Free tool · runs in your browser
Sound test left, right and bass
Check that your speakers or headphones play each side in the right place, that both sides are equally loud, and how low and high they go. The sounds are made on this page. It never uses your microphone.
Left and right
Each button repeats until you press it again.
Headphone phase check
In phase should sound centred. Out of phase should sound wide and hollow.
Bass to treble sweep
A tone from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz in 12 seconds. Start with the volume low.
Note the number where you first hear the tone and where it fades out.
How to read the result
- Left comes from the right: the sides are swapped. Turn the headphones round or swap the speaker cables.
- One side is quieter: check the balance setting first, then the hardware. Our guide one AirPod louder than the other goes through every step.
- Nothing on one side: try a second pair of headphones. If both are silent on that side, the problem is the computer or its settings.
- The sweep starts late or stops early: normal for small speakers. Use it to compare two devices, not as a score.
On a Mac
Open System Settings > Sound > Output, select the speakers or headphones you are testing and check that the Balance slider sits in the middle. Then run the test again.
No sound at all? See Mac sound not working after an update. Bluetooth headphones too quiet? See Bluetooth headphones too quiet on Mac.
SoundDial for Mac
Your speakers work. Now mix your apps.
macOS has one volume for every app. SoundDial gives each app its own slider, mute and equalizer, and lowers the music when a call starts. Try it here with three example apps.
Interactive demo with example sounds, running in your browser. The real SoundDial controls the apps on your Mac.
FAQ
How do I test my left and right speakers?
Press Left, then Right. The voice says which side it should come from. If you hear “Left” from the right speaker or earbud, the sides are swapped: check that the headphones are on the right way round, or swap the speaker cables. Both plays the same voice on both sides, so it should sound like it comes from the middle.
Why is one side of my headphones quieter?
First check the balance setting. On a Mac, open System Settings > Sound > Output, select your headphones and move the Balance slider to the middle. If it is centred and one side is still quieter, clean the speaker mesh of that earbud or headphone, then try another device to see whether it is the headphones or the computer.
What frequency range should I hear in the sweep?
Many laptop and phone speakers cannot play the deepest notes, so on them the tone often starts well above 20 Hz; headphones and larger speakers usually go lower. At the top, many adults no longer hear the highest few thousand hertz. The sweep shows what your setup plays. It is not a hearing test.
What does the out-of-phase test show?
Out of phase plays one side inverted. On working headphones or speakers it sounds wide, hollow or as if it comes from inside your head, while In phase sounds solid and centred. If In phase is the one that sounds hollow, one speaker is wired the wrong way round.
Does this sound test use my microphone or upload anything?
No. The tones are made in your browser and the voice clips are tiny files from this site. The page never asks for your microphone and sends nothing anywhere.