📊 Frequency Sweep Test
Run a 20Hz–20kHz frequency sweep test to check speaker response, rattles, dead spots, and resonance.
Your settings
Keep up to 5 setups in this browser, or share a link. Only settings are saved.
No saved setups yet.
Use a sweep to locate a sound worth checking again
The tool plays a sine wave that rises linearly through the selected range. Full range takes five seconds; low and high ranges take four seconds. The trace shows the outgoing signal.
A repeatable check
- Lower system volume. Select Low for bass rattles or High for upper-frequency checks before using Full Range.
- Choose L, R, or Both before starting. Listen for a repeatable buzz, abrupt change, or missing band.
- Stop and use the tone generator to revisit a suspected frequency at the same low volume, then compare the other channel.
What the result suggests
- A dip changes when you move your head
- Room interference may be responsible. Compare at a second listening position before making EQ changes.
- Both channels fade at the upper end
- The playback chain and your hearing both limit audibility. Check a midrange tone to confirm playback; do not raise volume to force the highest tones to become audible.
What this cannot establish
This short linear sweep spends little time in the lowest octaves. Loudness changes are not a calibrated frequency response, and no microphone measurement is collected.
💡 What Can You Test With a Frequency Sweep?
Speaker Diagnostics
Sweep through the full frequency range to find rattles, buzzes, dead drivers, or crossover gaps. Identify exactly which frequencies trigger problems.
Room Acoustics Analysis
Discover room modes and standing waves — certain frequencies may boom or vanish depending on your room shape and speaker placement.
Studio Monitor Calibration
Verify your monitors produce flat, even response across the spectrum before mixing. Identify frequencies that need EQ correction.
Headphone Testing
Compare left and right drivers across all frequencies. Spot channel imbalances or frequency response mismatches between drivers.
Car Audio Tuning
Test your car's speaker system across the full range. Identify rattles from interior panels at specific frequencies.
Science & Education
Demonstrate the audible frequency spectrum, equal-loudness contours, and the physics of sound in classrooms and labs.
✨ Why Use Our Frequency Sweep Tool?
🔗 More Audio Testing Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a frequency sweep test?
A frequency sweep plays tones from low (20Hz) to high (20kHz) across your speakers in a continuous glide. It helps identify frequency response dips, rattles, dead spots, or resonance issues in your audio system.
How do I interpret frequency sweep results?
Listen for: volume drops at certain frequencies (room acoustics or crossover gaps), buzzing/rattling (loose parts or blown drivers), or complete silence (dead drivers). A healthy system should sound smooth and continuous from low to high.
What's the difference between frequency sweep and tone generator?
The frequency sweep automatically plays through all frequencies in sequence — great for quick system checks. The tone generator lets you manually set specific frequencies for detailed testing of problem spots you found during the sweep.
Why does the sweep sound different on my phone vs. laptop?
Phone speakers rarely reproduce below ~300Hz. Laptop speakers vary widely. For accurate full-range testing, use external speakers or studio headphones. Check our bass test for sub-bass analysis below 100Hz.
How fast should I run the sweep?
Slow sweeps (30-60 seconds) reveal more detail — you'll hear subtle rattles and dips. Fast sweeps (5-10 seconds) give a quick overview. Start slow for diagnostics, then speed up once your system is dialed in.