Fix My Speakers

Tone generator

Play a steady tone from 20 Hz to 20 kHz to test a speaker.

Wave type
30%

Start low and raise it slowly. Sustained high-volume tones can damage small speakers and hearing.

Presets

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How to test a speaker with it

  1. Start quietLeave the volume slider low, press Play tone and raise the volume until the tone is comfortable.
  2. Step through the presetsPlay 250 Hz, 1 kHz, 4 kHz and 8 kHz for a few seconds each. Every one should be clean and steady.
  3. Sweep slowlyDrag the frequency slider from left to right. A sudden buzz at one point means something is loose or the driver is damaged.

What to listen for

BandRangeWhat it tells you about a speaker
Deep bass20–100 HzMost phone speakers produce little or nothing here. Silence is normal, not a fault.
Bass100–300 HzA rattle or buzz points to loose debris on the mesh or a case vibrating.
Low mids300 Hz–1 kHzThe body of a voice. Wavering or crackle here suggests a damaged driver.
Upper mids1–4 kHzSpeech clarity. If this band is quiet, the mesh is probably partly blocked.
Treble4–10 kHzThe first band lost to dirt or water. Faint treble with normal bass means clean the grille.
Top10–20 kHzMany adults cannot hear the upper part of this band, so fading here is expected.

The four wave types

Same pitch, different character. Use sine for testing and the others to provoke rattles.

WaveSounds likeGood for
SineA pure, smooth whistle with no overtones.Checking one frequency at a time. The default for speaker tests.
TriangleSlightly brighter than sine, still soft.A gentler alternative when sine is hard to hear at low pitches.
SquareHollow and buzzy, like an old game console.Finding rattles. Its strong overtones shake loose parts.
SawtoothBright and harsh, the buzziest of the four.Stressing the whole range at once. Keep the volume low.

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Guides by problem

Thirteen guides in four groups. Each group has one to start with.