QuickDeviceTest Device test / Speaker test
Speaker test: left, right and stereo
A sound test for speakers and headphones: confirm each channel, catch a reversed wire with the phase test, and sweep the frequency range for rattles. Turn your volume down before you start.
Play each side, then tell us what you heard. Start with your volume low.
The browser does not list output devices here; sound plays through your system default.
Why the page asks what you heard
A browser can play a sound but can't hear it back without your microphone, and the microphone would pick up the room as well. Your ears are the honest instrument here, so the test asks two quick yes/no questions and records the answer.
Headphones: which side is which
Look for small L and R marks on the band or the stems. Wearing them backwards swaps the stereo image: in games, footsteps on your left seem to come from the right.
No sound at all?
- Check the tab isn't muted (right-click the tab) and the system volume is up.
- Pick the output: Windows taskbar speaker icon > arrow beside the volume slider; macOS Control Centre > Sound.
- HDMI monitors often grab audio when connected; switch back to your speakers or headset.
- Need a specific frequency? Use the tone generator or the bass test; wearing headphones, try the headphone test.
- For deeper audio checks (frequency response, hearing range), our sister site AudioTestPro has dedicated tests.
Surround sound test (5.1 and 7.1)
Check each speaker of a home-theatre or gaming setup on its own. A web page can only address separate surround speakers when the browser exposes more than two output channels; we show the number it reports and say so plainly when it's stereo only.
Each button plays 1.5 s of noise (a 50 Hz tone for the subwoofer) on that channel only. Channel order follows the WAVE/SMPTE layout: FL, FR, C, LFE, SL, SR, RL, RR.
Why a reversed speaker wire makes the bass vanish
A speaker cone pushes air out when the signal goes positive. If one speaker's + and − wires are swapped, it pulls in while the other pushes out. Where their sound meets (in the middle, in front of you) the two waves cancel, which hits low frequencies hardest.
In phase: both cones move together, so the sound adds up and a mono voice sits solidly in the middle. That is what the "In phase" test tone should sound like.
Panning: how "left" is made
A stereo pan is just two volume knobs turned in opposite directions. Most software uses a constant-power law so the sound doesn't dip when it passes through the centre.
At centre each side plays at about 71% amplitude (−3 dB), not 50%: two speakers at 71% carry the same total power as one at 100%.
Questions
How do I test left and right speakers?
Press "Play left" and "Play right". Each tone should come only from that side. If they are swapped, your headphones are on backwards or the cables are crossed; if one side is silent, check the cable, the balance setting and mono audio.
Why do I only hear sound from one side?
Check the balance slider (Windows: Settings > System > Sound > your output > Properties; macOS: System Settings > Sound > Output > Balance), whether "Mono audio" is on in accessibility settings, and whether the headphone plug is fully inserted.
What is the out-of-phase test?
It plays the same low tone on both sides, but with the right side inverted. On correctly wired speakers it sounds thin and seems to come from everywhere. If the in-phase tone sounds like that instead, one speaker has its + and − wires swapped.
What does the frequency sweep show?
It glides from 40 Hz to 16 kHz. Listen for rattles or buzzing at particular pitches (a loose part or blown driver) and note where the bass fades in and the treble fades out. Small laptop speakers often produce little below 150 Hz.
Is this safe for my speakers and ears?
Keep the volume low: start at the default and raise it gradually. Sustained loud test tones, especially high frequencies, are unpleasant and can damage hearing or small drivers.
Can I test 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound online?
Yes, if your browser exposes the extra channels. Set your system output to 5.1 or 7.1, then use the surround test on this page: each button plays on one speaker only. Chrome and Edge on Windows usually expose them for HDMI receivers and surround sound cards; many other combinations downmix to stereo, and the test tells you when that happens.
Does it work with Bluetooth headphones?
Yes. Sound goes to whatever output your system uses. Bluetooth adds a delay of roughly 100–300 ms, which is normal.