Surround Sound Test
Check every speaker in your home theater in seconds. Pick 5.1 or 7.1, tap any channel on the room map, or press Test all for an automatic walk-around with deep test music, a dialogue-range voice or pink noise. Real multichannel routing over HDMI, with no app and no sign-up.
- 100% free
- 5.1 and 7.1 layouts
- Real channel output
- Channel check results
- 1Connect your PC to the receiver or soundbar by HDMI
- 2Set 5.1 or 7.1 in your computer’s sound settings
- 3Sit in your seat and press Test all
Works in Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari. All test sounds are generated on your device. Nothing is recorded or uploaded.
Pick 5.1 or 7.1, then press Test all or tap any speaker on the map.
Phone or laptop speaker sounding off? Try the dust cleaner or water removal tool.
What a surround sound test checks
A surround sound test plays a sound through one speaker channel at a time so you can confirm that every speaker works, sits in the right position and is wired to the right output. It takes about a minute, and it catches problems that are easy to miss in a busy movie mix: a rear speaker that never plays, left and right surrounds that are swapped, or a subwoofer that is switched off.
Most home theater faults are not broken speakers. They are small setup mistakes. A cable goes into the wrong terminal on the receiver, the computer is set to stereo, a TV quietly downmixes everything to two channels, or a speaker is assigned the wrong size in the receiver menu. Each mistake makes the system sound flat or lopsided, and it is hard to pinpoint by ear while a film is playing. Testing one channel at a time isolates every speaker, so the fault becomes obvious.
Silent speakers
Find any speaker that produces no sound because of a loose wire, a blown driver or a channel that is disabled in the receiver.
Swapped channels
Catch left and right, or side and rear, connected the wrong way round so effects move in the wrong direction.
Level balance
Hear when one speaker is much louder or quieter than the others, which pulls the sound field to one side.
Subwoofer output
Confirm that the LFE channel reaches the subwoofer and that the bass is deep and steady rather than missing or boomy.
The tool above goes further than a basic beep test. It checks how many output channels your device reports, routes each sound to its real channel when it can, shows you where every sound should come from on a top-down room map, and lets you mark each speaker as OK or faulty so you finish with a clear list of what to fix.
How to use the surround sound test
You do not need to install anything. The test sounds are generated in your browser with the Web Audio API, so the page works the same on a desktop, a laptop or a home theater PC. For the most accurate result, sit in your usual listening seat before you start.
Pick a layout
Press 5.1 or 7.1. The room map redraws with the matching speakers in their standard positions.
Check the badge
A green badge means real multichannel output. An amber badge means your device is in stereo mode.
Press Test all
Each speaker plays in turn while its icon glows on the map. Tap any speaker to replay it.
Mark the results
Tap each chip in Channel check once for OK or twice for a problem, then read the summary.
What each control does
| Control | What it does | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 5.1 / 7.1 | Switches between six and eight channels and moves the side and rear speakers on the map | Match the number of speakers you actually own |
| Speaker icons | Plays that single channel for the time you choose, tap again to pause | Re-check one speaker after changing a cable |
| Play all | Plays every channel at once for 24 seconds | Hear the overall balance and envelopment |
| Test all | Plays each channel in turn with a short gap between them | The main test, run it first |
| Music, Voice, Tone | Deep groove music, a sung vocal in the dialogue range, or calibration-style pink noise | Music for a quick check, Voice for the center, Tone for level matching |
| Frequency range | Filters the test sound to full range, low, mid or high frequencies | Check a speaker’s woofer and tweeter separately |
| Time per channel and Loop | Sets 3, 5 or 8 seconds per speaker and repeats the test | Use Loop while you walk around adjusting speakers |
Protect your ears and your speakers. Turn the receiver or TV down before you press play, start with the slider at about half, and raise it slowly. Pink noise and bass tones can sound louder than music at the same setting.
