Audio Frequency Test
Test Audio Frequencies Online
Generate a steady tone or sweep from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Start at a low volume.
Use the lowest comfortable volume. Stop immediately if you feel discomfort, pressure, pain, or ringing.
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This tool is for general audio testing and education. It is not a medical hearing test.
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Test Audio Frequencies Online
The Audio Frequency Test is a browser-based tone generator that plays frequencies from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. You can generate a continuous tone, run a linear or logarithmic sweep, test stereo balance, compare four waveforms, and view practical information about the selected frequency.
The tool runs through the Web Audio API and does not require an uploaded file or microphone. It is useful for checking speakers, headphones, subwoofers, channel balance, tuning references, and general audio behavior.
Start with your device volume low. High and low frequencies may seem quiet even when your equipment is producing significant output.
How to Use the Audio Frequency Test
Generate a Continuous Tone
Open the Continuous tone tab and enter a frequency between 20 and 20,000 Hz. You can also use the frequency slider or select one of the quick presets: 40, 100, 440, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, or 15,000 Hz.
Choose a waveform:
- Sine for a pure, isolated frequency
- Triangle for a softer harmonic tone
- Square for a bright sound rich in odd harmonics
- Sawtooth for a dense, bright harmonic sound
Set the volume and stereo balance, then select Play tone. A three-step safety countdown appears before playback begins. Select Stop when you are finished.
The fine controls let you decrease or increase the frequency by 1 Hz. The octave controls divide the frequency by two or multiply it by two. For example, moving from 440 Hz to 880 Hz raises the tone by one octave.
Run a Frequency Sweep
Open the Frequency sweep tab and enter the start frequency, end frequency, and duration. The tool accepts sweep durations from 1 to 60 seconds.
Choose either:
- Linear, which changes frequency by an equal number of Hertz over time
- Logarithmic, which changes frequency proportionally and distributes the sweep more naturally across octaves
A 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz logarithmic sweep is useful for listening across the tool’s full range. During playback, the current frequency and elapsed time update continuously.
Understanding the Results
Current Frequency
The result panel shows the current value in both Hertz and kilohertz. Hertz means cycles per second, while 1,000 Hz equals 1 kHz.
For example, 5,000 Hz is displayed as 5.00 kHz. During a sweep, this result changes as the oscillator moves toward the selected end frequency.
Frequency Band
The tool classifies each frequency into a practical audio band:
| Frequency range | Classification |
|---|---|
| 20–59 Hz | Sub-bass |
| 60–249 Hz | Bass |
| 250–499 Hz | Low midrange |
| 500–1,999 Hz | Midrange |
| 2,000–3,999 Hz | Upper midrange |
| 4,000–5,999 Hz | Presence |
| 6,000–11,999 Hz | Brilliance |
| 12,000–20,000 Hz | High-frequency air |
These labels help describe where the tone sits in the audible spectrum. They do not measure how loudly your headphones or speakers reproduce that band.
Nearest Musical Note
The tool converts the frequency to the nearest equal-tempered musical note using A4 at 440 Hz as its reference.
A result of 440 Hz displays A4, while 880 Hz displays A5. When the selected frequency falls between exact notes, the result includes a cents offset. A positive value is sharp relative to the nearest note, while a negative value is flat.
This output is a mathematical conversion. The tool does not listen to an instrument and is not an automatic tuner.
Approximate Wavelength
The wavelength result is calculated with:
Wavelength = 343 ÷ frequency
The value 343 meters per second is used as the approximate speed of sound. At 440 Hz, the calculated wavelength is about 0.78 meters.
The tool formats shorter wavelengths in centimeters or millimeters. The result is approximate because the actual speed of sound varies with temperature and other environmental conditions.
Choosing the Right Waveform
A sine wave is the best default for an audio frequency test because it contains one fundamental frequency without added harmonics.
| Waveform | Character | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Sine | Pure and smooth | Testing one frequency |
| Triangle | Soft harmonic tone | Comparing mild harmonics |
| Square | Bright and buzzy | Exploring odd harmonics |
| Sawtooth | Bright and dense | Demonstrating broad harmonic content |
Square, triangle, and sawtooth waves contain overtones above the selected fundamental. Hearing one of these waveforms does not necessarily prove that you can hear the displayed fundamental frequency, because its harmonics may remain audible.
Practical Uses
Test Speakers and Headphones
Use a sine wave and move through several frequencies to listen for rattling, buzzing, dropouts, or sudden level changes. The stereo balance control can be moved fully left or right to check individual channels.
Differences may come from the headphones, speakers, amplifier, room, browser, operating system, or your own hearing. The tool generates the signal but does not automatically identify the cause of a problem.
Check a Subwoofer
Try a low-frequency sine tone such as 40 Hz or 100 Hz. Keep the volume conservative and listen for unwanted mechanical noise or cabinet vibration.
The tool does not measure distortion, resonance, maximum output, or subwoofer frequency response. It provides a controlled signal for listening checks.
Use a Musical Reference
Select 440 Hz for the standard A4 tuning reference. Use the octave buttons to move to related pitches such as 220 Hz or 880 Hz.
The nearest-note and cents outputs are also useful for understanding how arbitrary frequencies relate to equal-tempered musical notes.
Safety and Testing Tips
Begin with your system volume and the tool volume set low. Increase gradually only when necessary.
Use short listening periods, especially at very high or very low frequencies. Stop immediately if you notice discomfort, pressure, pain, or ringing.
For the clearest isolated-frequency test, use a sine wave in a quiet environment. Do not sharply raise the volume simply because a tone is difficult to hear. Your playback device may not reproduce the selected frequency effectively.
Common Mistakes
Do not treat the volume percentage as a calibrated decibel reading. It is a relative browser-audio gain setting, not a measurement of sound pressure in dB SPL.
A frequency sweep also does not produce a measured response graph. The plugin generates the sweep but does not record the result through a microphone.
Another common mistake is using a square or sawtooth wave to test whether one exact frequency is audible. Their harmonics can make the sound detectable even when the fundamental is not.
Finally, silence at one frequency does not prove hearing loss. The cause may be your speakers, headphones, device settings, environment, or hearing.
FAQ about Audio Frequency Test
How do I test audio frequencies online?
Enter a frequency between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz, choose a waveform, set a low volume, and select Play tone. You can also run a linear or logarithmic sweep between two frequencies.
What frequency range does the tool support?
The Audio Frequency Test supports 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Values outside that range are rejected by the tool’s input validation.
Which waveform is best for a hearing frequency test?
A sine wave is the best choice for checking one isolated frequency. Triangle, square, and sawtooth waves contain harmonics that may make the sound easier to hear for reasons unrelated to the selected fundamental.
What is the difference between linear and logarithmic sweeps?
A linear sweep changes by an equal number of Hertz over equal time intervals. A logarithmic sweep changes proportionally, giving each octave more even coverage across a wide frequency range.
Can I test the left and right speakers separately?
Yes. Move the stereo balance control fully left or fully right to send the tone to one channel when stereo panning is supported by the browser.
What musical note is 440 Hz?
440 Hz is A4 in equal temperament. The tool also displays the nearest note, octave, and cents offset for frequencies that do not match an exact note.
Why can’t I hear some high or low frequencies?
The frequency may be outside the effective range of your speakers, headphones, device, or hearing. Do not compensate by raising the volume aggressively, especially at frequency extremes.
Is this an accurate medical hearing test?
No. This is an audio tone generator for general testing and education, not calibrated clinical audiometry. It does not measure hearing thresholds, decibel levels, or hearing loss.