Headphone Test: Left/Right Stereo Check & Audio Quality
Test your headphones or speakers online. Verify Left/Right stereo channels, check bass response, and identify rattling or distortion. Free audio test suite.
Are your headphones wired correctly? Is your left earbud broken? Use our Headphone Test Suite to verify stereo separation, frequency response, and overall audio health.
Headphone Quality Test
Test phase, polarity, seal, and driver matching
Best results with over-ear or in-ear headphones. Speakers won't work for phase tests.
The Tests Explained
1. Left / Right Stereo Check
This plays a voice saying "Left Channel" in your left ear and "Right Channel" in your right ear.
- Success: You hear the correct location for each sound.
- Failure:
- Reverse: Left plays in Right (Check if headphones are on backwards).
- Mono: You hear both sounds in both ears (Check "Mono Audio" accessibility settings).
- Silent: One side is dead (Cable or driver failure).
2. Frequency Sweep (Bass to Treble)
A sine wave sweeps from 20 Hz (deep bass) to 20,000 Hz (high treble).
- Bass Check: Do you hear the rumble at the start? (Small earbuds may struggle below 60 Hz).
- Treble Check: When does the sound disappear? (Usually around 15-17 kHz for adults).
- Quality Check: Listen for "rattling" or buzzing. A clean sweep means healthy drivers.
3. Bass Shaker
Plays low-frequency pulses.
- Goal: Test the "punch" and depth of your subwoofer or headphone bass drivers.
- Warning: Turn volume down first. Extreme bass can damage cheap speakers at high volumes.
Troubleshooting Headphone Issues
Only Hearing Sound from One Side
- Check the Jack: Ensure the plug is pushed in all the way. A partial connection causes one-channel audio.
- Cable Test: Wiggle the cable near the jack. If sound crackles in and out, the wire is frayed inside.
- Balance Settings: Check your computer's sound settings to ensure the "L/R Balance" slider is centered.
Sound is "Hollow" or "Underwater"
This is usually a Phase Issue. It happens when the Left and Right signals cancel each other out.
- Fix: Ensure you aren't using a "TRRS" (headset) adapter incorrectly with a "TRS" (headphone) port, or vice versa.
No Bass / Tinny Sound
- Seal Issue: For in-ear monitors (IEMs) or AirPods, a poor seal kills bass. Try different ear tip sizes to get an airtight fit.
- Driver Size: Tiny laptop speakers simply cannot physically produce bass frequencies below ~150 Hz.
Headphone Types Guide
| Type | Best For | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over-Ear (Open Back) | Mixing, Critical Listening | Huge soundstage, natural sound | Leaks sound, zero isolation |
| Over-Ear (Closed Back) | Recording, Commuting | Great isolation, strong bass | Smaller soundstage, sweaty ears |
| In-Ear (IEMs) | Portable, Stage Use | Excellent isolation, portable | Can be uncomfortable |
| Earbuds | Casual Listening | Convenient, aware of surroundings | Poor bass, no isolation |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is "Burning In" headphones?
Some audiophiles believe playing pink noise for 50+ hours "loosens up" the drivers of new headphones for better sound. Scientific evidence is mixed, but it won't hurt to try.
Why does the frequency sweep disappear at the end?
That is likely your ears, not the headphones! Human hearing tops out at 20 kHz for children and drops to ~15 kHz for adults. Test your personal limit with our Hearing Test.
What is "Impedance"?
Measured in Ohms ($\Omega$).
- Low Impedance (< 32$\Omega$): Works great with phones and laptops.
- High Impedance (> 100$\Omega$): Needs a dedicated amplifier to sound loud enough.
Related Tools
- Hearing Test – Is it the headphones or your ears? Find out.
- Microphone Test – Check the other half of your headset.
- Binaural Beats – Experience the stereo separation effect.