Speaker Test
Check that both speakers or earbuds play, the right way round, and get the exact fix if they don't.
Runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is uploaded.
Plays two short sounds in random order and asks where you hear each. Start with your volume low.
Play a side yourself
How to use Speaker Test
- Turn your volume down a little, then press Start the left/right test.
- A short sound repeats on one side. Choose where you hear it: Left, Right, Both sides or Nothing.
- Do the same for the second sound. The two sounds play in random order.
- Read the result and follow the fix shown for your system.
- Use Play a side yourself to check each speaker again, play the bass test, or play the full sweep and listen for rattling.
How it works
The test plays a short burst of noise on one channel only, then on the other, in random order. You say where you hear each one. Because you don’t know which side is coming, you report what you really hear, not what you expect. The sound is made in your browser; nothing is recorded and no microphone is used.
From your two answers, the test tells you what is wrong:
| Result | What it means | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|
| Left and right both work | Each sound came from its own side. | Nothing. Use the sweep to check for rattles. |
| Left and right are swapped | The left sound came from the right. | Turn the headphones round, swap the earbuds or swap the speaker cables. |
| You hear mono | Both sounds came from both sides. | Turn off mono audio in your accessibility settings, or leave call mode on a Bluetooth headset. |
| One side is silent | One of the sounds never reached you. | Center the balance slider, push the plug all the way in, charge and re-pair earbuds. |
| Everything plays on one side | Both sounds came from the same side. | One speaker isn’t playing and the sound is mixed into the other. Check mono audio, then the silent side. |
| One side spills into the other | One sound stayed put, the other came from both sides. | Turn off spatial sound or sound enhancements. |
Each fix shows the exact settings path for your system: Windows, macOS, iPhone, Android or ChromeOS.
Speakers or headphones
Headphones and earbuds give the clearest result, because each ear hears only its own side. With speakers in a room, some sound always reaches both ears. Sit in front of them, or close to each speaker in turn, and pick the side the sound mostly comes from.
To find a faulty speaker, swap the two. If the silence moves with the speaker, the speaker is faulty. If it stays on the same side, the cable or the amplifier is.
Bluetooth headsets that sound mono or muffled
While a call or meeting app uses the headset’s microphone, most Bluetooth headsets switch to call mode: mono, with lower quality. Leave the call or close the app, then test again. On Windows, a headset can appear twice in the sound settings. Choose the entry without “Hands-Free” or “Headset” in its name for music and videos.
The bass test
Press Bass to play a tone that slides from 20 Hz to 200 Hz over 15 seconds, the range of kick drums, bass guitar and subwoofers. The page shows the current frequency.
- Where the bass starts tells you how deep your speakers go. Good headphones and subwoofers play from about 20 to 40 Hz. Laptop, phone and small Bluetooth speakers often stay silent until 100 to 200 Hz, which is normal.
- Rattling or buzzing at one note means something is loose: a speaker grille, a screw, or the speaker itself.
- No bass from a subwoofer at all: check that it’s switched on, its volume and crossover knobs aren’t at zero, and its cable is in the sub or LFE socket.
Keep the volume low at first. Deep bass at full volume can strain small speakers.
The frequency sweep
Press Sweep to play one tone that rises from 20 Hz (the deepest bass) to 20 kHz (the highest treble) over 20 seconds. The page shows the current frequency. Listen for:
- Rattling or buzzing at one frequency: a loose part, or a damaged speaker. Lower the volume and listen again.
- A gap where the sound fades and comes back. In the bass, that is often the room itself: move your head and listen again. Higher up, it can mean a damaged speaker.
- Where the sound starts and stops. Laptop and phone speakers rarely play below 100 to 200 Hz. Many adults can’t hear above 15 to 17 kHz, so silence at the top is normal.
Start with the volume low. Very low and very high tones at full volume can strain small speakers.
Phones and laptops
Some phones, laptops and small Bluetooth speakers have a single speaker, and phone speakers only face left and right when you hold the phone sideways. A “mono” result on those is normal. Plug in headphones to test stereo.
Questions
Why is sound coming from only one side of my headphones?
Usually the left/right balance setting is shifted, the plug isn’t all the way in, the cable is damaged, or one wireless earbud isn’t charged or connected. The left/right test tells you which side is silent and shows the balance setting for your system.
Why are my left and right audio reversed?
Most often the headphones are on backwards or the speaker cables are swapped. Check the L and R marks, swap the earbuds, or swap the speaker cables. If the test still shows them swapped, look for a channel setting in your headset or sound card app.
How do I know which earbud is left and which is right?
Most earbuds and headphones are marked L and R. If the marks have worn off, run the test: the side where you hear the left sound is the left one.
How do I test the bass on my speakers or headphones?
Press Bass 20 Hz–200 Hz. A tone slides up through the bass in 15 seconds, and the page shows the frequency. Note where you start to hear it: good headphones and subwoofers play from about 20 to 40 Hz, laptop and phone speakers often only from 100 to 200 Hz. Rattling or buzzing at one note points to a loose part.
Can a frequency sweep damage my speakers?
Not at a normal volume. Very low notes at full volume can strain small speakers, and long high tones at full volume can overheat tweeters. Start quiet, raise the volume slowly, and stop if you hear rattling or distortion.
What do I need to test my speakers?
Only your speakers or headphones, connected and turned on, and this page. The test runs in your browser with no download, no microphone and no account.
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Updated October 26, 2026 · Works in current Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari · Runs entirely in your browser