Free browser tool
Bass Test
Test the low end of your speakers or subwoofer, from 20Hz to 200Hz.
What is bass test?
A bass test plays low frequencies — 20Hz to 200Hz — through your speaker or subwoofer, either as a sweep or as fixed test tones, so you can check how much genuine low-end your setup produces and whether it distorts or rattles at low frequencies.
How to use it
Start at low volume — bass can be deceptively loud once your ears adjust, and it's harder on small speakers than higher frequencies.
Use Sweep to hear a continuous 20-200Hz ramp and notice where the bass starts to feel/sound present, and where it fades or distorts.
Use Frequencies to play fixed bass tones (30/40/50/60/80/100Hz) individually.
Listen and feel for rattling, buzzing, or the sound cutting out — those point to a speaker or enclosure issue, not just a small driver's natural limits.
Gradually raise volume only after confirming everything sounds clean at a lower level.
How it works
Bass frequencies require moving a lot of air, which is why they're the hardest range for small speakers to reproduce cleanly — most phone and laptop speakers roll off sharply below 100-150Hz simply due to driver size, not a fault.
Playing a controlled sweep or fixed tones in this range lets you distinguish "my speaker just doesn't do much bass" (a gradual, clean fade) from "something is wrong" (buzzing, rattling, or a driver that sounds like it's hitting its mechanical limit).
Tips
Small speakers won't produce much sub-bass
It's normal for phone and laptop speakers to fade out well before 20Hz — that's a size limitation, not necessarily a defect.
Testing a subwoofer or home speaker?
This range is exactly where a dedicated subwoofer should shine — a flat or muffled response here is worth investigating on purpose-built bass hardware.
Check for rattling objects nearby
Loose items near your speaker (phone case, desk items) can rattle at bass frequencies and be mistaken for speaker distortion.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Buzzing or rattling at specific low frequencies | Could be the speaker itself distorting, or a loose object nearby vibrating in sympathy. | Move other objects away from the speaker and retest; if the buzz persists, it's likely the speaker or enclosure. |
| No bass at all, even close to 200Hz | Very small speakers (some phones especially) may only meaningfully reproduce well above 150-200Hz. | This can be normal for the hardware — compare against a known good speaker of similar size before assuming a fault. |
| Bass sounds fine at low volume but distorts as you raise it | The speaker or amplifier is hitting its output limit. | Keep volume below the point where distortion starts for that device — this is often a hardware ceiling, not a fixable issue. |
Safety & limitations
Related tools
Frequently asked questions
Why does my phone barely produce any bass?
Small speaker drivers physically can't move enough air to reproduce low frequencies well — this is a size limitation common to nearly all phone and laptop speakers, not usually a fault.
What's a good way to test a subwoofer specifically?
Use the Sweep mode at a moderate volume and listen/feel for a smooth response across the full 20-200Hz range without noticeable dead spots or buzzing.
Is it bad for my speaker to play low bass at high volume?
Sustained high-volume bass is more physically demanding on a speaker than higher frequencies at the same volume — if it sounds strained, lower the volume rather than pushing through it.
Can this test damage my speakers?
At reasonable volumes, no — the tool is capped and ramps gain smoothly. As with any audio, sustained very high volume on any content can stress speakers over time.