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WaveNook

Speaker and headphone test

Check that sound comes out of the right side, that your bass is working, and how high your speakers (and ears) can go. Choose which speakers or headphones to test, and keep the volume low to start.

1. Left and right

Each sound should come only from the side shown. "Both" should seem to come from the middle.

2. Frequency sweep (20 Hz → 20 kHz)

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Note where the sound starts and stops: small laptop speakers often begin around 100–200 Hz.

3. Bass

If you hear rattling or buzzing at one of these, something nearby (or the speaker itself) is vibrating.

4. Wiring (phase)

"In phase" should sound solid and centred; "out of phase" should sound thin and hard to place. If they sound the other way round, one speaker's + and − wires are swapped.

Start with the volume low, especially with headphones. Bass tones and sweeps can be louder than you expect.

How to test your speakers and headphones

  1. Set the volume low to start, and choose your speakers or headphones if you have more than one output.
  2. Press Left, Both and Right. Each sound should come only from that side.
  3. Play the frequency sweep to hear the range your speakers can reproduce, and the bass tones to check the low end.
  4. Use the phase test to make sure both speakers are wired the same way round.

Features

Left/right channel test

Instantly spot swapped channels, a dead earbud or a loose cable.

Full-range sweep

A smooth 20 Hz to 20 kHz sweep with a live readout, so you can see where your speakers start and stop.

Bass tones

Fixed tones from 30 to 150 Hz for checking subwoofers and finding rattles in a room or car.

Choose the output

In Chrome and Edge, test any connected speakers or headphones without changing your system settings.

No sound at all? Check these first

  • Is the right output selected? On Windows, click the speaker icon in the taskbar; on a Mac, use the Sound menu or System Settings → Sound → Output.
  • Is the browser tab muted? Right-click the tab and check for "Unmute site".
  • Bluetooth headphones sometimes connect for calls only. Disconnect and reconnect them, or pick the "stereo" version of the device.

Testing before a call or stream

Run this test, then the mic test and the webcam test, and your whole setup is checked in under two minutes. For a single steady tone at any pitch, use the tone generator.

Frequently asked questions

Why does sound come from the wrong side?

Headphones may be on backwards (check the L and R marks), or left and right are swapped in the cable, the audio interface or your system settings. On Windows, check Sound settings → device properties → Spatial sound and balance.

I only hear one side. Is my speaker broken?

Not necessarily. Check that the balance is centred in your system sound settings, that the cable is fully plugged in, and try another cable or port. If one side is silent on every device, the speaker or earbud is likely faulty.

Why can't I hear the lowest bass tones?

Small speakers physically can't reproduce very low notes. Laptop and phone speakers usually start around 100–200 Hz; good headphones reach 20–30 Hz; you need a subwoofer to feel the lowest notes in a room.

What does the phase test show?

When both speakers are wired correctly, "in phase" sounds full and centred. If "out of phase" sounds better, one speaker's positive and negative wires are swapped: reverse them on one speaker.

Is the speaker test safe for my speakers?

Yes, at sensible volumes. Avoid long bass tones at high volume on small speakers, and keep headphones quiet: test tones can be surprisingly loud.

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