How this speaker test works
Turn your volume down to a low level first, then use the buttons to play a tone through the Left, Right or Both speakers. You should hear the tone only from the side you chose. If it comes from the wrong side or from both, something in the signal chain is swapped or set to mono.
The tone generator produces a pure tone anywhere from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Choose a waveform (sine, square, triangle or sawtooth) and drag the frequency slider. The sweep glides through the whole range so you can hear where your speakers start to drop out. The left/right quiz plays a tone from a random side and asks you to identify it, which is handy for checking your setup by ear. If your browser supports it, you can also pick the output device from a list.
All sound is generated in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or recorded.
What to check
- Channel separation. Left should be heard only on the left and right only on the right. A tone that seems to come from the middle on one-sided playback suggests mono mixing or a balance problem.
- Low end. Small laptop speakers fade out below about 150 Hz. A decent desktop speaker should reach 60 Hz or lower, and a subwoofer far below that.
- High end. Most people hear up to roughly 15–17 kHz. If a sweep goes silent well below that, your speakers may be limited, which is normal for small drivers.
- Distortion. Rattling, buzzing or crackling at certain frequencies means a loose panel, a damaged cone or too much volume.
- Square and sawtooth waves sound harsher than sine waves by design. Use sine for judging clean output.
Speakers not working? Try these fixes
- Check the output device. On Windows 11 open Settings → System → Sound → Output and pick your speakers. On macOS use System Settings → Sound → Output. HDMI monitors and Bluetooth devices often grab the output without you noticing.
- Check volume and mute. Look at the system volume, the browser tab (a muted tab shows a speaker icon) and the physical knob on powered speakers.
- Fix the balance. Windows: Sound settings → your device → Properties and look at the balance or levels. macOS: Sound → Output → Balance. Both sliders should be centered.
- Turn off mono audio. In Windows Settings → Accessibility → Audio, switch off Mono audio. On macOS, Accessibility → Audio → Play stereo audio as mono. On Android and iPhone check the same option under Accessibility.
- Re-seat the cable. A 3.5 mm plug that is half inserted often kills one channel. Push it all the way in, or try another cable and port.
- Bluetooth. Disconnect and reconnect, make sure the speaker is not connected to another phone, and remove and re-pair it if one side stays silent.
- Drivers. On Windows, update or reinstall the audio driver in Device Manager. Restart afterwards.
Why test your speakers
A one-minute check tells you whether a problem is in your speakers, your cables or your settings, before you spend money on new gear. It also helps when positioning a pair of speakers or setting up a desk, because you can confirm which side is which.
Frequently asked questions
Why is sound coming from only one speaker?
Common causes are a half-inserted cable, a balance slider pushed to one side, or mono audio enabled in accessibility settings. Check each in turn, then try a different cable.
How do I test left and right speakers?
Press the Left button and then the Right button on this page. Each tone should come only from the matching speaker.
What frequency range should speakers cover?
Human hearing spans about 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Laptop speakers usually start around 150 Hz, while good desktop speakers reach 50 to 60 Hz and up to 20 kHz.
Why is there no sound at all from my computer?
The wrong output device may be selected, the volume may be muted, or the tab may be muted. Check the output device in your system Sound settings first.
Can playing test tones damage my speakers?
Not at normal volume. Start with the volume low and avoid playing very low or very high tones loudly for long periods.
Does this work on my phone?
Yes, the tones play through your phone speaker or any connected headphones. Output device selection depends on what your browser supports.
Why do my speakers crackle or buzz?
Crackling is often a loose or damaged cable, a dirty jack or a volume set too high so the signal distorts. Buzzing can come from a ground loop or from power cables running next to the audio cable, so try another outlet or a shorter cable.