Speaker & Headphone Test
Left / right channels, frequency sweep and tone generator
Left / right channel test
Tone generator
Start with a low volume. High frequencies can be uncomfortable, and very low ones may not be audible on small speakers.
Speaker, Headphone & Stereo Test
Check channels and frequency range — with a free online tone generator
Click Left, Center or Right to play three beeps (or a burst of pink noise) only in that channel: if you hear the left test from the right side, your headphones are on the wrong way round or the cable is wired incorrectly; if one side is silent, a speaker or cable is faulty. “Play L → C → R” runs all three in order. The tone generator plays any frequency from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz as a sine, square, triangle or sawtooth wave; drag the logarithmic slider, type a value or use the presets, and change the frequency live while it plays. The 12-second sweep from 20 Hz to 20 kHz shows how low and how high your speakers – and your ears – can go: small laptop speakers often fade out below 100–150 Hz, and most adults stop hearing somewhere between 14 and 17 kHz. Start at a low volume to protect your hearing and your speakers.
Features
Left / right test
Beeps or pink noise per channel
Tone generator
20 Hz – 20 kHz, 4 waveforms
Frequency sweep
Find your speaker’s range
Safe start
Low default volume
Frequency Guide
Useful test frequencies
- 20–60 Hz: sub-bass, felt more than heard
- 100 Hz: bass, small speakers struggle
- 440 Hz: A4, standard tuning note
- 1 kHz: reference tone for audio levels
- 10–17 kHz: high treble; 17.4 kHz is the “mosquito tone”
Hearing range by age (typical)
- Children: up to ~20 kHz
- Age 20–30: up to ~17–19 kHz
- Age 40: up to ~14–15 kHz
- Age 60: up to ~10–12 kHz
- Hearing tests must be done by professionals; this is only an indication
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I test left and right speakers?
Click “Left” and “Right”. Each plays only in that channel. If the sound comes from the wrong side, swap the headphones or speaker cables.
What is a tone generator used for?
To test speakers and subwoofers, find rattles and resonances, tune instruments (440 Hz), check hearing range or calibrate audio equipment.
Why can’t I hear very low or very high tones?
Small speakers cannot reproduce deep bass, and the ability to hear high frequencies declines with age. Try headphones for the sweep.
Is it safe for my speakers?
Yes at moderate volume. Avoid long, loud square or sawtooth tones and very low frequencies at high volume on small speakers.
What is pink noise?
Noise with equal energy per octave, which sounds balanced to the human ear. It is used to compare channels and tune speakers.