How to use the speaker test
- Leave the Volume slider low at first and set your system volume to a normal level.
- Press Left: a short tone (440 Hz, 1.5 seconds) should come only from the left speaker.
- Press Right, then Both. Both should sound centred, between the two speakers.
- Press Frequency sweep to play a 12-second tone that rises from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. The current frequency is shown while it plays.
- Raise the Volume slider slowly if you need to. Press Stop sound at any time.
What the result means
- Left plays on the right speaker (or the reverse): the speakers are swapped. Swap the cables or the speaker positions.
- Left and Right both play from both speakers: the system is set to mono, or the device has a single speaker. Many phones and small laptops do.
- One side is silent: check the cable, the balance setting and the speaker itself (steps below).
- Buzzing or rattling at one point in the sweep: something is loose near the speaker, or the speaker is damaged. Note the frequency shown and repeat the sweep to confirm.
Laptop and phone speakers often cannot play deep bass, so the start of the sweep may be silent on them. Hearing above about 15 kHz also fades with age: silence at the very end of the sweep is usually your ears, not the speaker.
No sound at all
- Check that the browser tab is not muted. In Chrome and Edge, right-click the tab and unmute it; in Firefox, click the speaker icon on the tab.
- Make sure the sound goes to the right device. Headphones, a monitor with speakers or a Bluetooth device may be selected instead.
- On phones, check the silent switch or mode and the media volume, not only the ringer volume.
Windows 11
- Settings > System > Sound > Output: choose where to play sound.
- In the same Output section, make sure Mono audio is off if you want separate left and right.
- To fix the balance, open the output device with the arrow and check that the Left channel and Right channel sliders match.
- If the device is missing, open Device Manager > Sound, video and game controllers and update or reinstall the audio driver.
Mac
- System Settings > Sound > Output: choose the device and centre the Balance slider.
- System Settings > Accessibility > Audio: turn off Play stereo audio as mono if both sides sound the same.
iPhone and Android
- iPhone and iPad: Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual. Turn off Mono Audio and centre the Balance slider.
- Android: search Settings for Mono audio or Balance. The location varies by brand, usually under Accessibility or Sound.
- Phone speakers are often mono or uneven, so Left and Right may sound almost the same. Use headphones to test stereo on a phone.
Everything is generated in your browser: no audio file is downloaded and nothing is sent anywhere. After the first visit the test also works offline.
Questions
How do I test my left and right speakers?
Press Left, then Right. Each tone should come only from that side. If they are swapped, swap the speaker cables or positions.
Why do I hear both sides when I press Left?
Mono audio is turned on in your system, or the device has only one speaker. Turn off Mono audio in the sound or accessibility settings.
Why can't I hear the whole frequency sweep?
Small speakers cannot play very low bass, and most adults stop hearing the highest frequencies. Silence at the very start or end of the sweep is normal.