Free headphone test

Headphone test: left, right and phase

Check that your headphones or earbuds play left and right correctly, are wired in phase, and cover the full range of sound.

Left and right

Frequency

Custom tone: 440 Hz

Phase test

Play both. In phase should sound centered, inside your head. Out of phase should sound wide and hollow. If they sound the same, or out of phase sounds more centered, one speaker or earcup is wired backwards.

Headphone tips for video calls

Headphones stop echo. When your speakers play into your mic, others hear themselves. Headphones fix it.
Bluetooth headsets switch modes. When the mic turns on, many Bluetooth headphones drop to a low-quality call mode. A wired headset or a separate mic sounds better.
Check which device is selected in Zoom or Teams. Apps don't always follow your system setting.

Headphone test questions

How do I test if my headphones work?

Put them on with the volume low and press Left, Both and Right. Each sound should come from the side named, and Both should sound centered.

What does the phase test show?

If one earcup is wired with reversed polarity, music sounds hollow and the voice isn't centered. In phase should sound centered and out of phase wide. If it's the other way round, the headphones are wired out of phase.

Why does my Bluetooth headset sound bad on calls?

When the microphone is in use, many Bluetooth headsets switch to a lower-quality profile. Use a wired headset or a separate microphone for better sound.