How to run the speaker test
1. With "Bass" selected, click Left, then Right. Sound must come only from the indicated side, at a similar volume on both. Center plays on both sides at once.
2. Let each side play a full cycle: the tone holds at 100 Hz, rises and holds for 10 seconds at 200 Hz. This is the test that best reveals a blown speaker: listen for buzzing, crackling or rattling. The frequency is shown on screen in real time.
3. Switch to "Treble" and repeat. Harsh sound or a thin hiss points to a treble problem.
4. Click the button that is playing to stop.
How to tell if a speaker is blown
A healthy speaker plays bass cleanly, even if quietly. A blown speaker or one with a torn cone sounds like rattling paper, crackles or adds a buzz on top of the sound. This shows up mostly in the Bass test.
If the buzz only happens at maximum volume, it may just be the normal limit of a small speaker. If it happens at low or medium volume, the speaker is probably damaged and needs replacing. Compare both sides: if only one buzzes, that one is faulty.
Before blaming the hardware, turn off "audio enhancements" and manufacturer equalizers (Dolby, Realtek Audio Console, Waves MaxxAudio), which sometimes boost bass so much that the speaker distorts.
Sound only coming from one side
If one side plays nothing, check the system balance first. On Windows 11: Settings > System > Sound > choose the output device > Left and right balance. On a Mac: System Settings > Sound > Output > Balance. Also make sure the accessibility "Mono audio" option is off, because it mixes both sides together.
If the balance is centered and one side is still silent, the problem is physical: the speaker, the laptop’s internal cable or, on headphones, the wire near the plug. Wiggling the cable while sound plays helps find a loose connection. If sound comes from the wrong side, the channels are swapped in the cable, the adapter or the audio driver settings.
Bass and treble on a laptop
Laptop speakers are small and play little bass. In the Bass test it is normal for a laptop to sound weak; what matters is whether it sounds clean. Good external speakers and headphones play bass much more strongly.
In the Treble test, hearing matters too: many adults hear the highest treble less, which is natural. Buzzing or harsh sound, however, is not normal at any age.
No sound from the speakers at all
Make sure the sound is not muted and the right output is selected (sometimes the system sends audio to an HDMI monitor or a disconnected Bluetooth headset). On Windows, click the sound icon in the taskbar and choose the output device. If nothing plays, reinstall the audio driver from Device Manager or the laptop manufacturer’s website.
Frequently asked questions
How do I test left and right headphone sound?
Put the headphones on and click Left, then Right. Sound must come only from the indicated side. If it comes from the wrong side, the headphones are on backwards or the channels are swapped.
How can I tell if my laptop speaker is blown?
Choose "Bass" and play each side at medium volume. Buzzing, crackling or a rattling-paper sound means the speaker is blown. If only one side does it, that side is faulty.
Why does sound only come from one side?
First check the audio balance and "Mono audio" in your system settings. If they are correct, the problem is physical: the speaker, an internal cable or a loose headphone wire.
Why doesn’t the site show my computer volume?
Browsers do not let websites read the system volume, for privacy. Check the volume with the sound icon in the taskbar (Windows) or menu bar (Mac). A medium volume works best for the test.
Laptop bass sounds very weak. Is it broken?
Not necessarily. Laptop speakers are small and play little bass. The sign of a fault is buzzing, crackling or rattling, not quiet bass.
Does the speaker test work on a phone?
Yes. It works in current Android and iPhone browsers. Many phones have a single speaker, so the left and right test makes more sense with headphones.