Headphone Test: Left and Right, Bass and Frequency Check

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How to test your headphones

Put the headphones on (L on the left ear) and turn the volume down.
Click Left, then Right: each should play in one ear only.
Click Both: the sound should sit in the middle of your head.
Play the Sweep and the Bass steps to hear how low and how high they go.

What to listen for

Wrong side: the Left sound is in your right ear. Swap them round, or check for a swapped cable or adapter.
One side quieter: check the balance in your sound settings, then clean the earbud mesh.
Crackling at one pitch: a damaged driver or a loose cable; wiggle the cable while the sweep plays.
No bass: earbuds need a good seal; try another ear tip size.
Polarity: In phase should sound fuller and centred. If Out of phase sounds fuller, one side is wired the wrong way round.

Bluetooth headphones

Bluetooth headphones and AirPods switch to a lower-quality call mode while their microphone is in use, which makes music sound flat. Close video-call apps before you test, so the headphones play in full quality.

Test the microphone next

A gaming headset or AirPods microphone can be checked in the mic test. For speakers, use the speaker test.

Questions and answers

How do I know which side is left?

Most headphones mark the sides with L and R. Click Left: the sound should be in your left ear only. If it’s in the right ear, you are wearing them the other way round, or the channels are swapped.

Why do I hear one side quieter?

Check the balance in your computer’s sound settings, earwax or dust in the earbud mesh, and whether the plug is fully in. If the quieter side stays quiet with another device, the headphones are worn out.

Why can’t I hear the lowest bass steps?

Earbuds that don’t seal well lose most of their bass. Try a different ear tip size, or press them in a little. Over-ear headphones usually reach 30 to 40 Hz.

Does this test my headset’s microphone?

No, it only plays sound. Test the microphone with the mic test.