Headphone Test

A listening check for channel direction

This headphone test plays generated audio through the output selected by your device. Short left, center, and right tones let you listen for channel placement and basic stereo separation. A moving tone provides a simple left-to-right panning check. You judge what you hear; the page does not automatically certify a headset or measure its acoustic performance.

The tone controls can also play a continuous signal with adjustable frequency, volume, stereo balance, and waveform. Frequency is measured in hertz (Hz), or cycles per second. A displayed setting describes the signal being generated, not a measurement of the headphone's frequency response.

What the different playback checks do

The quick channel buttons send a 440 Hz tone to the left, center, or right position for about 1.5 seconds. The click button plays a brief 1 kHz square wave that fades over roughly a tenth of a second; it has no timing or recording step, so it is not a latency measurement. The moving stereo test uses a 300 Hz sine tone and sweeps its pan position between the channels.

The tone generator starts at 440 Hz with a sine waveform and centered balance. Its controls let you change frequency, level, balance, and select sine, square, sawtooth, or triangle waveforms. These choices alter the sound you hear; they do not provide a microphone recording or a numerical test report.

Set up a controlled listening check

1. Select the intended output

   Choose your headphones or earbuds as the active system audio output and put them on with the marked left and right sides in place. The page plays to the system output and does not verify which physical device emits the tone.

2. Begin at a comfortable volume

   Lower the device volume before playback. Use the left, center, and right buttons one at a time and listen for the tone's position. Stop playback if the sound is uncomfortable.

3. Try the moving tone if useful

   Start the stereo movement and listen for the image to travel between sides. Stop it when finished. For the continuous generator, keep other settings fixed while changing one control at a time.

4. Compare before drawing a conclusion

   If one side seems absent or reversed, check the system output and balance settings, then compare with another source or device. A listening impression alone cannot identify the cause.

Questions about the sound check

Listening and measurement limits

Keep the playback level comfortable and stop if you experience discomfort. A browser generated tone is a subjective routing check, not a calibrated sound-level or hearing test.

• Output follows the device's selected audio route; the page cannot confirm whether sound came from headphones, speakers, or another endpoint.
• Frequency, waveform, balance, and level controls set the generated signal. They do not measure the headphone response, loudness at the ear, or channel accuracy.
• WHO safe-listening guidance recommends managing sound exposure and keeping listening at a comfortable level. Check the source below for its scope and current advice.