Stereo Test

What this is

Do you need to check if your headphones are worn correctly? This Stereo Test helps you verify your left and right audio channels. It sends a clear audio tone specifically to one side. You can click to play sound only on the left, only on the right, or both. This verifies your sound output and ensures your audio wiring is completely correct. It works instantly in your web browser.

Who is this useful for?

This left and right audio checker helps many people.

• Musicians: Ensure your studio monitors are correctly positioned.
• Audio engineers: Verify exact channel balance before mixing tracks.
• Gamers/Streamers: Test directional audio to hear in-game footsteps accurately.
• Teachers/Students: Demonstrate stereo separation and sound panning in class.
• DIY/Repair: Check headphone test results after replacing a broken aux cable.

Real examples

Here are common reasons to use this speaker test tool.

• Check if you are wearing your earbuds backward.
• Verify your new gaming headset supports true stereo.
• Ensure your car stereo system is wired correctly.
• Test if a damaged aux cable drops the right channel.
• Confirm your operating system is not stuck in Mono mode.
• Troubleshoot a home theater receiver setup.
• Check Bluetooth speaker separation.
• Test audio interfaces before recording a podcast.
• Verify front panel audio jacks on a PC case.
• Ensure screen recording software captures stereo sound.

How the web tool works

This tool relies on the standard Web Audio API. It does not play a pre-recorded left or right MP3 file. Instead, it generates a crisp digital tone. It then uses a StereoPannerNode (or a spatial fallback for older browsers) to route the signal. When you select Left, it hard-pans the audio left. When you select Right, it pans right. This ensures clear separation with minimal software bleeding between channels.

Audio signals

We use a clean, pulsing tone for this test.

• Clean Tone: Makes it obvious which side is playing without hurting your ears.
• Pulsing Effect: Repeated beeps help identify loose cable connections that might cut out during movement.
• Center Mix: Combines both sides to test your phantom center image.

Safety

Protect your hearing while checking your equipment.

• Start testing with your device volume at a low level.
• Do not wear headphones at maximum volume.
• Make sure all cables are fully plugged in first.
• Beware of loud pops when connecting new devices.
• Listen for clear separation without static or distortion.
• Take the headphones off before unplugging them.

Accuracy & limits

This test is highly accurate but relies on your local setup.

• Your operating system must support and allow stereo output.
• A faulty headphone adapter might mix both channels into mono hardware-side.
• "Spatial audio" or "Windows Sonic" can artificially blur strict channel separation.
• Broken wires inside the headset can cause audio to jump sides.
• Hardware digital signal processing (DSP) inside certain speakers can create slight crossfeed.
• Bluetooth compression can occasionally impact perfect channel isolation.

Trust & Privacy

This tool runs locally in your browser. Audio isn't uploaded or stored. It does not need microphone access to work.

See also: Microphone Test