How do I check if my headphones are working correctly?

Easy! Use our Stereo Test. Click "Play Left" and you should only hear it in your left ear, "Play Right" for your right ear, and "Play Both" to make sure they're balanced. If one side is way quieter or completely silent, you might have a loose cable or a driver that's given up. It happens more often than you'd think!

What does the frequency sweep do?

It plays pure tones from really deep bass (20Hz, more of a rumble you feel) all the way up to super high pitches (20,000Hz, dogs hear this better than we do). This helps you spot if your speakers or headphones struggle at certain frequencies. Crackling at low bass? Might be a loose driver. Can't hear the high stuff? Could be your equipment, or honestly, could just be your ears. That's normal as we get older.

Why can't I hear very low bass frequencies?

A few things could be going on here. First, smaller speakers and earbuds just can't physically produce really deep bass since they need bigger drivers for that. Second, bass needs more volume to be audible, so try turning it up a bit. Third, our ears aren't great at picking up the lowest frequencies anyway (we feel them more than hear them). If you really want that chest-thumping bass, you'll need headphones with larger drivers or a proper subwoofer.

How do I fix left/right audio imbalance?

First, run our Stereo Test to confirm it's not just your imagination. Then check the obvious stuff: Is your audio balance slider centered in system settings? Is the cable fully plugged in? (Give it a wiggle.) If you're using earbuds, a bit of earwax buildup can block sound, gross but true. Try your headphones with a different device to see if the problem follows them. If one side is consistently quieter no matter what you try, the headphones themselves might be on the way out.

Why is my microphone too quiet?

Nine times out of ten, it's your input gain being too low. Pop into your system sound settings and boost the microphone level. Also double-check that your computer is actually using the right mic. If you have a webcam and a headset, it might be listening to the wrong one. For external mics, check that the cable is solid and try a different USB port. And get closer to the mic when you talk, since distance makes a huge difference.

Is browser-based audio testing accurate?

For everyday troubleshooting? Absolutely. The Web Audio API generates precise, consistent tones that work great for checking if your gear is functioning properly. You'll catch dead drivers, channel imbalances, and frequency issues without any problem. That said, if you're doing professional studio calibration, you'll want specialized equipment. But for "does my headphone actually work?" we've got you covered.

Can I test my Bluetooth headphones here?

Yep! Just connect them to your device like normal, make sure they're set as your audio output in system settings, and run any of our tests. Bluetooth works great for this. One small note: some Bluetooth codecs compress audio slightly, but that won't affect basic "is it working?" tests. If you want to measure your Bluetooth latency (delay), we have a dedicated test for that too.

Do you store my microphone recordings?

Nope, not at all. Everything happens right in your browser. Your audio never leaves your device or touches our servers. When you close the tab, any recordings are gone for good. We take privacy seriously, so you can test your mic without worrying about who's listening. (Spoiler: nobody is.)

Free Audio Testing Tools

Online Sound Tester - Free Audio Testing Tools

Quick check your headphones, speakers, and microphones without any downloads

100% Free

Browser-Based

Works on All Devices

Instant Check

Need a Quick Left & Right Sound Test?

Put on your headphones and tap Left, Right, or Both. We'll play a tone through exactly the channels you choose so you can confirm each side is working in seconds.

Tap Left, Right, or Both to start testing.

Want to test everything in detail? Explore all audio tests below.