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Frequency Sweep Test (20 Hz – 20 kHz)

Play a smooth sine sweep across the whole audible range and hear exactly where your speakers, headphones — or your ears — start and stop.

How to use the sweep test

  1. Set volume low to medium. Start with the default 20 Hz → 20,000 Hz over 30 seconds.
  2. Press Start sweep and watch the live frequency readout.
  3. Write down when you first hear the tone, any frequency where it buzzes or drops out, and when it disappears at the top.
  4. Press Hold frequency to freeze on a problem spot, or change Start/End to zoom into a smaller range.

What a sweep tells you about your speakers

  • Low-end cut-off — where the bass becomes audible. A phone may start around 200 Hz; a subwoofer near 20 Hz.
  • Peaks and dips — the tone should stay roughly even in loudness. Big jumps point to room resonances or a weak driver.
  • Rattles and buzzes — a buzz at one frequency is usually a loose screw, grille or object nearby. Buzzing across the whole range suggests a damaged cone; try the blown speaker test.
  • Muffled mid-range on a phone (roughly 1–4 kHz) is a classic sign of water or dust in the grille. Run the water eject sound or dust cleaner and sweep again.

Using the sweep as a hearing range test

Human hearing spans roughly 20 Hz to 20 kHz at birth. The top end falls with age: many people in their 30s stop hearing around 16–17 kHz, and in their 50s around 12–14 kHz. To check, play a sweep from 8,000 Hz to 20,000 Hz at low volume and note when the tone vanishes. This is a fun check, not a medical test — your speakers’ own limits also affect the result.

Tips for accurate results

  • Turn off equalizers, “bass boost”, Dolby Atmos or other sound enhancements first.
  • Use wired headphones for hearing checks; Bluetooth compression can cut very high frequencies.
  • For room testing, sweep from your normal listening position.

Frequently asked questions

What is a frequency sweep?

A tone that glides continuously from a low to a high frequency. It reveals how evenly a speaker or headphone reproduces every pitch.

Why does the sound disappear at high frequencies?

Either your speakers cannot reproduce them, or your hearing no longer reaches that high. Both are normal above about 15 kHz.

Is a 20 Hz–20 kHz sweep safe?

Yes at moderate volume. Keep high-frequency sweeps quiet, especially on headphones.

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Still need help?

hassan@zavify.co.uk