Left and right audio test
Before you start: Start quietly and check one channel at a time. Stop playback before reconnecting headphones or changing cables. Do not compensate for a silent side by raising volume.
Left and right channel test
Play each route separately and record whether the sound appeared on the expected side.
Each reference plays for at least five seconds. Run one at a time and record what you hear before changing the setup.
- 01
Left channel
The tone should be heard only from the left side.
Loading audio controls.
- 02
Right channel
The tone should be heard only from the right side.
- 03
Both channels
The same tone should be heard from both sides at a similar level.
Play known channel references and record whether each side is correct, quiet or missing.
Interpretation: The observations can confirm audible channel routing and provide evidence for the next controlled swap.
Limit: Listening alone does not isolate the headphones, cable, interface, operating system or browser as the cause.
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
- Face the normal listening position: Keep headphones oriented normally or sit between the speakers without changing balance controls.
- Play left, right, then both: Use the same tone and software level for every channel reference.
- Record routing, not a diagnosis: A wrong or missing side is evidence for the next controlled swap, not proof that one component failed.
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.
How to interpret your left and right audio 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 check left and right headphone channels?
Play the left reference, stop, then play the right reference. Note which side you actually hear. A stereo-preserving path should route each reference to its corresponding side.
Why do I hear both channels in both ears?
Mono accessibility settings, a communications mode, an adapter or downstream mixing may combine the channels. Check the system mono setting and compare one connection at a time.
Why does the left reference play on the right?
Check that you are wearing the earpieces the right way round. Stop playback before checking channel assignments or swapping connections. Repeat one change at a time. A reversed result alone cannot identify which part of the path swapped the channels.