Check the selected output, channel balance and connector seating, then replay each side. If available, compare the headphones on another device. Silence that follows the headphones and silence limited to one computer are different observations; record which one you can reproduce.
Part of the Sound test. Run the full sound test first for a complete device check.
One side is silent Left audio plays in the right ear Both ears play during a one-sided tone
Headphone test
Run a headphone test to check left and right audio separately, compare phase samples and listen to a frequency sweep. Confirm only the sounds you actually hear through the selected output.
Also known as: headphone test, headset test, test headset, headset tester, left right headphone test, headphone frequency test. Free, online, and no download required.
No permission neededNothing uploaded
Select your headphones as the system output and begin at a comfortable low volume.
01
What the headphone test checks
| Check | How it is measured | Fails when |
|---|---|---|
| Channel order | Your confirmation after playing the named left and right tones. | A named side is silent or heard on the opposite side. |
| Phase comparison | Your selection after comparing samples with the right channel inverted. | An unexpected impression needs a repeat with audio processing settings checked. |
| Frequency sweep | A generated sweep from 20 Hz to 20 kHz; no microphone measurement is taken. | An inaudible range cannot distinguish headphone response from hearing or output limitations. |
How to run the headphone test
- Select the headphones as the computer or phone's audio output.
- Put the marked left and right earpieces on the corresponding ears and lower the volume.
- Play a channel and choose Output confirmed only if you hear the named side.
- Repeat for the other channel before finishing the channel check.
- Compare phase samples or run a sweep only at a comfortable volume.
If something failed
Check the earpiece markings and how the headphones are worn before changing settings. Replay one channel at a time. If they remain reversed, follow the left and right speakers reversed guide to compare the connection and channel routing.
Check whether mono audio or an audio effect is combining channels. The page generates separate left and right output, but cannot bypass processing applied afterwards. Compare with those settings changed one at a time and restore any accessibility setting you rely on after the check.
02
How to read the result
Left, right and phase checks
A left right headphone test checks routing before sound quality. Select the intended output in your system, check the earpiece markings and play each side separately. The page cannot detect which ear heard the tone, so the confirmation button is your observation. A completed count means you confirmed the required channels; it is not an automatic acoustic measurement.
A headset test has two separate paths: the headphones play sound, while the microphone captures it. Hearing both sides does not establish that a headset microphone works. After the output check, open the mic test if other people cannot hear you. Keep the selected input and output clear when comparing a headset with built-in laptop audio.
The phase samples change the relationship between the two channels by inverting the right channel. Compare their apparent position and choose the description that matches what you hear. This is a subjective comparison. A surprising impression is a reason to check settings and repeat, not enough evidence to diagnose wiring or judge the quality of the headphones.
Frequency sweep and audible range
The sweep runs from 20 Hz to 20 kHz and is useful for noticing where a rattle, buzz or sudden change occurs. Start quietly and stop if the sound becomes uncomfortable. Do not turn the volume up to chase a frequency you cannot hear: the page cannot establish whether the limit comes from the headphones, output path, environment or listener.
A clean sweep is not a frequency-response chart. There is no calibrated microphone measuring the sound at your ear, and the system volume is not a sound-pressure reading. Note the approximate part of the sweep where you hear a repeatable problem and compare another source at a similar comfortable level. Avoid treating different loudness between devices as a quality score.
Use the result to choose the next check
If one channel is missing, replay it before touching any settings. Then check balance, connector seating and the selected output. Change one item and replay the same tone. This gives you a useful before-and-after observation instead of several simultaneous changes that hide which one mattered. Keep a short record if the fault is intermittent.
If both channels are audible but a call still sounds wrong, the call application may use another output or apply its own processing. Compare the application with this page using the same headphones. The sound test provides a wider output check, while the stereo channel guide helps with reversed or combined channels.
Measurement limits
Audio is generated in the browser and passed to the selected output path. The page cannot listen to the headphones, inspect a cable or confirm that your sound device reproduced a particular frequency accurately. The channel result depends on honest manual confirmation. Leave a side unconfirmed if you did not hear it rather than completing the counter to obtain a pass.
Bluetooth, wired and built-in outputs can follow different routes through system and application settings. Results apply to the path you selected during the check. This tool does not measure hearing, certify safe sound levels, assess noise cancellation or provide a clinical hearing test. Use it to identify a repeatable output symptom and select a relevant follow-up.
03
Headphone test questions
How do I know if my headphones are wired left and right correctly?
Check the L and R markings, then play each named channel on its own. Confirm only when the tone reaches the matching ear. If the sides remain reversed after correcting how the headphones are worn, compare another source and inspect channel routing before assuming an internal wiring fault.
What does the stereo phase check tell me?
It lets you compare how two channel relationships sound to you. One sample inverts the right channel, which may change the apparent position of the sound. Your selection records that impression; it is not a measured wiring verdict. Audio processing and the listening setup can affect the comparison.
Why can I not hear the highest frequencies in the sweep?
The headphones, output hardware, listening environment and your hearing all affect audibility. This browser sweep cannot separate those causes or measure a hearing threshold. Keep the level comfortable and do not increase it to force an inaudible tone into hearing. Use a different test method for a calibrated measurement.
How loud should a headphone test be?
Begin at a low level and increase only enough to hear the channel tones comfortably. The page's volume percentage is a software setting, not a measured sound level at your ear. Stop if playback is uncomfortable, and keep comparable levels when checking whether a buzz or imbalance repeats.
Does this headphone test work with Bluetooth headsets?
It can play through a Bluetooth headset selected as the system output. Confirm that sound actually reaches that headset rather than the speakers. If the call application behaves differently, compare its chosen output and processing separately. A successful browser channel check does not guarantee the same routing inside every application.