Headphone test
Check that your headphones play left on the left and right on the right, that both sides are equally loud, and how much delay a Bluetooth connection adds.
Turn the volume down first
Test sounds are capped at −12 dBFS, but start quiet and raise the volume slowly — especially with headphones on.
This browser has no Web Audio support, so it cannot play test sounds. Try a current Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari.
Camera and microphone are off. Press start to test again.
Result
Press start to get a result. Nothing starts on its own.
What we measured
| Readings appear here once the test is running. |
Short answer
To test headphones, lower the volume, press Start headphone test and play the left and right cues: one beep on the left, two on the right. Then play pink noise on each side — both should sound equally loud. For Bluetooth, use the flash-and-click test to estimate the delay.
What to fix
- Sound only on one side Push the plug fully in, check the balance slider in system settings, and try another cable or device.
- Left and right swapped Check the L/R marks on the headphones and any “swap channels” setting.
- Same sound on both sides Turn off “Mono audio” in accessibility settings.
- Sound lags behind video Bluetooth adds delay. Use a low-latency mode or codec if your headphones have one, or a wired connection for calls and games.
Questions
How do I check if my headphones are left and right correct?
Play the left cue (one beep) and the right cue (two beeps) and answer where you heard each.
Why do both sides sound the same?
Mono audio is switched on in system accessibility settings, or the headphones are in a mono mode.
How much delay is normal for Bluetooth headphones?
Often 100–300 ms; low-latency codecs reach about 40–80 ms. Wired headphones add almost none. The browser's own figure often leaves the codec's delay out, so line up the flash and the click by ear: that gets you within about ±20 ms.
One side sounds slightly louder. Is it the headphones?
Balance is judged by ear with pink noise on each side, so swap the headphones round: if the louder side follows the earcup, it is the headphones; if it stays with the same ear, it is your hearing or the fit.
Why does the sweep fade out before 20 kHz?
Most adults stop hearing somewhere between 14 and 17 kHz, so the top of the sweep often goes silent even on good headphones. Your hearing matters as much as the drivers here.
Also check before the call
- Sound test sweep, bass tones and rattle checks for desk or laptop speakers.
- Mic test if it is a headset, check its microphone too.
How this stays on your device
Cues, pink noise and the sweep are generated on the spot by this page; pressing play fetches no audio file.
Requests after load
Want proof? Open the browser's developer tools on the Network tab and run a test: the list holds only this site's own files.