Earbuds & AirPods Test
To test earbuds or AirPods, connect them, turn the volume down and play the left and right sounds to check each bud. Then play the low hum and press the buds gently deeper: if the bass gets much louder, they are not sealing, so try another ear tip size. Finish with the bass tones.
Before you start
Turn your volume down before you start. Stop if anything is uncomfortable. Long exposure to loud or high-pitched sound can damage hearing.
These tests need JavaScript to make sound. The explanations below work without it.
Sound starts only when you press a button, at a low level with a soft fade-in. The level is capped in the code. Esc or the space bar stops it. On iPhone, turn off silent mode or web sound may stay muted. This is not a medical hearing test.
Left / right test
Earbud fit (seal) test
Play the low hum with both earbuds in. Then gently press both earbuds a little deeper with your fingers.
Press a button to play.
Did the hum stay about the same when you pressed?
Bass test
Play each tone (4 seconds) and tick the ones you can hear or feel. Start at 200 Hz and work down.
Very high or very low tones: keep the volume low and stop if it is uncomfortable.
Press a button to play.
Bluetooth tips
- If one bud is silent, put both back in the case, close it, wait a few seconds and try again.
- Bluetooth adds a short delay, so sound can lag behind video. Many players correct for it; games often cannot.
- In calls, many earbuds switch to a lower-quality mode. Test music quality when no call app is using the microphone.
- AirPods Pro and many other earbuds have a built-in ear tip fit test in their settings app.
Frequently asked questions
How do I test if both earbuds work?
Run the left/right test. Press L and you should hear sound only in the left bud, then R for the right. If one stays silent, reconnect, check the charge and clean the mesh.
Why does one AirPod sound quieter?
Earwax on the speaker mesh is a common cause, as is a balance setting on the phone. Clean gently with a dry soft brush, check Accessibility audio balance, and run the balance test on the home page.
What does the seal test show?
If the low hum gets much louder when you press the buds in, they leak sound when sitting normally. A better seal gives more bass and better noise cancelling, so try another ear tip size.
Why is there a delay with Bluetooth earbuds?
Bluetooth needs time to encode and send audio, so a short delay is normal. Video apps often compensate. If games or calls lag a lot, try a low-latency mode if your earbuds have one.
Does this work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. It runs in Safari, Chrome and other modern browsers. On iPhone, turn off silent mode, because it can mute sound from web pages. On Android, check that the earbuds are the selected output.
Last updated: October 13, 2026