Frequency sweep test
Press Start sweep to hear a tone rise from 20 Hz to 20 kHz and watch the frequency as it goes.
Frequency sweep test workspace
How to use
4 short steps.
Set a moderate volume
Leave the slider near the default. High frequencies sound quieter, so do not turn it up to chase them.
Press Start sweep
The default sweep runs from 20 Hz to 20 kHz over 20 seconds. Change the fields to narrow it.
Watch the readout
The large number shows the frequency playing now. Note where you hear a buzz, a dip or nothing.
Repeat one section
Set start and end around the frequency you noted and sweep it slowly to confirm.
What the result means
Match what you see to one of these.
The sweep stays even
If the tone stays smooth from bottom to top with no buzz or gap, the speakers and the audio path are working across the range. Loudness changes with frequency are normal.
A buzz repeats at one frequency
If a buzz appears at the same frequency each time, something near the speaker is resonating: a grille, a desk panel, a loose object or the enclosure. Lower the volume and touch nearby objects to find it.
A band suddenly dips or disappears
If the tone drops out over a narrow band, that is often the crossover between two drivers or a room mode cancelling the sound at your seat. Move your head or the speaker and repeat.
The top sounds harsh or warbles
If the highest frequencies warble or produce a second tone, that is aliasing in the sound card or a Bluetooth codec, not the speaker. Try a wired connection and repeat.
Troubleshooting
If the test fails, try these in order.
Lower the volume
Distortion at the top of the sweep is often the level, not the speaker. Repeat the sweep quieter.
Narrow the range
Set start and end 100 Hz either side of the frequency you noted and sweep slowly to confirm the buzz or dip.
Change one thing
Move the speaker, swap the cable or switch from Bluetooth to wired, then repeat the same range.
What this test can't tell you
Where a browser check stops.
- The page generates a known tone; it does not measure the sound in the room, so it is not a frequency response or distortion result.
- This is not a hearing test. What you hear at the top of the range depends on your ears as well as the speakers.
FAQ
Common questions about this test.
What is a frequency sweep test?
A frequency sweep plays a single tone that rises smoothly from a low frequency to a high one, here 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Listening to it shows where speakers or headphones buzz, dip or stop producing sound.
How do I interpret a frequency sweep?
A buzz that repeats at the same frequency is usually a loose object or panel. A sudden dip is often a crossover or a room mode. Harsh warbling near the top is aliasing from the sound card or codec, not the speaker.
Is this a hearing test?
No. The sweep shows what your speakers and browser play. Whether you hear 16 kHz depends on your ears as much as the speakers, so the page cannot judge either one.
Can I sweep downwards?
Yes. Put the higher frequency in Start and the lower one in End. The bass test has a fixed descent from 150 Hz to 10 Hz for finding the low limit.