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Sound Tester

Phone, laptop, earbuds, TV, car and more

Sound Test For Any Device

Pick your device or brand and the test sets itself up for it, with the right tones, the right checks and the exact settings to look at if something sounds wrong. Free, in your browser, nothing to install.

By Updated Steps checked on Windows 11, macOS, iOS and Android How we test
Or pick your brand:
Testing

Phone

    If one side is quiet, check
    Full phone guide

    Device Sound Test

    Ready
    1kHzTone, both sides
    Left side
    Right side
    Play the left and right side, then mark what you heard for a diagnosis made for your device.

    Start with your device volume low. Deep bass and high tones can be loud on headphones and small speakers.

    Quick answer

    Which Sound Test To Run On Each Device

    Every device fails in its own way. Start with the first test in the row, then use the next one if the first finds a problem.

    Device
    Run first
    Then
    Most common fault
    Phone
    Silent mode, lint in the speaker grille
    Laptop
    Wrong output device, audio enhancements
    PC speakers
    Cable in the wrong jack, sub turned down
    Earbuds
    Wax on the mesh, balance or mono setting
    Headphones
    Bluetooth hands-free mode, worn cable
    TV and soundbar
    Audio output set to TV speakers, not ARC
    Car
    Balance or fader moved, loose door panel
    Gaming headset
    Virtual surround on, wrong default device
    Device guides

    How To Test The Sound On Every Device

    Short, device-specific steps and fixes. Each guide uses the real menu names on current versions of iOS, Android, Windows 11 and macOS.

    Phone Speaker Test For iPhone And Android

    Most phones play stereo from two speakers: the earpiece at the top and the speaker at the bottom edge. They sit close together, so cover one with a finger to hear the other on its own.

    How to test

    1. Turn off Silent mode on iPhone and raise the media volume, not the ringer.
    2. Play Left, then Right. Hold the phone sideways and listen to each end.
    3. Run a sweep to find crackle or buzz at certain pitches.

    If one side is quiet or muffled

    • iPhone: Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Balance and turn off Mono Audio.
    • Samsung: Settings > Accessibility > Hearing enhancements > Left/right sound balance.
    • Brush lint out of the grilles with a dry, soft brush and check the case is not covering a speaker.
    Sound Test

    Laptop Speaker Test For Windows And Mac

    Laptop speakers are small and often face down or sideways, so deep bass fades and stereo is narrow. That is normal. A dead side, crackle or no sound at all is not.

    How to test

    1. Unplug headphones and disconnect Bluetooth so the sound goes to the built-in speakers.
    2. Play Left and Right and listen near each side of the keyboard.
    3. Play 1kHz, then a sweep, and listen for rattles from the case.

    If one side is quiet or there is no sound

    • Windows 11: Settings > System > Sound, pick your speakers, then check the Left and Right channel levels under Output settings.
    • Windows 11 mono: Settings > Accessibility > Audio > Mono audio.
    • Mac: System Settings > Sound > Output, set Balance to the middle, and turn off Accessibility > Audio > Play stereo audio as mono.
    Left Right Test

    PC Speaker Test For Desktop And 2.1 Systems

    Desktop speakers are larger and often come with a subwoofer. Most faults are cables, power and plugs rather than broken speakers.

    How to test

    1. Check the speaker plug is in the green line-out jack on the PC, the standard colour for front speakers.
    2. Play Left and Right to confirm each speaker is on the correct side.
    3. Play 50Hz to check the subwoofer, then a sweep for buzz.

    If something is wrong

    • No bass: check the sub has power and its volume knob is turned up.
    • Hum or buzz: try another power socket and keep audio cables away from power leads.
    • Sides swapped: swap the left and right speakers or their plugs.
    Speaker Test

    AirPods And Wireless Earbuds Test

    The most common earbud complaint is one side quieter than the other. In most cases the cause is earwax on the mesh, a balance setting or a pairing glitch, not a broken driver.

    How to test

    1. Put both earbuds in the correct ears and turn off Spatial Audio or 3D audio first.
    2. Play Left, then Right, at the same volume.
    3. Play 10kHz. A muffled high tone in one bud often means a blocked mesh.

    If one earbud is quiet or silent

    • Clean the mesh gently with a dry cotton swab or soft brush. Do not push anything into it.
    • Check the balance and mono settings on your phone (see the phone guide).
    • Reset AirPods: in the case with the lid open, hold the setup button for about 15 seconds until the light flashes amber, then white, and pair again.
    Left Right Test

    Bluetooth And Wired Headphones Test

    Over-ear headphones can show faults the whole way from deep bass to treble, so they are worth a full sweep as well as a left and right check.

    How to test

    1. Wear them the right way round. Look for the L and R marks inside the headband or cups.
    2. Play Left and Right, then 50Hz for bass and 10kHz for treble.
    3. Wiggle a wired cable near the plug while a tone plays. Cutting out means a worn cable.

    If the sound is thin or one-sided

    • Windows: pick the Stereo or Headphones output, not Hands-Free, which drops quality to phone-call level.
    • Update the firmware in the maker's app and turn off EQ while testing.
    • Wired: try a second cable or another device to rule out the jack.
    Headphone Test

    TV And Soundbar Sound Test

    To test a TV or soundbar, the test sound has to come from the TV. Open this page in the TV's web browser, or connect a laptop to the TV with an HDMI cable and send the sound there.