How to get real 5.1 and 7.1 output from a browser
A browser can only send six or eight separate channels when your computer’s output device reports that many channels. If it reports two, the browser mixes everything down to stereo, and every test sound comes out of the front left and right speakers. This is the single most common reason a surround test seems to fail.
The tool reads the number of channels your output device offers as soon as the page loads. When there are enough channels for the layout you pick, it sends each test sound straight to its own channel in the standard order: front left, front right, center, LFE, then the surround and rear pairs. When there are not, it switches to a virtual mode that pans the sounds between left and right so you can still learn the layout, and the badge turns amber so you know the result is simulated.
The connection between your computer and your speakers decides which mode you get. HDMI is the reliable choice because it carries up to eight channels of uncompressed PCM audio, which is exactly what a browser produces. Optical and most other links carry multichannel sound only in a compressed format such as Dolby Digital, which a web page cannot create.
| Connection | Channels a browser can send | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| HDMI from PC to AV receiver | Up to 8 (7.1) | Best option. Set the HDMI output to 5.1 or 7.1 in your sound settings. |
| HDMI eARC through a TV | Up to 8, if the TV passes it through | eARC can carry multichannel PCM. Set the TV’s audio output to pass-through or auto. |
| HDMI ARC through a TV | Usually 2 | Standard ARC carries 5.1 only as compressed Dolby Digital, so PCM from a browser is downmixed. |
| Optical (TOSLINK) | 2 | Optical carries only stereo PCM. 5.1 needs a sound card with Dolby Digital Live or DTS Connect encoding. |
| Analog multi-jack (green, black, orange, grey) | Up to 8 | Desktop motherboards with several 3.5 mm jacks can drive powered 5.1 or 7.1 PC speaker sets. |
| USB surround headset | 8 (virtual) | The headset driver reports 7.1 and turns it into virtual surround for two ear cups. |
| Bluetooth and single 3.5 mm jack | 2 | Stereo only. Phones and tablets also fall in this group. |
Testing on a phone? Phones and tablets output stereo, so the tool runs in virtual mode. It is still useful for learning where each channel belongs, but to test a real home theater, run the page on a computer connected to your receiver over HDMI.
Browsers also differ a little. Chromium-based browsers such as Chrome and Edge are the most consistent at reporting multichannel devices on Windows and macOS. If the badge stays amber on a system you know is set to 5.1, try another browser, check that the correct output device is the system default, and reload the page after changing any sound setting.
5.1 vs 7.1 vs stereo vs Dolby Atmos
The number before the dot counts full-range speakers, and the number after it counts subwoofer channels. A third number, as in 5.1.2 or 7.1.4, counts height speakers for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
Stereo
Two front speakers, with an optional sub. Great for music, but every effect sits in front of you.
5.1 surround
Front left, center, front right, two surrounds and a sub. The standard for streaming, Blu-ray and games.
7.1 surround
Adds a pair of rear speakers behind you, so sound can move smoothly from the sides to the back.
Atmos and DTS:X
A 5.1 or 7.1 base plus ceiling or upward-firing speakers for overhead effects.
| Layout | Speakers | Best room | Typical content |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | Left, right, subwoofer | Desks, small rooms | Music, TV, casual gaming |
| 5.1 | FL, C, FR, SL, SR, sub | Most living rooms | Netflix, Disney+, Blu-ray, console games |
| 7.1 | FL, C, FR, SL, SR, BL, BR, sub | Rooms with space behind the seats | Blu-ray, 4K discs, PC games with 7.1 mixes |
| 5.1.2 / 7.1.4 | Base layout plus 2 or 4 height speakers | Dedicated home theaters | Dolby Atmos films and games |
If you only have room for a couple of speakers behind the sofa, a well placed 5.1 system often sounds better than a cramped 7.1. Seven channels pay off when the seats are well forward of the back wall, because the extra rear pair fills the gap that two side surrounds leave behind you. If your content is mostly streaming, remember that many streams are mixed in 5.1, and a 7.1 receiver will spread the surround channels across the side and rear speakers.
