Frequency Test – Low & High Frequency Range Check
Low and high limitsLow range
High range
Ready
Each tone plays for one second, low to high.
- Start quiet, raise slowly
- Check L/R markings first
- Disable audio enhancements
- Runs inside your browser
- No upload, no account
- Nothing saved after you close
Online frequency range test for low and high frequencies
Play single frequencies from the very low to the very high end. The point where a tone disappears tells you where your system, or your hearing, stops.
Low frequency range check
Below about 40 Hz most small speakers produce mainly harmonic distortion rather than the fundamental.
High frequency range check
The audible top end falls with age and noise exposure.
Sample rate and the 22 kHz ceiling
At a 44.1 kHz sample rate the highest possible tone is 22.05 kHz.
How to Use the
Frequency Test
- 01
Volume
set it low; high tones can be uncomfortable even when they seem faint.
- 02
Low end
start at 80 Hz and step down until the tone disappears or turns into a buzz.
- 03
High end
start at 8 kHz and step up until you no longer hear anything.
- 04
Note
write down both limits for each device you test.
Low frequency range check
Below about 40 Hz most small speakers produce mainly harmonic distortion rather than the fundamental. If you hear a buzzy tone an octave higher, the speaker has reached its limit. Feeling rather than hearing 20 Hz is normal with a good subwoofer.
High frequency range check
The audible top end falls with age and noise exposure. If you hear 17 kHz on headphones but not on a laptop, the limit is the device. If you hear nothing above 12 kHz on any device, the limit is likely your hearing.
Sample rate and the 22 kHz ceiling
At a 44.1 kHz sample rate the highest possible tone is 22.05 kHz. Tones close to that limit may produce faint lower “aliased” tones on some devices; that is the converter, not your ears.
Practical frequency testing
Testing your equipment
Use the same volume and seat each time so results are comparable.
Listen for problems
Buzz, rattle, a tone an octave higher or sudden silence point to limits.
Be kind to your ears
Never boost volume to chase a tone you cannot hear.
Beware of aliasing and harmonic distortion
Hearing a lower tone when you play a very high or low one is a device artefact, not your hearing range.
Real-world uses
Checking a new speaker, choosing a crossover or finding where your hearing stops.
Spectrum basics and safety
The sound spectrum explained simply
Low notes are slow vibrations, high notes fast ones; we hear about 20 to 20,000 per second.
Speakers go silent mid-sweep
Room cancellations or a crossover gap.
Some frequencies sound louder
Normal ear sensitivity and room effects.
Are these tones safe?
Yes at moderate volume and short duration.
Related guides and fixes
Learn more in these guides: No sound on Windows, No sound on Mac, Headphones only one side, Speakers crackling, How to test speakers, How to test headphones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.What is the normal human hearing range?
Roughly 20 Hz to 20 kHz for young adults, with the upper limit shrinking with age.
Q.Why can I hear a tone above my limit?
Distortion or aliasing can create lower audible frequencies. Lower the volume and try again.
Q.What frequency range do I need for music?
Most music sits between 40 Hz and 16 kHz; anything beyond is a bonus.
Q.Some frequencies sound much louder than others. Is my equipment broken?
No. Human hearing is most sensitive around 2–5 kHz, and speakers and rooms are never perfectly flat. Broken equipment shows up as buzzing, rattles or missing ranges.