Speaker Test
Left/right speaker test, frequency sweep and phase check. Runs in your browser.
About this speaker test
This speaker test plays sound through the left channel, the right channel and the center, so you can check that stereo speakers and headphones are wired the right way round. It also has a 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency sweep, single test tones and a phase test for spotting reversed speaker wires.
All the sounds are generated live in your browser with the Web Audio API. There are no audio files to download, and you can stop any test instantly.
Before the first sound plays, the page asks you to lower your volume. Steady test tones sound louder than music, and high frequencies in headphones can be unpleasant at full volume.
Features
Left, center and right
Each button pans the sound fully to one side with a stereo panner, or plays it equally in both for center. A cycle button plays left, center, right three times so you can walk around the room.
Three test sounds
Beeps are easy to hear on small speakers. Pink noise is the easiest to place in space. A steady tone helps when you are listening for a buzz or rattle.
Frequency sweep 20 Hz to 20 kHz
A sine sweep rises across the whole range of human hearing over 10, 20 or 40 seconds, with the current frequency on screen. Tap a button when you start and stop hearing it to note your audible range.
Phase (polarity) test
The same noise plays in both speakers, first in phase, then with one side inverted. The difference tells you whether one speaker is wired backwards.
Single test tones
Presets from 30 Hz to 15 kHz, each with a note on what it checks, plus any custom frequency from 10 Hz to 22 kHz.
Volume control
A test volume slider on an ear-friendly curve, separate from your system volume, so you can start very low and raise it smoothly.
How to use the speaker test
- 1Lower your volume, confirm the warning, then set the test volume.
- 2Play left, center and right to check the channels, then run the frequency sweep.
- 3Use the phase test and single tones to find wiring or rattle problems.
When to use it
Headphones on the right way round
Play Left. If you hear it in your right ear, swap the earcups, or check the L and R marks on earbuds that look identical.
Setting up desk or hi-fi speakers
Confirm left and right, then run the phase test. Reversed polarity on one speaker is a common mistake with bare-wire speaker cables.
Hunting rattles and buzzes
Run the slow sweep at moderate volume. A buzz that appears only around one frequency points at a loose panel, screw or cone.
Checking a headset before a call
Test both earcups here, then use the microphone test on the same headset so you know both directions work.
How do I test left and right speakers?
Lower your system volume to about a third, confirm the warning, then press Left. The sound should come only from your left speaker or left earcup. Press Right and it should move to the other side. Center should seem to come from the space between the speakers.
If Left plays from both sides, your system may be set to mono audio, which is an accessibility setting on Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. If Left plays from the right, the cables or headphones are swapped. If one side is much quieter, check the balance slider in your sound settings.
What does the frequency sweep tell me?
Human hearing spans roughly 20 Hz to 20 kHz when young, and the top end falls with age. Many adults no longer hear above 15 or 16 kHz, so going quiet near the end of the sweep is normal and says more about ears than speakers.
Speakers have their own limits. Laptop and phone speakers usually fade out below 150 to 200 Hz. Bookshelf speakers often reach 50 to 60 Hz, and a subwoofer goes lower. The sweep spends equal time on every octave, so the bass part sounds slow and the treble part flies past.
- Buzzing at one spot: something loose is resonating at that frequency.
- A sudden dip or silence in the middle: a damaged driver or crossover.
- Distortion at low frequencies: the volume is too high for the speaker, so turn it down.
What is a speaker phase test?
Each speaker cone should push forward at the same moment. If one speaker's red and black wires are swapped, it pulls back while the other pushes, and the bass from the two partly cancels out.
Sit centered between the speakers. In phase, the noise should sound focused in the middle with solid low end. Out of phase sounds wide, hollow and hard to place. If pressing In phase gives you that hollow sound, swap the + and - wires on one speaker and test again.
Why use Mavros
| Mavros | Typical upload sites | |
|---|---|---|
| Volume warning | Required before the first sound | Rare |
| Channels | Left, center and right with stereo panning | Left and right only |
| Test sounds | Beeps, pink noise or tone | One recorded file |
| Frequency sweep | 20 Hz to 20 kHz, live readout, mark your range | Fixed audio clip, no readout |
| Phase test | In-phase and out-of-phase noise | Rare |
| Custom tone | Any frequency from 10 Hz to 22 kHz | A few presets |
| Downloads or plugins | None, sound is generated live | Large audio files to stream |
Tips
- Use the cycle button and walk around the room. It is the fastest way to find a speaker that is not playing at all.
- Test at the volume you normally listen at, not louder. Most rattles show at normal levels, and very loud sweeps can damage small drivers.
- The test plays stereo, so on a surround system it checks the front left and right speakers. Rear and center speakers may stay silent, and that is expected.
- Have a buzzing speaker you want to show a repair shop? Record it with the voice recorder, then trim the clip to the part that buzzes.
- Building a full desk setup check? See the other device tests for your camera, keyboard and screen.
Questions
Why do I hear the left speaker on the right?
The left and right outputs are swapped somewhere. Check that headphones are on the right way round, then check the cables at the amplifier or speaker. Swap the two plugs and test again.
Why do I hear Left in both ears?
Mono audio is probably switched on. On Windows look in Settings > Accessibility > Audio, on a Mac in System Settings > Accessibility > Audio, and on phones in the accessibility settings. Turn it off and test again.
Why can't I hear the highest frequencies in the sweep?
Most likely your ears, not the speakers. The upper limit of hearing drops with age, and many adults stop hearing around 15 to 17 kHz. Small speakers may also roll off before 20 kHz.
Can a speaker test damage my speakers?
Not at sensible volume. Long, loud low-frequency tones and very loud high tones can overheat or over-stretch small drivers. Keep the volume moderate and stop if you hear distortion.
How do I test a different output device?
Switch the output in your system sound settings, then play the test again. The page plays through whatever device your system uses as the default output.
What does out of phase sound like?
Wide, vague and thin, with weak bass, as if the sound comes from everywhere and nowhere. In phase sounds focused in the center and fuller. The contrast is easiest to hear sitting centered.
Does the speaker test work on phones and with Bluetooth?
Yes. It plays through whatever output the phone or computer uses, including Bluetooth headphones. Bluetooth adds a short delay, so the sound may start a moment after you tap.