This test covers the 5.1 and 7.1 bed channels. Height channels in Atmos are delivered as objects inside a Dolby bitstream, and a web page cannot address them directly. To check ceiling speakers, use the test tone menu in your receiver or a Dolby Atmos demo disc.
What each surround channel should sound like
When the test is working, every sound should come from the direction shown on the room map. Use this guide to judge each speaker as it plays.
Front left
Clearly left of the screen, at ear height. Carries music, effects and off-screen voices on the left.
Front right
The mirror image of front left. Both fronts should sound equally loud and equally bright.
Center
Locked to the middle of the screen. It carries most dialogue, so use Voice mode to check clarity.
Subwoofer
Deep bass you feel as much as hear. It should be hard to point at, and it should not rattle.
Surround left
From your left, a little behind you in 5.1 or level with your ears in 7.1. Ambience and fly-bys.
Surround right
The mirror image of surround left. If it plays from the left, the pair is swapped.
Rear left
Behind you on the left. Should feel clearly further back than the side surround.
Rear right
Behind you on the right. Rear speakers complete the 360 degree circle of sound.
Test all plays the speakers in a clockwise walk around the room: front left, center, front right, then the right side, the back and the left side, and finally the subwoofer. Following the sound around the circle makes a swapped pair stand out at once, because the sound will suddenly jump across the room instead of moving to the next speaker.
The three test sounds each have a job. Music is the most natural and the quickest way to hear whether a speaker sounds healthy. Voice concentrates energy between roughly 200 Hz and 3 kHz, where speech lives, which makes it ideal for judging the center channel. Tone plays bursts of pink noise, the same kind of signal receivers use for calibration, because it has equal energy in every octave and makes level differences between speakers easy to hear.
Speaker placement angles for 5.1 and 7.1
Good placement matters as much as good speakers. The angles below follow the ITU-R BS.775 recommendation and Dolby’s home theater guidelines, measured from your seat with 0 degrees pointing straight at the screen.
5.1 layout
Surrounds sit just behind the listening position, around 110 degrees, so they wrap the sound around you.
7.1 layout
Side surrounds move level with you, around 90 degrees, and the new rear pair sits behind at about 135 to 150 degrees.
| Speaker | Angle from center | Height | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Center | 0° | Just above or below the screen, tilted at your ears | Keep the tweeter as close to ear height as possible |
| Front left and right | 22° to 30° each side | Tweeters at seated ear height | Angle them slightly in toward the seat |
| Surrounds (5.1) | 110° to 120° | About 60 to 90 cm above ear height | Dolby also allows 90° to 110° when the room is narrow |
| Side surrounds (7.1) | 90° to 110° | About 60 to 90 cm above ear height | Directly beside or slightly behind the main seat |
| Rear surrounds (7.1) | 135° to 150° | Same height as the side surrounds | Keep the pair evenly spaced behind the seats |
| Subwoofer | Anywhere at the front | On the floor | A front corner gives the most output, test a few spots |
Try to keep all the main speakers roughly the same distance from your seat. When that is not possible, enter the real distances in your receiver’s speaker setup menu. The receiver delays the closer speakers so every sound arrives at your ears at the same time, which keeps the sound image sharp. Most receivers also include an automatic room calibration system with a microphone, such as Audyssey, YPAO or Dirac, which sets distances and levels for you.
How to set up surround sound on Windows, Mac, TV and console
The test can only use as many channels as your device is set to output. These steps switch your system from stereo to 5.1 or 7.1.
Configure speakers
- Connect the PC to the receiver with HDMI and turn the receiver on first.
- Open Settings, then System, then Sound, and choose More sound settings.
- On the Playback tab, select the receiver or HDMI device and click Set Default.
- Click Configure, choose 5.1 Surround or 7.1 Surround, and finish the wizard.
- Reload this page and check that the badge is green.
Audio MIDI Setup
- Open Applications, then Utilities, then Audio MIDI Setup.
