DeviceCheck Pro

Speaker test: left, right and both

Play a tone on each side to check your speakers or headphones are wired the right way round and both sides work. Start with the volume low.

Speakers
IdleTestingPassFault

This browser plays through your system’s default output. Change it in your OS sound settings (picking an output from a web page works in Chrome and Edge).

What to listen for

  • Left plays on the right: headphones reversed, or speaker cables swapped at the amplifier.
  • One side silent: plug not fully inserted, balance slider off-centre, broken cable (wiggle it while the tone plays), or a blown driver.
  • Buzzing or rattling: turn the volume down. If it continues at moderate levels the cone may be damaged, or something loose is resting on the speaker.
  • The sweep jumps instead of gliding: “mono audio” or a surround virtualiser is enabled.

This is a quick channel check. For frequency sweeps, hearing range tests and subwoofer checks, use our sister site AudioTestPro. To check the other direction, try the mic test.

Still not working? Describe it

An AI assistant suggests likely causes and fixes, cheapest first. It sees only what you type. Answers can be wrong; check your device maker’s support pages before opening anything up.

Questions

How do I test left and right speakers?

Press “Left”, then “Right”. The tone should come only from the matching side. If the sides are swapped, check that headphones are worn the right way round (L and R markings) or look for a “swap channels” setting in your sound software.

I only hear sound from one side.

Try another pair of headphones or speakers to see whether the fault follows the device. Push the plug fully in; a half-inserted 3.5 mm jack often plays only one channel. In Windows, check Sound → device properties → Balance; on macOS, System Settings → Sound → Balance.

Why is there sound but it seems to come from the middle?

Some settings, such as “Mono audio” in accessibility options, mix both channels together. Turn it off to hear a true stereo split.

Can I choose which output device is used?

Chrome and Edge let web pages pick an output device once you allow it, and this page shows a picker when your browser supports it. Other browsers play through the system default output, so switch it in your operating system’s sound settings.

Other checks