Check the connection and selected device, then repeat the failed check: one output side stays silent.
Sound test
Route local tones to left, right and paired outputs, then confirm channel order, frequency playback and speaker position.
Also known as: sound test, test sound, sound tester, left right sound test, stereo sound test, audio test. Free, online, and no download required.
No permission neededNothing uploaded
Choose a channel and press play to create the audio context.
01
What the sound test checks
| Check | How it is measured | Fails when |
|---|---|---|
| Channel routing | An oscillator passes through separate gain nodes into explicit merger inputs. | A confirmed side is silent or the two sides are swapped. |
| Frequency samples | Nine bounded oscillator frequencies play only after a user action. | The output chain consistently drops a sample the device should reproduce. |
| Output context | The current AudioContext state and sample rate are read at runtime. | The context cannot resume or closes during playback. |
If something failed
Check the connection and selected device, then repeat the failed check: left and right are swapped.
Check the connection and selected device, then repeat the failed check: playback clicks or stops.
02
How to read the result
How the sound test works
Every tone is generated locally with an OscillatorNode. Separate gain nodes connect to the requested input of a ChannelMergerNode, which makes the inactive side receive no oscillator energy. Gain ramps over 20 ms at start and stop to avoid discontinuities. The AudioContext is created or resumed only inside a button action, matching browser autoplay rules.
What the result can establish
Begin at a moderate volume, play left and right separately, then use the sequence. Check cables and operating-system balance before treating a swapped or missing side as a speaker fault.
Measurement limits
A browser knows the channel signal it created but usually does not know the physical speaker arrangement after operating-system routing. Confirmation buttons therefore record what the user observed without converting that observation into a broader claim.
03
Sound test questions
How does a left right sound test tell me which side is wrong?
The tool generates a tone locally and routes it into one explicit merger input while the other gain stays at zero. If you press left and hear the right speaker, the swap is in the cable, the system routing or the amplifier, because the page sent audio only to the left channel.
Why does this stereo sound test need me to press play first?
Browsers block audio until a clear user action, so the AudioContext is created or resumed inside the button press. That rule is why no tone plays on page load, and why a test tone always follows something you deliberately clicked.
Can this audio test check 5.1 or 7.1 surround speakers?
No. The tool produces stereo left and right output only, and the operating system decides how that reaches your hardware. Independent centre, rear and subwoofer channels cannot be addressed from a page, so a surround check needs your system's own speaker setup panel.