Surround Sound Test
Check every speaker of a 5.1 or 7.1 system: each channel plays in turn and lights up on the plan, so you hear at once if one is silent, swapped or in the wrong place.
Tip: click a speaker on the plan to play only that channel. Start with your system volume low.
How to run the surround sound test
- Set your computer's output to your receiver or surround speakers, configured as 5.1 or 7.1 (see below if the test finds only 2 channels).
- Choose 5.1 or 7.1, turn the volume down, then press Play all channels.
- Each speaker plays a short burst of pink noise while it lights up on the plan; the subwoofer plays a deep 50 Hz tone.
- If the sound comes from a different speaker than the one lit up, the cables or the channel mapping are swapped. If nothing plays, check that speaker's cable, its level in the receiver and the receiver's speaker setup.
The test only finds 2 channels
A browser can only use as many channels as the operating system gives it. On Windows: Settings → System → Sound → choose the output (for example your HDMI receiver) → Properties → Speaker configuration or Control Panel → Sound → Configure → pick 5.1 or 7.1 Surround. On a Mac: open Audio MIDI Setup, select the device, then Configure Speakers. HDMI to an AV receiver usually offers 5.1 and 7.1; analog 3.5 mm jacks and most USB headsets are stereo only. Then reload this page in Chrome or Edge.
Channel order
5.1: front left, front right, center, LFE (subwoofer), surround left, surround right. 7.1: front left, front right, center, LFE, rear left, rear right, side left, side right. This is the standard order used by Windows (WAVE) and most receivers; if your system labels speakers differently, the plan shows where each channel should be.
Frequently asked questions
The subwoofer is silent. What should I check?
The subwoofer channel plays a 50 Hz tone. Check that the sub is on and its volume is up, that the receiver's speaker setup has the subwoofer enabled, and that the crossover isn't set to zero. Laptop speakers cannot play 50 Hz at all.
Does it work with headphones or a soundbar?
Virtual surround headphones and soundbars create surround themselves from a stereo or Dolby signal, so the browser sees only 2 channels. Use the stereo check, or the headphone test.
Can it test Dolby Atmos height speakers?
No. Browsers output plain channels (up to 7.1 here). Atmos height channels need Dolby-encoded content from an app or player that supports it.
Is anything uploaded?
No. The test sounds are generated in your browser with the Web Audio API.
More checks: speaker test (left/right, sweep, phase), bass test, tone generator, headphone test.