What this sound test covers
- Channel check: confirms each speaker plays, and that left and right are not swapped.
- Stereo sweep: a tone that moves smoothly from left to right to reveal balance problems and dead zones between channels.
- Frequency sweep 20 Hz–20 kHz: the full nominal range of human hearing, with a live readout of the current frequency.
- Bass sweep 20–250 Hz: a slower pass through the low end for subwoofers and rattle-hunting.
- Manual tone generator: hold any frequency to pinpoint where a buzz or resonance lives.
- Phase check: in-phase versus out-of-phase tones to catch reversed speaker wiring.
No sound? Work down this checklist
- Raise the system volume and unmute; check the physical volume knob on speakers.
- Confirm the output device in OS sound settings — audio often routes to an HDMI monitor with no speakers, or to a Bluetooth device in another room.
- Right-click the browser tab and unmute it; check the OS per-app volume mixer.
- Test another audio source (a video, a music app) to separate browser from system.
- Reseat cables and power; on desktops, try the rear jacks instead of the front panel.
If other apps play sound but this page is silent, your browser may block audio for the site: look for a speaker icon in the address bar or check the site's sound permission.
Speaker vs headphone testing
This page is tuned for speakers and general audio output. Headphones deserve their own pass — stereo imaging, driver matching, and wiring faults show up differently on-ear. Use the dedicated headphone test with the same engine and headphone-specific guidance. Checking the input side too? Run the mic test to complete the audio chain.
Sound test questions
Turn your volume to a low level, then play the Left, Right, and Both channel tones. Each speaker should reproduce the pulse clearly from the correct side. If one side is silent, check the balance setting, cable seating, and the speaker itself; if sound comes from the wrong side, the channels are swapped at the cable or in the audio settings.
Check in this order: system volume and mute, the output device selected in OS sound settings (audio may be routed to a disconnected HDMI display or Bluetooth device), the browser tab mute (right-click the tab), and any per-app volume mixer. Browsers also require a click before playing audio — the test buttons satisfy that automatically.
A continuous tone rising smoothly from a deep rumble to a high whistle. Small loudness changes are normal. Listen for dead ranges (silence), sudden buzzing or rattling (a resonating or damaged driver), and where the sound disappears at the top — most adults stop hearing the sweep somewhere between 12 and 17 kHz, which is your hearing, not the speakers.
Small laptop and phone speakers physically cannot reproduce much below 100–200 Hz, so the first seconds of the bass sweep are inaudible on them — that is expected. On a subwoofer or full-range speakers the 20–250 Hz sweep should be clearly audible; silence there suggests a crossover, cabling, or subwoofer power issue.
The in-phase tone should sound solid and centered between the speakers; the out-of-phase tone sounds thin, hollow, and hard to locate. If the out-of-phase version sounds fuller or more centered, one speaker is likely wired with plus and minus reversed — common after connecting bare speaker wire.
Yes at sensible volumes. Tones start at a modest level and ramp in to avoid clicks. Still, begin with your volume low — sustained sine tones at maximum volume are unpleasant and can stress small tweeters.