How to Test Headphones

Here is how to test headphones properly at home in under fifteen minutes, whether they are new, second-hand or suddenly sound wrong.

1. Left and right

Use the stereo test. The left voice must be in the left ear.

The balance test centre signal should sit in the middle of your head.

Step through low and high tones on the headphone test or frequency test. Bass depends heavily on the seal; re-seat earbuds and try other tips.

A slow frequency sweep at moderate level should be smooth. Buzzing at a particular frequency suggests a damaged driver or loose part.

Play the normal and reversed versions on the polarity test. Normal should feel centred.

Run the mic test and record a sample with the voice recorder.

One side quiet, crackling on cable movement or rattle at a frequency.

Measured changes after burn-in are generally very small; your ears adapt more than the drivers.