Tone generator

Hold any frequency from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, and see which note it is.

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Frequency

Waveform

Channel

20%

Protect your hearing and your speakers. Set the volume while a 440 Hz tone plays, then leave it alone. Turning it up to hear a frequency your speakers or your ears cannot reproduce sends the full signal to the drivers anyway, and that is how both get damaged.

What you hear, and what it means

What happensWhat it meansNext check
Nothing plays at any frequencyThe output device, the volume mixer or the cable, not the toneNo sound on Windows 11
Only one side playsA silent speaker or a balance slider pulled to one sideSound test names which side
Below about 150 Hz goes quietNormal for laptop and phone speakers, which have no bass driverTry the same frequency on headphones
Above about 15 kHz goes quietUsually your ears, not the hardware. Adult hearing stops between 15 and 17 kHzHeadphone test
One frequency buzzes or rattlesSomething is resonating: a loose grille, a desk panel, or a driver at its limitLower the volume and hold that frequency while you touch the surfaces around the speaker
The note name is not the one you expectThe instrument is out of tune, not the generator. A4 is exactly 440 Hz hereMatch the cents reading to zero

How to use it

  1. Press play at 440 Hz and set your system volume to a comfortable level.
  2. Drag the slider, type a frequency, or pick a note. The tone follows without a click.
  3. Pick a waveform and a channel if you need them, then copy the link to come back to the same tone.

Problems this tool helps with

Related tests

FAQ

What is a tone generator used for?

Playing one exact frequency on purpose. People use it to tune an instrument against a reference pitch, to find the frequency a speaker or a room rattles at, to check how high a pair of headphones still plays, and to get a rough idea of their hearing range.

What frequency should I use to test my speakers?

Start at 440 Hz, which every speaker reproduces, to confirm sound comes out at all. Then try 60 to 80 Hz for bass and 10 kHz for treble. Small laptop and phone speakers usually go quiet below about 150 Hz and above about 12 kHz, and that is the speaker, not a fault.

Why can I not hear the high frequencies?

Adult hearing usually stops between 15 and 17 kHz, and the limit drops with age. If a tone above that is silent for you but the speaker plays 10 kHz cleanly, nothing is broken.

What is the difference between the waveforms?

Sine is one pure frequency and nothing else, which is what you want for tuning and for testing. Square, sawtooth and triangle add harmonics above the frequency you set, so they sound brighter and harsher at the same pitch.

Is it safe to play tones through my speakers?

At a normal listening volume, yes. It stops being safe when you turn the volume up to hear a frequency your speakers or your ears cannot reproduce: the amplifier and the drivers still get the full signal. Set the volume at 440 Hz first, then change frequency without touching it.

Updated 2026-09-23 · How we test · Category: Audio