Subwoofer Test – Kick, Crossover, Distortion & Bass Localization
Kick, crossover, distortionReady
Low bands are hard to place; higher bands give the sub away.
- Start quiet, raise slowly
- Check L/R markings first
- Disable audio enhancements
- Runs inside your browser
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Online subwoofer test for kick, crossover and localization
A good subwoofer blends invisibly with the main speakers. These signals check punch, the crossover region, distortion and whether you can hear where the sub is.
Subwoofer kick test
A synthetic kick has a fast pitch drop, so it shows how quickly the sub starts and stops.
Crossover and midrange blend
The crossover is where the sub hands over to the main speakers, typically 60–120 Hz.
Subwoofer harmonic distortion
At very low frequencies a struggling driver produces harmonics two and three times higher.
How to Use the
Subwoofer Test
- 01
Level
set the subwoofer gain to its midpoint and the test volume low.
- 02
Punch
play the kick pattern and listen for a tight thump rather than a long boom.
- 03
Crossover
play the 40–160 Hz sweep; the level should stay even as it passes from the sub to the main speakers.
- 04
Distortion and location
hold the low tones and try the localization bands with your eyes closed.
Subwoofer kick test
A synthetic kick has a fast pitch drop, so it shows how quickly the sub starts and stops. A boomy tail that rings after each hit usually means a room mode or a port resonance; moving the sub is often more effective than EQ.
Crossover and midrange blend
The crossover is where the sub hands over to the main speakers, typically 60–120 Hz. A dip or bump during the sweep there means the crossover frequency, phase or distance setting needs adjustment in your receiver.
Subwoofer harmonic distortion
At very low frequencies a struggling driver produces harmonics two and three times higher. If 25 Hz sounds like a buzz at 50 or 75 Hz, lower the level or raise the high-pass filter on the sub.
Low-frequency harmonic distortion
Play a 30–40 Hz tone at moderate level. If you hear a clear note an octave or more higher, the subwoofer is producing harmonics rather than clean deep bass, usually because it is at its limit. Turn the level down until the overtone fades; that is its clean maximum at that frequency.
Related guides and fixes
Learn more in these guides: How to test a subwoofer, Subwoofer not working, No sound on Windows, No sound on Mac, Headphones only one side, Speakers crackling.
Bass localization test
Below about 80 Hz we can barely tell where sound comes from, which is why one sub can sit anywhere. If you can point to the sub with the 40 Hz band, the crossover is set too high or the sub produces distortion and port noise.
Subwoofer placement tips
Try the “subwoofer crawl”: put the sub at your seat, play the crossover sweep, crawl around the floor and place the sub where the bass sounds most even.
More bass tests
Low-frequency localization
Close your eyes and try to point to the sub with each band.
Other bass frequency tests
See the bass test and MATT test.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.What crossover should I use?
80 Hz is the common default. Raise it for small speakers, lower it for large floor-standers.
Q.Why does my sub rattle?
Loose objects, the grille or the cabinet itself. Hold a low tone and touch surfaces to find the source.
Q.Should the sub phase be 0 or 180?
Use whichever is louder at your seat during the 80 Hz tone.