Device tests · Audio output
Speaker Test
This speaker test plays short, locally generated tones to the left speaker, the right speaker or both, so you can hear whether each side works and sits on the correct side. Lower your system volume, press Left, Both or Right, and listen.
Five moderate reference tones from 250 Hz to 4 kHz help you spot a silent, weak, rattling or buzzing speaker. The browser creates the signal; only your ears can judge what actually comes out.
- Under a minute
- Left / Both / Right tones
- No permission needed
Speaker output
Left
○ Silent
Both
○ Silent
Right
○ Silent
Nothing is playing.
Reference tones (both channels)
Different pitches naturally sound louder or quieter. This is not a calibrated frequency-response measurement.
Tones are generated locally in your browser. No microphone is used and nothing is recorded. The page knows which channel it sends, not what you actually hear; your answer stays on this page.
Your result
What your result means
When you press Left, the page sends a tone only to the left output channel; Right sends it only to the right; Both sends the same tone to both. If what you hear does not match the indicator, something between the browser and the speakers is changing the routing.
Hearing the left tone from the right speaker usually means the cables or speaker placement are swapped. Hearing every tone from both speakers usually means mono audio is enabled or you are on a single speaker. Hearing nothing from one side points to that speaker, its cable, its power or the balance setting.
- The indicator shows what the page is sending, not what your speakers produce.
- A laptop or phone with one physical speaker cannot separate left and right; both tones come from the same place.
- Low tones (250 Hz) are often quieter on small speakers, and high tones can seem louder — that is normal and is not a fault.
- Buzzing that appears only on one tone may be a rattling object or panel near the speaker rather than the speaker itself.
Procedure
How the test works
- 01
Lower the volume
Turn system and speaker volume down before the first tone. Nothing plays until you click.
- 02
Play each side
Press Left, then Right, or use the Left → Right sequence. Check each tone comes from the expected speaker.
- 03
Try reference tones
Play 250 Hz to 4 kHz on both speakers and listen for silence, rattling or harsh distortion.
- 04
Report what you heard
Choose the answer that fits. Guidance appears on the page and your answer is not sent anywhere.
Methodology
How Testpartout measures this
Everything below describes what the code on this page actually does.
What the implementation does
- An AudioContext is created or resumed only when you press a play button, so nothing autoplays.
- Each tone is a sine wave from a Web Audio OscillatorNode with a 30 ms fade-in and fade-out to avoid clicks.
- The tone passes through a GainNode capped at about -18 dBFS and is connected to input 0 (left), input 1 (right) or both inputs of a two-channel ChannelMergerNode, which feeds the output.
- The Left → Right sequence plays a 1.2-second tone on each side with a half-second silent gap, at 440 Hz.
- Stop, leaving the page or switching route stops the oscillator immediately, clears timers and closes the audio context.
Limits of a browser measurement
- The browser cannot listen to your speakers, so it cannot confirm the result automatically.
- Operating-system mono audio, balance controls, sound enhancements, Bluetooth, amplifiers and receivers can change the routing after the page.
- This is not a calibrated frequency-response or loudness test; perceived level depends on speakers, room and hearing.
- It is not a hearing test and says nothing about your hearing.
Privacy
What happens to your data
This section describes the behaviour of the code on this page, not an intention.
- Tones are synthesised locally in your browser; no audio files are downloaded.
- No microphone permission is requested and nothing is recorded.
- The answer you choose is shown only on this page and is never sent to analytics or any server.
Troubleshooting
If the test does not behave as expected
No sound at all
Check that the correct output device is selected in system sound settings, the tab is not muted and speaker power and volume are on.
Left and right are swapped
Swap the speaker cables or positions, or check whether a receiver or app has a channel-swap option enabled.
Both tones from both speakers
Turn off Mono audio in accessibility settings (Windows, macOS, iOS and Android all have it) and check you are not on a single speaker.
One side much quieter
Centre the balance slider in your system sound settings and check per-speaker volume knobs on powered speakers.
Bluetooth speaker issues
Many Bluetooth speakers are mono, and stereo pairs need setup in the speaker's app. Reconnect and re-pair if one unit stays silent.
Hum or buzzing
Lower the volume, reseat cables, and try a different power outlet; hum that changes with volume can come from the source, not the speaker.
Factors
Why a speaker may be silent, swapped or distorted
Most problems come from settings or connections between the browser and the speaker.
Mono audio setting
Accessibility mono mixing sends both channels to every speaker.
Balance slider
An off-centre balance makes one side quieter or silent.
Swapped cables
Left and right leads reversed at the amplifier or speaker.
Single-speaker device
Many phones, laptops and Bluetooth speakers cannot play true stereo.
Sound enhancements
Virtual surround or 'room' effects can blur left/right separation.
Loose or damaged cable
Intermittent contact causes crackling or a dropping channel.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- How do I test my speakers online?
- Lower your volume, then press Left, Right and Both. Each tone should come from the speaker shown on screen. Use the reference tones to listen for buzzing or distortion.
- How do I do a left and right speaker test?
- Press Left and confirm sound comes only from the left speaker, then press Right. The Left → Right sequence plays both in turn with a short gap.
- Why is my left or right speaker not working?
- Common causes are a loose cable, a balance slider set to one side, mono audio turned on, or a speaker without power. Check those before suspecting the speaker.
- Why do both speakers play when I press Left?
- Mono audio is probably enabled in your accessibility settings, or the device has a single speaker. Turn off mono audio and test again.
- Can this page tell if my speakers are broken?
- No. The browser only generates the signal; it cannot hear the output. You judge the result, and the guidance helps narrow down the cause.
- Is this a frequency-response test?
- No. The reference tones help you notice obvious problems, but loudness differences between pitches are normal and depend on the speaker, room and listener.
- Is the speaker test safe for my speakers?
- Tones are generated at a conservative digital level with soft fades. Start with low system volume and raise it gradually.
- Does this test record anything?
- No. It does not use the microphone, and your chosen answer is not sent anywhere.
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