Headphone Test
Check that both earbuds work, the stereo balance is centered, and your headphones handle deep bass and high treble. Lower the volume first.
Stereo channels
Press a button
You should hear the sound only from the side you pressed.
Frequency sweep 20 Hz – 20 kHz
— Hz
Bass & single tones
A quick 30-second headphone check
- Lower the volume to about 30%.
- Press Left and Right: the sound must come only from that side. If not, you wear them backwards or the channels are swapped.
- Press Center: it should sound like it's in the middle of your head. If it leans to one side, check the balance setting.
- Play the 40 Hz tone for bass and the sweep for the full range.
Testing Bluetooth headphones and AirPods
Bluetooth headphones sometimes switch to a low-quality “headset” mode when a microphone is in use, which sounds muffled and mono. Close video-call apps before testing. If one earbud keeps dropping out, reset the earbuds and pair them again.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if my headphones are working properly?
Play “Left” and “Right” — each should come only from the matching earbud. Then play the 40 Hz bass tone and the sweep: good headphones play smoothly from deep bass to high treble without crackling or one side cutting out.
One AirPod or earbud is quieter. What should I do?
First check the balance setting (iPhone: Settings → Accessibility → Audio/Visual → Balance). Then clean the speaker mesh gently with a dry soft brush — earwax is the most common cause. Re-pair Bluetooth headphones if the problem continues.
Why does the bass tone sound weak?
Earbuds need a good seal to produce bass. Try a different ear tip size. Open-back headphones and laptop speakers naturally have less deep bass.
My headphones crackle during the sweep — are they broken?
Crackling at all volumes usually means a damaged driver or cable. Crackling only at high volume can be normal distortion — lower the volume and test again.