Pastime Arcade

Bass Test

Start the sweep and press the button the moment the tone fades out. That is the lowest note your speakers can play.

Playing
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Lowest you heard
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The sweep takes 30 seconds, from 200 Hz down to 20 Hz.

Or play one low tone:

35%

Start with the volume low. Very low and very high tones at high volume can be uncomfortable, and can damage small speakers.

How to use the bass test

  1. Set the volume to a comfortable level: loud enough to hear the first tone clearly, no louder.
  2. Press Start the sweep. A tone starts at 200 Hz and slides down to 20 Hz over 30 seconds.
  3. Press I can’t hear it now the moment it fades out. That frequency is roughly where your speakers stop.

The single tones below the buttons hold one frequency for as long as you like, and the Bass beat plays a kick drum, which is how most people judge bass in practice.

What the result means

People hear from about 20 Hz at the bottom to about 20,000 Hz at the top. Bass is roughly the lower part of that range, up to about 250 Hz, and the deepest part, below about 60 Hz, is often called sub-bass: felt as much as heard.

  • Down to about 40 Hz or below. Deep bass: what a good subwoofer or good headphones reach.
  • About 40 to 80 Hz. Typical of bookshelf speakers and many headphones.
  • Above about 80 Hz. Typical of small speakers. Laptop and phone speakers usually fade out somewhere around 100 to 200 Hz, because a small cone cannot move enough air for low notes.

The sweep will seem to get quieter as it goes down, even on very good speakers. That is how hearing works: at the same volume, the ear is much less sensitive to low notes than to the middle of the range. The point that matters is where the tone disappears altogether.

Testing a subwoofer

  • Play the single tones from 20 Hz upwards. The subwoofer should take over the low tones and the main speakers the higher ones. Where they meet is the crossover.
  • Listen for buzzing or rattling on particular tones. That is usually something loose: a shelf, a window, a panel, or the subwoofer’s own grille, rather than the subwoofer itself.
  • If the subwoofer stays silent, check that it is switched on, that its own volume is up, and that the amplifier or TV is set to send it bass.

Headphones versus speakers

Headphones sit right against the ear, so even small ones can reach much lower notes than small speakers. The same headphones can sound thin if they do not seal well, for example earbuds that are too small for your ears: a better fit brings the bass back.

Keep it safe

Do not turn a low tone up to find more bass. Small speakers pushed hard at low frequencies can be damaged, and loud low tones through headphones are tiring. If a tone distorts or crackles, turn the volume down.

To check left and right, use the sound test. For any other frequency, use the tone generator.

Frequently asked questions

How do I test the bass on my speakers?
Start the sweep on this page and press the button when the tone disappears. The frequency shown is roughly the lowest note your speakers can play.
What Hz is good bass?
Reaching down to about 40 Hz or lower is deep bass. Most music has little below 40 Hz, so speakers that reach 50 to 60 Hz already sound full.
Why can’t I hear 20 Hz?
20 Hz is the bottom of human hearing, and few speakers play it strongly. On a good subwoofer you may feel it more than hear it.
How do I test a subwoofer?
Play the single low tones and the bass beat. The subwoofer should clearly carry the lowest ones. Listen for rattles on particular tones, which usually come from loose objects in the room.
Is the bass test safe for my speakers?
At a normal volume, yes. Do not turn low tones up high on small speakers: that is how they get damaged.