Headphone test

Find out in 20 seconds which side is silent.

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Ready—

Turn your volume down to about 30% before you start.

Left channel

Which ear did you hear it in?

Right channel

Which ear did you hear it in?

Keyboard: L and R play a side, 1 2 3answer the side you just played, ? lists every shortcut.

Keyboard shortcuts

L
Play the left channel
R
Play the right channel
1 2 3
Answer for the side you played last
?
Open this list
Esc
Close this list

Finish the test to see your result.

What your result means

What you heardLikely causeNext check
Nothing on one sideDamaged cable, dirty or loose jack, earbud lost pairing, balance set to one sideOne earbud not working
Left and right reversedHeadphones worn backwards, or a swapped channel setting in the sound driverLeft/right reversed
Weak bassEarbuds that do not seal well in the earTry a bigger ear tip, then re-run the 40 Hz tone
Cannot hear 15 kHz and upNormal limit of adult hearingNothing to fix

How to run this test

  1. Put the headphones on the correct ears (L on the left).
  2. Press Play left, then say which ear you heard it in. Repeat for the right side.
  3. Optional: play the frequency tones from low to high and mark each one you hear.

Problems this test finds

Related tests

FAQ

How do I test if my headphones are working?

Play the left and right test tones above and confirm you hear each one on the correct side, then play the frequency tones to check bass and treble. The test tells you if a side is silent or the channels are swapped.

Why can I only hear sound from one side?

The most common causes are the balance setting, mono audio, a plug that is not fully inserted, earwax on the earbud mesh, or a broken wire. Our fix guide walks through each check.

Why can I not hear the highest tones?

Most adults cannot hear above about 15 to 17 kHz, and the limit drops with age. Missing only the highest tones is normal and not a headphone fault.

Is this headphone test safe for my ears?

The tones play at a low level with a short fade in and out. Turn your volume down to about 30% before starting and raise it only if needed.

Updated 2026-09-22 · How we test · Category: Audio