    How to test

    1. Set the TV's sound output to the soundbar, usually HDMI ARC or eARC, in the TV's sound settings.
    2. Play Left and Right. On a soundbar the sound should move clearly from side to side.
    3. Play 50Hz to check the subwoofer.

    If the soundbar is silent or out of sync

    • Use the HDMI port marked ARC or eARC on both the TV and the soundbar.
    • Turn on HDMI-CEC on the TV so it can control the soundbar.
    • For lip sync problems, adjust the AV sync or audio delay setting.
    Surround Sound Test

    Car Speaker Test

    Connect your phone to the car with Bluetooth, CarPlay or Android Auto and play the test through the car speakers. Only test while parked.

    How to test

    1. Set Balance (left and right) and Fader (front and rear) to the centre in the car's audio settings.
    2. Play Left and Right, then use the fader to check front and rear speakers one at a time.
    3. Play 50Hz and a slow sweep to find door panel rattles.

    If a speaker is silent or rattles

    • Silent speaker: check the fader and balance first, then the speaker wiring behind the door panel.
    • Rattle at one pitch: mark the frequency in the sweep and check loose trim or panel clips.
    • Distortion at low volume often means a damaged speaker cone.
    Bass Test

    Gaming Headset Sound And Mic Test

    Gaming headsets often add virtual surround and their own sound software, which can confuse a simple left and right test. Test them clean first, then with your game settings.

    How to test

    1. Turn off virtual 7.1, Windows Sonic or other spatial sound for the first test.
    2. Play Left and Right to confirm the sides are correct for positional audio.
    3. Run the Mic Test to check your voice level and noise before you play online.

    If footsteps sound wrong or no one hears you

    • Set the headset as the default output and input in Settings > System > Sound.
    • Check the mic mute switch or button on the headset.
    • USB headsets: try another USB port and update the maker's software.
    Mic Test
    By brand

    Brand Tips Before You Test

    The test works the same on every brand. These are the settings that most often change the result.

    Apple AirPodsEarbuds

    Turn off Spatial Audio and Automatic Ear Detection while testing, and check Balance in iPhone Accessibility settings.

    Samsung Galaxy BudsEarbuds

    Turn off 360 Audio and EQ in the Galaxy Wearable app, then check Left/right sound balance in phone settings.

    SonyHeadphones

    Switch off DSEE and any custom EQ in the Sony app, and set noise cancelling the same for both tests.

    BoseHeadphones, speakers

    Use the Bose app to update firmware and reset the EQ before you compare left and right.

    JBLSpeakers, headphones

    Portable JBL speakers are often mono. In a stereo pair, Left and Right should play from separate speakers.

    BeatsEarbuds, headphones

    On iPhone, Beats use the same Balance, Mono Audio and Spatial Audio settings as AirPods.

    SennheiserHeadphones

    Wired models: check the detachable cable is fully seated, then wiggle-test it while a tone plays.

    LogitechPC speakers, headsets

    Check the sub cable and power, and turn off effects in Logitech software before testing.

    SonosSpeakers, soundbars

    Trueplay tuning and the room EQ change the sound. Two paired speakers should split Left and Right.

    Samsung TVTV, soundbar

    Pick the soundbar under the TV's Sound Output setting, and use the HDMI port labelled ARC or eARC.

    LG TVTV, soundbar

    Set the sound out to HDMI ARC and turn on SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC) so the remote controls the soundbar.

    HyperX, Razer, SteelSeriesGaming headsets

    Turn off virtual surround in their software for the left and right test, then turn it back on for games.

    Brand and product names belong to their owners and are used only to describe the devices. Sound Tester is not affiliated with these brands.

    FAQ

    Device Sound Test Questions

    How do I test the speakers on my phone?

    Turn off Silent mode, raise the media volume and play Left, then Right. Phones have one speaker at the top and one at the bottom, so cover one with a finger to hear the other clearly. Run a sweep to catch crackle at certain pitches.

    Why does one AirPod or earbud sound quieter?

    The usual causes are earwax on the mesh, the Balance slider on your phone, or Mono Audio switched on. Clean the mesh gently, check those settings, then reset and re-pair the earbuds. If the same side stays quiet on another phone, the earbud needs service.

    Can I test my TV or soundbar with this page?

    Yes. Open the page in your TV's web browser, or connect a laptop to the TV with HDMI and send the sound to the TV. Set the TV's sound output to the soundbar first, usually HDMI ARC or eARC.

    How do I test car speakers with my phone?

    While parked, connect your phone with Bluetooth, CarPlay or Android Auto, set balance and fader to the centre and play Left and Right. Use the fader to check the front and rear speakers, and the bass tone to check a subwoofer.

    Why does my Bluetooth headset sound like a phone call?

    It is probably using the hands-free profile, which is built for calls and has low quality. On Windows, choose the Stereo or Headphones output instead of Hands-Free, and close apps that are using the headset microphone.

    Do laptop speakers really play stereo?

    Most do, with one speaker on each side, but they are close together so the stereo effect is small. Listen near each side of the keyboard during the Left and Right test, or use headphones for a clearer check.

    Does the test work on every brand?

    Yes. The tones are made in your browser, so they play on any speaker, headphone or earbud your device can use. Brand apps, EQ and spatial audio can change the sound, so turn them off for the cleanest result.

    Is my audio recorded or uploaded?

    No. The test only plays sound. Nothing is recorded, and nothing leaves your device.

    Go deeper

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