker & Headphone Test plays channel-identifying sine tones (hard left, hard right, centered) and a logarithmic 20 Hz - 20 kHz frequency sweep through the Web Audio API. Compare what you hear against what should play to find silent, swapped, or unbalanced channels and driver rattles.
Key Benefits
- Diagnose dead or swapped channels in under a minute
- Verify stereo balance before mixing or listening sessions
- Frequency sweep exposes buzzes, rattles, and hearing limits
- Adjustable frequency and volume for fine comparisons
- Works anywhere - no software install, no audio test files
Common Use Cases
- •Checking a new headset or speaker pair after unboxing
- •Diagnosing which channel died on aging desktop speakers
- •Verifying left/right labeling on custom cable builds
- •Testing a laptop after repair or driver reinstall
- •Setting up a classroom or studio listening position
How to Test Your Speakers or Headphones
- Play the left channel: Tap Play left - sound must come only from the left speaker or earcup.
- Play the right channel: Tap Play right - sound must come only from the right side. A reversed result means channels are swapped.
- Play both and compare: The centered tone should sound balanced and equally loud on both sides; drift means an imbalance.
- Run the frequency sweep: Play the sweep and note where sound drops out or rattles - low-end roll-off and high-frequency limits show up here.
Key Features
- Dedicated left, right, and both-channel test tones
- Logarithmic 20 Hz to 20 kHz sweep with live frequency display
- Adjustable tone frequency and real-time volume control
- Stereo panning via Web Audio for precise channel isolation
- Listening guide for catching swapped or silent channels
- No downloads or plugins - runs in any modern browser
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is no sound playing?
Browsers require a user gesture before audio can start - click one of the test buttons directly. Also check system volume, mute state, and that the correct output device is selected.
The left tone plays on the right. Is my speaker broken?
Probably not - swapped channels usually mean the 3.5mm plug, adapter, or wiring is reversed rather than a dead driver. Re-test with a different cable or port to isolate the cause.
Why do I stop hearing the sweep near the end?
The sweep climbs to 20 kHz, and adult hearing typically rolls off between 15-17 kHz. It is also normal for small speakers to stop reproducing the highest frequencies.
Does this work with Bluetooth headphones?
Yes, any output device works. Note that some Bluetooth codecs compress stereo separation slightly, so a centered tone may feel marginally off-center.