Hearing & speakers · informal sweep
Online Hearing Test
Step through 17 audiometric frequencies from 125 Hz to 20 kHz. At each step you sound a pure sine tone at a level you choose, then answer two honest questions: can you hear it, and at what level? Your answers are logged in a table you can export. Everything runs in your browser.
This is not a medical test. It cannot diagnose hearing loss, and results depend entirely on your headphones, volume and environment. Start low, raise the level only as far as you need, and never test at high volume.
125 Hz
step 1 / 17
More negative = quieter. The ceiling is fixed and low on purpose.
Verdict for this frequency
Ready. Press play, then answer.
| Frequency | Verdict | Level heard |
|---|---|---|
| 125 Hz | - | - |
| 250 Hz | - | - |
| 500 Hz | - | - |
| 750 Hz | - | - |
| 1 kHz | - | - |
| 1.5 kHz | - | - |
| 2 kHz | - | - |
| 3 kHz | - | - |
| 4 kHz | - | - |
| 6 kHz | - | - |
| 8 kHz | - | - |
| 10 kHz | - | - |
| 12 kHz | - | - |
| 14 kHz | - | - |
| 16 kHz | - | - |
| 18 kHz | - | - |
| 20 kHz | - | - |
No results yet. Answer a frequency to begin.
| Age band | Approx. limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 17.4 kHz | Mosquito-tone territory; many teenagers still hear this. |
| 20 – 29 | 17 kHz | The classic “mosquito ringtone” sits here. |
| 30 – 39 | 16 kHz | High-frequency loss has usually begun. |
| 40 – 49 | 14 kHz | Sharp drop for most adults. |
| 50 – 59 | 12 kHz | Cymbals and sibilance start to dull. |
| 60 – 69 | 11 kHz | Averages cluster around 10–12 kHz. |
| 70 and over | 8 kHz | Wide spread - many hear far less, some far more. |
These are population averages, not thresholds. Individual hearing varies widely, and a good pair of headphones can easily move your measured limit by an octave or more in either direction. A number that looks “young” or “old” here means very little on its own.
Is this a real hearing test?
No. It is a self-guided sweep through standard audiometric frequencies using whatever headphones or speakers you happen to have. It cannot measure hearing thresholds in decibels, cannot separate left from right ear, and cannot diagnose hearing loss or tinnitus. A clinical audiogram uses calibrated transducers in a sound-treated booth. Treat your results as a rough, informal observation only.
Why do results depend so much on my gear?
Every headphone and speaker has its own frequency response. Laptop speakers fall off a cliff above about 12 kHz, many cheap earbuds roll off above 15 kHz, and soundcards resample everything above 20 kHz away entirely. If the driver cannot reproduce 17 kHz, you will not hear it even with perfect hearing. Try the test with a known-good pair of headphones before drawing any conclusion.
What level should I start at?
Start with the level slider well down - the display shows attenuation in negative decibels relative to a deliberately low ceiling, so a more negative number is quieter. Raise it only as far as you need to just hear the tone, then keep it there for every frequency so your answers are comparable. Never test at high volume, and stop immediately if anything is uncomfortable.
Where are my results stored?
Nothing leaves your browser. Your answers are saved in this browser’s local storage under a versioned key so they survive a reload, and you can clear them at any time with the Clear saved results button. The CSV and summary exports are generated on your device too.