Headphone & Speaker Test

Most headphones are rated 20 Hz–20 kHz, which matches the theoretical human hearing range. High-quality headphones maintain flat, even response across this range. Gaming headsets often boost bass (60–200 Hz) and treble (8–12 kHz) for dramatic effect. Audiophile headphones aim for flat response. Frequency response does not determine how loud a headphone can get — that depends on sensitivity (dB/mW).

Use the Stereo Channel Test on this page. Click 'Left' to play sound only in the left ear, then 'Right'. If you hear no sound or significantly lower volume on one side, the driver may be damaged, there may be a wiring break in the cable or connector, or the audio source port may have failed. Try a different device to rule out a source issue before concluding the headphone is defective.

The human hearing range is generally accepted as 20 Hz to 20 kHz, but the upper limit declines with age. Children can often hear up to 20 kHz. Most adults aged 30–40 can hear up to 15–16 kHz. Adults over 50 commonly max out around 10–12 kHz. Hearing up to 12 kHz or higher is considered excellent for adults. The frequencies most important for speech and music are 250 Hz–8 kHz.

Buzzing or rattling at specific frequencies is typically caused by a loose driver or voice coil, debris inside the headphone cup, loose screws or parts, or the driver vibrating at its resonant frequency (usually in the bass range). If the buzzing only appears at certain frequencies or volumes, it is most likely a physical resonance issue rather than an electrical fault.

For the most accurate results: wear headphones properly (on-ear drivers centred over your ear canals), use a quiet room to minimise background noise masking high frequencies, set volume to 60–70% to avoid output clipping, and test both ears separately. Very high frequencies (16–20 kHz) require quiet surroundings and good headphone seal to be audible.

Yes. High-impedance headphones (150–600 Ω) typically need a dedicated amplifier to reach full volume without distortion. Low-impedance headphones (16–64 Ω) work well with phones and laptops. Using a high-impedance headphone with a phone may result in low volume and thin, tinny bass — not a defect, just an impedance mismatch.

Yes. This tool works with any audio device your operating system recognises, including Bluetooth headphones, AirPods, Galaxy Buds, and other true wireless earbuds. Simply connect your Bluetooth headphones before opening the page. The stereo channel test, frequency test, and sweep all run through whatever output is currently selected in your system audio settings. One note: Bluetooth codecs (SBC, AAC, aptX) introduce a small latency that does not affect the accuracy of the channel or frequency tests.

First, use the Stereo Channel Test above to confirm which side is silent. Then work through these steps: (1) Try a different audio source — if the same ear is dead on another device, the headphone is faulty. (2) Check the cable where it enters the headphone cup and at the 3.5mm jack — these are the most common break points. (3) On a wired headphone, try slightly rotating or wiggling the jack while playing audio; intermittent sound indicates a broken connector. (4) On Bluetooth headphones, check that the device is charged; some models drop one channel at very low battery. (5) Check your OS audio balance slider — both Windows and macOS have a left/right balance control that may have been accidentally moved from centre.

A volume balance test plays identical tones alternately in the left and right ear at the same signal level. If one ear sounds noticeably louder, the headphone has a channel imbalance — caused by a damaged driver, a corroded jack, or an uneven fit pressing one ear cup harder. The OS audio balance slider (Sound Settings on Windows, Output Settings on macOS) can also cause perceived imbalance if moved from centre. A small difference of 1–2 dB is within normal manufacturing tolerance for consumer headphones.