How to use this headphone test
- Start quiet. Set the volume slider and your device volume low. Pure tones are much harsher than music at the same level.
- Check the channels (step 1). If left and right are swapped or one side is silent, fix that first. Our left right audio test has an automatic check and a stereo sweep if you need more detail.
- Play the low tones (step 2). You're listening for the sound quality, not loudness: rattling, buzzing or crackling means a damaged driver or a loose part.
- Play the high tones (step 3). They should sound clean and equally loud in both ears.
- Run the range finder (step 4). Press Start low sweep and tap the button the moment you hear the tone; then press Start high sweep and tap when the tone disappears.
What your results mean
| Result | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| One side silent or much quieter | Balance setting, a blocked ear tip or mesh, a loose plug, or one earbud disconnected |
| Rattling or buzzing on low tones | Damaged driver, debris inside, or the volume is simply too high for the earbud |
| Weak or missing low tones | Ear tips not sealing, bass-reducing EQ, or small earbud drivers |
| High tones muffled on one side | Earwax or dust on the speaker mesh of that side |
| Lowest tone heard below 40 Hz | Very good low-end reach for headphones |
| Highest tone heard 14–17 kHz | Typical for adults; the limit is usually your hearing, not the headphones |
Common headphone problems and quick fixes
Earbuds sound thin, with no low end
Almost always a seal problem. Try the next ear tip size up, twist the earbud slightly as you insert it, and replay the 50 Hz tone: with a good seal it becomes noticeably fuller. Foam tips often seal better than silicone.
Crackling that comes and goes
On wired headphones, gently bend the cable near the plug and near each ear cup while a tone plays. If the crackle follows the movement, the cable is damaged. On wireless earbuds, move closer to your phone; Bluetooth dropouts can sound like crackling.
One side is quieter
Check the balance in your phone or computer settings, then clean the quiet side's mesh with a dry, soft brush. If you use true wireless earbuds and one side is silent, put both back in the case, wait a few seconds, and try again.
Highs are dull compared to before
Earwax buildup on the mesh is the most common cause. Clean it gently with a dry toothbrush; never push liquid or sharp objects into the opening.
Wired vs Bluetooth headphones
Wired headphones play exactly what your device sends. Bluetooth headphones compress the audio and add a small delay, so tones may start a fraction of a second after you press a button, and some codecs cut off frequencies above roughly 15–16 kHz. If your high sweep stops earlier on Bluetooth than on a wired pair, that is the codec, not your ears.
How we tested this tool
We ran this headphone test in Google Chrome on Windows and in a mobile-size browser view, checking every button and both sweeps. To confirm the tones are accurate, we rendered them offline in the browser and counted the waveform cycles: requested tones of 1000 Hz and 50 Hz measured within 0.1% and 2% of their target frequency. Have you used it with your own headphones? Tell us how it went and we'll add your results here.
Frequently asked questions
How do I test if my headphones are working properly?
Run four quick checks: play sound in the left and right ear separately, play a few low tones and listen for rattling, play a few high tones to check clarity, and use the range finder to see how low and high your headphones go. Any side that is silent, distorted or much quieter points to a problem.
Why can't I hear the 20 Hz or 18 kHz tones?
Very low tones are more felt than heard, and many earbuds can't reproduce them loudly. Very high tones fade naturally with age; many adults stop hearing somewhere between 12 and 16 kHz. Not hearing the extremes is normal and doesn't mean your headphones are broken.
Why do my earbuds have weak bass?
Most often the ear tips don't seal your ear canal. Try a larger tip size, push the earbud in slightly deeper, and compare the low tones again. An equalizer setting or a battery saver mode can also reduce bass.
Is this headphone test the same as a hearing test?
No. It tests your headphones and gives a rough idea of what you can hear through them, but it is not calibrated and is not a medical hearing test. If you're worried about your hearing, see a doctor or audiologist.
Does it work with Bluetooth headphones and AirPods?
Yes. Connect them as usual and run the test. Bluetooth adds a short delay, so tones may start a moment after you press a button, and some Bluetooth codecs cut off the very highest frequencies.