Headphone test
Before you start: Set a low device volume before wearing headphones. Stop if a reference is uncomfortable. Do not boost quiet or missing frequencies to test your hearing.
Headphone test sequence
Check each earpiece separately, compare centered balance and finish with a short range sweep.
Each reference plays for at least five seconds. Run one at a time and record what you hear before changing the setup.
- 01
Left earpiece
A 500 Hz tone should appear only in the left earpiece.
Loading audio controls.
- 02
Right earpiece
The same 500 Hz tone should appear only in the right earpiece.
- 03
Centered balance
Pink noise through both channels should appear centered rather than pulled to one side.
- 04
Short headphone sweep
A 200 Hz to 8 kHz sweep helps reveal a repeatable dropout or buzz.
Check both sides with repeatable references and capture the result as evidence.
Interpretation: The test can reveal an audible imbalance or missing channel in the current complete path.
Limit: One failed listening test cannot determine whether the headphones, cable, adapter, device or software caused it.
Safety and privacy: No sound starts automatically. Signals and analysis stay in your browser by default. Browser dBFS is not physical SPL.
How to use this test
- Wear the headphones normally: Confirm left and right orientation and keep operating-system balance centered.
- Check each earpiece: Run the left and right references before comparing the centered signal and sweep.
- Retest on another path: If a problem appears, repeat the same reference on a second device before assigning a cause.
Choose the signal level: New references start at -40 dBFS peak. Select up to 0 in 5 dB steps, then press Play. This is WaveLocus's selectable range, not an industry standard or a physical-volume measurement. Zero is full-scale digital output; lower device volume before playback.
Reference and scope: Keep the same selected level between channel references and repeated observations. Controlled-listening guidance supports consistent reproduction conditions; it does not prescribe a universal browser routing-test level. ITU controlled-listening guidance.
Why routing uses matched references
Left and right references use the same source settings with the inactive channel silent. Both sends a coherent signal to both channels; its total physical loudness depends on the playback path. These are presence and routing observations, not measurements of hearing or acoustic calibration. Changing the source level clears the guided observations so results from different settings are not combined.
Source: ITU guidance on controlled reproduction. Read dBFS vs dB SPL to distinguish digital signal levels from physical sound pressure. Use the left and right audio test to isolate channel routing before interpreting a speaker or headphone symptom.
How to interpret your headphone test results
The reference plays through the expected output: This confirms audible output through this browser path at these settings. It does not measure physical loudness or certify the device.
A reference is silent or intermittent: Stop and check browser mute, system output and connections. Repeat the same reference after one change; silence alone does not identify a broken component.
One side is reversed or heard on both sides: Check earpiece orientation, channel assignment and system mono settings before repeating. Downstream mixing can change stereo routing.
Source: ITU controlled-listening guidance.
Frequently asked questions
How do I test my headphones online?
Check the left earpiece, right earpiece, centred reference and short range sweep. Keep fit, connection and volume unchanged while recording each observation.
Does an uneven result prove one earpiece is damaged?
No. Fit, balance settings, mono mixing, the connection and the source can affect the result. Compare one safe change before attributing the problem to an earpiece.
Should the centred reference sound exactly in the middle?
A stereo-preserving path sends that reference to both channels. Fit, system balance, processing and the complete output path can affect the apparent position. Check those conditions before attributing an offset to the headphones or your hearing.