Check that your speakers and headphones play the right sound on the right side. Click Left or Right to hear a chime on one side only, play a frequency sweep from deep bass to the highest treble, or use test tones and a phase test to find wiring problems. Works with laptop speakers, earbuds, headphones and speaker systems.
How to test left and right audio
- Turn the volume down a little and put on your headphones (L on the left ear).
- Click "Left" — you should hear the chime only in the left ear or speaker.
- Click "Right" — the chime should play only on the right.
- Use "Frequency sweep" to check bass and treble, and "Phase test" to check speaker wiring.
What the results mean
- Left plays on the right? Your headphones are on backwards, or the speaker cables are swapped.
- Both sides play the same for Left and Right? Your device may be set to "mono audio" (check accessibility settings).
- Frequency sweep: most people hear from about 20 Hz to 15–17 kHz. Small speakers can't play deep bass; very high tones fade with age — both are normal.
- Phase test: the second sound should feel thinner or "wider" than the first. If the first sound is the thin one, one speaker is wired with + and − swapped.
Why stereo matters
Games, films and music place sounds on the left or right. If channels are swapped or one side is weak, you lose direction in games and music sounds wrong. A quick left/right test fixes that in seconds.
Not working? Try this
- No sound at all: check the volume and mute key, and that the right output device is selected (Windows: speaker icon in the taskbar; Mac: Control Centre → Sound).
- Sound only on one side: check the cable is fully plugged in, test another cable, and check the balance slider in sound settings.
- Bluetooth headphones sound bad during calls: they may switch to "headset" mode. Choose the "Stereo" or "Headphones" output instead.
- Mono sound: turn off "Mono audio" in Windows Settings → Accessibility → Audio, or Mac System Settings → Accessibility → Audio.
Frequently asked questions
How do I test left and right headphones?
Put on your headphones and click Left, then Right. Each chime should play only on that side.
Is the frequency sweep safe?
Yes at normal volume. Start low — very high tones can feel unpleasant through headphones.
Can I test my car or home speakers?
Yes. Connect your phone or laptop by cable or Bluetooth and run the test.
Why can't I hear the highest tones?
Hearing above 15–16 kHz naturally fades with age, and small speakers may not play them. This is normal.
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