Check Your Audio Output

How to Use This Test

1. Select which speaker channel to test: Left, Right, or Both using the channel selector buttons.
2. Choose a sound type (Sine Wave, White Noise, or Audio Sample) and click the Play Sound button.
3. Adjust the volume and frequency sliders to test different ranges, and watch the stereo visualizer to confirm audio output on each channel.

What This Test Checks

This audio test helps you verify that your speakers, headphones, or earbuds are functioning correctly by generating test tones and visualizing audio output in real time.

• Left and right stereo channel balance and separation
• Bass response at low frequencies (20-200 Hz)
• Mid-range clarity around 440 Hz to 4 kHz
• Treble and high-frequency reproduction up to 20 kHz
• Overall speaker or headphone functionality

Troubleshooting

If you're having issues:

• Make sure your system volume is turned up and the correct output device is selected in your OS sound settings.
• Check that your browser tab is not muted -- look for a speaker icon on the tab.
• Try a different sound type (e.g., White Noise instead of Sine Wave) to rule out frequency-specific issues.
• If only one channel works, try swapping left/right earbuds or checking cable connections.

Fix Audio Output Problems by Operating System

If the tones above do not play, the issue is almost always an OS-level output routing or driver problem, not the speakers themselves.

Windows 10 / Windows 11

1. Right-click the speaker icon in the system tray and choose Sound settings. Under Output, confirm the correct device is selected.
2. Expand the device and check that Volume is above zero and Mute is off.
3. Run Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters → Playing Audio.
4. If a per-app mixer muted Chrome or Edge silently, open Settings → System → Sound → Volume mixer.

macOS

1. Open System Settings → Sound → Output and pick the correct device. Bluetooth headphones sometimes switch to SCO (call) mode instead of A2DP (stereo) — reconnect them to force stereo.
2. For external interfaces or multi-output setups, open Applications → Utilities → Audio MIDI Setup and verify the sample rate is 44.1 or 48 kHz.
3. If only one side plays, check System Settings → Accessibility → Audio → Balance — an accidental slider drag silences one channel.

Linux

1. Install and run pavucontrol. Confirm the correct output on the Playback and Output Devices tabs, and check that the browser stream isn't muted per-app.
2. On PipeWire systems, run wpctl status to see available sinks and wpctl set-default <id> to switch.
3. For headphone-jack auto-switching issues, run alsamixer and confirm the Auto-Mute option.

Common Symptoms and Likely Causes

Only one speaker or earbud works

• Swap left and right. If the problem follows the earbud, it's the driver; if it stays on the same channel, it's the source or cable.
• For wired headphones, a partially-inserted 3.5 mm jack is the #1 cause — push firmly until it clicks.
• Check OS balance slider (see macOS step above; Windows has the same under Sound → Device properties → Additional properties → Levels → Balance).

Crackling, popping, or distortion

• Drop the sample rate in Windows (Sound settings → Device properties → Advanced → Default Format) or macOS Audio MIDI Setup. 24-bit / 48 kHz is the safest value.
• Disable audio enhancements (Windows: Device properties → Audio enhancements; macOS: check app-level EQ).
• USB DACs often crackle on low-power ports — try a different USB-A port, or a powered USB hub.

Bluetooth latency or audio delay

• Check codec support. aptX LL, LC3, and AAC are lower-latency than SBC. Match codec on both sides.
• On Windows, reinstall the Bluetooth driver from the laptop manufacturer — Microsoft's generic driver often defaults to SBC.
• For video call lag, switch from Bluetooth to wired for calls. The round-trip is always worse over BT.

Planning to Use This for Calls?

If you're about to join a video call or record something, audio output is only half the setup. Run the microphone test to verify input levels and the webcam test to confirm camera permission — all three tests take under a minute combined.

Frequently Asked Questions