Sound test
Check your speakers and headphones in a few seconds: is left really left, is right really right, and does the low end come through?
Turn your volume to about half, then play each tone. Tick it if it sounded right.
- Only the left speaker or ear
- Only the right speaker or ear
- Centered, equally loud on both sides
- 80 Hz. Small laptop speakers may barely play it
- 8 kHz. Should sound thin and clear
Left should come only from the left. If it comes from the right, your headphones are on backwards or the cables are swapped.
No app to install. Your first call is free.
What each tone checks
| Tone | You should hear | If not |
|---|---|---|
| Left / Right | Sound from that side only | Swap the headphones or cables; check the balance slider |
| Both | Centered, equally loud | Balance is off, or one side is damaged |
| Low (80 Hz) | A deep hum | Normal on laptop speakers; on headphones, check EQ |
| High (8 kHz) | A thin, clear whistle | Worn speakers, or a treble cut in your EQ |
Speakers fine? Make sure people can hear you too: run the mic test.
Sound test questions
How do I do a left and right sound test?
Press Left, then Right. Each tone should come from one side only. If Left plays on the right, your headphones are on backwards, or your speaker cables are swapped, or a balance slider is set wrong in your sound settings.
I hear the left tone in both ears. Is something broken?
Probably not. Mono audio is switched on, which mixes both channels together. On Windows it's under Settings, Accessibility, Audio; on a Mac, System Settings, Accessibility, Audio. Some Bluetooth headsets in call mode are also mono.
Why can't I hear the low tone?
Small laptop and phone speakers can't reproduce 80 Hz well, so it may be faint or silent. Headphones or a speaker with a woofer should play it clearly. If they don't, check the bass or EQ settings.
Is this a hearing test?
No. It checks your equipment, not your ears. If you're worried about your hearing, see a doctor or audiologist.
Why does audio sound fine here but bad on calls?
Call audio depends on the connection too. Choppy or robotic voices usually mean packet loss, which you can measure with the packet loss test.