Headphone Test: Left, Right, Center, 3D & Bass
Five quick checks that tell you if your headphones or earbuds are wired correctly and sound clean. About one minute.
How to use it
Three quick steps.
Wear them correctly
L on the left ear, R on the right. Medium volume.
Answer 5 checks
Left, right, center, 360° movement and bass. Tap what you hear.
Read your result
You get a pass or fail for each check plus a fix for every problem.
What the headphone test checks
| Check | What it finds |
|---|---|
| Left and right | Swapped channels, a dead side, a bad cable |
| Center | One side quieter than the other |
| 360° movement | Cut-outs from loose cables or weak Bluetooth |
| Bass at 50 Hz | Poor ear-tip seal, buzzing or rattling drivers |
Common problems and quick fixes
- Sound only on one side: push the plug all the way in, clean the jack, and turn off Mono Audio in your phone’s accessibility settings.
- Left and right swapped: check you are wearing them the right way round. Some apps and games also have a swap setting.
- One side quieter: earwax on the mesh is the usual cause. See our guide to one earbud quieter than the other and try the Earbuds Cleaner.
- No bass: try a larger ear tip for a better seal. Bass leaks out when the tip is loose.
- Crackling: wiggle the cable near the plug. If the sound cuts in and out, the wire is damaged.
Testing speakers instead?
Use the Left & Right Speaker Test for desktop speakers and soundbars, and the Bass Test to find your subwoofer’s lowest note.
Questions people ask
Does it work with AirPods and Bluetooth earbuds?
Yes. Connect them as normal and run the test.
Why is the 360° sound not smooth?
Bluetooth dropouts or a loose cable can cut the sound. Move closer to your phone or try another cable.
I can’t hear the bass check at all.
Small earbuds may not play 50 Hz loudly. Make sure the tips seal well and raise the volume slightly.
Is it safe for my ears?
Yes at medium volume. The sounds are short and not very loud.
How do I know if my headphones are fake?
Fake headphones often have weak bass and poor left and right separation. Run all five checks and compare with a trusted pair.
Why do my headphones sound better on one device?
Devices use different codecs, volume limits and equalizers. Check sound settings on each device.
Can I test gaming headsets?
Yes. Any wired, USB or Bluetooth headset works.
More free speaker tools
Everything you need to clean and test your audio.
Water Eject
Push water out of your phone speaker with a 165 Hz tone.
Open tool →🌪️Dust Cleaner
Sweep tones that shake dust and lint out of the grille.
Open tool →📞Ear Speaker Cleaner
Gentle tones for the small speaker you hold to your ear.
Open tool →🎧Earbuds Cleaner
Clear water and dust from AirPods and earbuds, left or right.
Open tool →🎛️Tone Generator
Play any frequency from 1 Hz to 20 kHz in 4 waveforms.
Open tool →🔈Left & Right Speaker Test
Check each channel and the phase of your speakers.
Open tool →🎚️Bass Test
Find the lowest frequency your speaker can play.
Open tool →👂Frequency Range Test
Sweep 20 Hz to 20 kHz to test speakers and hearing.
Open tool →🎙️Mic Test
Check your microphone level and record a sample.
Open tool →📏Sound Meter (dB)
Measure loudness and compare your speaker before and after cleaning.
Open tool →⏱️Bluetooth Delay Test
Find out how many milliseconds your Bluetooth audio lags.
Open tool →🌫️White & Pink Noise
White, pink and brown noise for speaker testing, focus and sleep.
Open tool →👂Hearing Age Test
Find the highest tone you can hear and your hearing age.
Open tool →📢Volume Booster
Make quiet audio and video files up to 500% louder.
Open tool →🤖Android Water Eject
Water eject with vibration for Samsung and all Android phones.
Open tool →