Device Bench

Device test · Audio

Headphone Test

Press Play trial 1, then say which side you heard it on.

Start with the system volume at a comfortable level. If you are wearing headphones and are not sure how loud it is set, hold them slightly away from your ears for the first tone. Keep the volume low and use Start over to stop if a tone is uncomfortable.

Trial0/6 Seed428571 Verdict— Web Audio—
Which side did you hear?

Trial order seed: 428571

How this test works

This test compares your six button answers with a list of requested output channels. Each run has exactly two left trials, two right and two both, shuffled using the seed shown above. The requested channels stay hidden until the run is complete; the table then lists each one beside your answer.

For each play, Web Audio generates a 440 Hz sine tone on your device. The tone uses a fixed digital gain, with a short fade in and out to reduce clicks. It is routed through a stereo panner, or a two-channel fallback on browsers without one. No audio file is downloaded and no microphone is used. The digital gain is not a calibrated sound level: system volume and the connected output device determine how loud the tone sounds.

The result comes from a fixed set of answer patterns. Matching reports get the label “reports match requests”; reversed reports can produce “reports fit a reversal”. Reports of silence on one side or Both throughout have their own results, and other patterns are inconclusive. Those labels do not confirm a physical fault. A mono output or downmix can make single-channel requests audible on both sides. Browser and device routing can also change the result. The page cannot locate a problem in the headphones, cable, jack or source.

Frequently asked questions

What does this headphone test actually check?
It compares the side you report hearing with the output channel requested for each of six trials. Your answers can suggest a left/right reversal, a silent side or sound heard on both sides throughout. They do not establish how the headphones are wired or identify a faulty component. The page uses your button choices, not a microphone recording.
Is this a hearing test?
No. This page tests headphones, not hearing. Nothing here measures a threshold, an audible range, a frequency response or any other property of a person, and no result it produces means anything about your ears. Every verdict is a statement about wiring and channels. If you have a concern about your hearing, a browser page is the wrong instrument and a qualified professional is the right one.
Why does the test hide which channel is playing?
The idea is to let you choose a side without a Left or Right playback label suggesting the answer. The requested channels are revealed together in the table after all six answers, not after each trial. If you need another listen before choosing, use Replay this trial.
What does “reports fit a reversal” mean?
First check that the headphones are on the correct ears, then check the selected output device and any mono, balance or channel-swap settings. Try changing one cable, adapter or setting at a time and repeat the run. A reversal result means your reports fit that answer pattern; it does not prove a wiring fault or show where the reversal happened.
What is the seed for?
The seed sets the shuffled trial order. Start over clears the answers and repeats that order, which lets you compare runs after changing a cable or setting. New seed clears the run and chooses another seed, though different seeds can produce the same order. Every run still contains two left trials, two right and two both.

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