- Select the HDMI or receiver output in the sidebar.
- Set the format to 6 or 8 channels if the device offers it.
- Click Configure Speakers, choose Multichannel, and pick 5.1 or 7.1 Surround.
- Make it the default output and reload this page.
Pass the channels through
- Connect the soundbar or receiver to the TV’s HDMI eARC port.
- Turn on HDMI-CEC and eARC in the TV’s sound settings.
- Set digital audio output to Auto, Pass-through or Bitstream rather than PCM stereo.
- Pair the soundbar’s wireless surrounds and sub using its app.
Console audio output
- Connect the console to the receiver or to the TV’s eARC port.
- PlayStation: Settings, Sound, Audio Output, and set the channel output to 5.1 or 7.1.
- Xbox: Settings, General, Volume and audio output, and choose 5.1 or 7.1 uncompressed.
- Run the console’s own speaker test to confirm each channel.
After any change, close and reopen the browser tab so the browser picks up the new channel count. If you use a USB audio interface or a gaming headset, select it as the default device before opening the page, because the browser always uses the system default output.
How to read your surround test results
Once Test all finishes, the Channel check panel highlights. Mark each speaker, and use this table to match what you heard with the most likely cause and the fix.
| What you hear | Likely cause | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| Every sound comes from the two front speakers | The system is in stereo, or the TV or optical link is downmixing | Set 5.1 or 7.1 in the sound settings, use HDMI, and reload the page |
| Left and right are swapped | Speaker cables in the wrong terminals | Swap the two cables at the receiver, then run Test all again |
| Surround plays from the rear position, or the reverse | Side and rear pairs swapped on the receiver | Move the cables between the surround and surround back terminals |
| One speaker is silent | Loose wire, speaker set to None in the menu, or a faulty speaker | Check both ends of the cable and the receiver’s speaker configuration |
| Center channel is silent but the fronts play it | Center set to None, or phantom center mode | Set the center speaker to Small or Large in the receiver |
| One speaker is much quieter | Level trim set low or the speaker is far away | Use Tone mode and adjust the channel level in the receiver |
| Sound is thin or tinny | Woofer fault or speakers out of phase | Use Low range to check the woofer and confirm red to red, black to black |
| Rear speakers silent in 7.1 only | Receiver assigns the back amps to Zone 2 or height speakers | Change the amp assignment to 7.1 surround back |
Quick phase check: play Front Left and Front Right together with Play all and listen for a solid image in the middle. If the bass sounds weak and the sound feels vague and spread out, one speaker is probably wired with its plus and minus reversed.
Subwoofer and LFE explained
The “.1” in 5.1 and 7.1 is the LFE, or Low Frequency Effects, channel. It carries extra deep bass for explosions, engines and music below about 120 Hz, and it is sent only to the subwoofer.
Set the crossover
Most systems work best with the speakers set to Small and an 80 Hz crossover, the THX recommendation. Bass below 80 Hz from every channel is then sent to the sub.
Check the phase
Play the subwoofer and a front speaker, then flip the sub’s phase switch between 0 and 180 degrees. Keep the setting that sounds fuller at your seat.
Try the sub crawl
Put the sub at your seat, loop the SUB channel, and crawl around the front of the room. Where the bass sounds smoothest is where the sub should go.
If the SUB speaker on the map plays but you hear nothing, check that the subwoofer is switched on, that its own volume is turned up, and that the receiver’s speaker setup has the subwoofer set to Yes. Many subwoofers have an auto-standby mode that waits a few seconds before waking, so loop the channel for a moment before deciding it is silent. On phones and laptops the LFE channel is filtered below 110 Hz, so small speakers may not reproduce it at all, which is normal.
The subwoofer should blend in, not dominate. If you can easily point to where the bass is coming from, it is probably set too loud or the crossover is too high. Lower the sub’s level a step at a time with Music playing until the bass feels like it comes from the whole room.
Common surround sound myths
MythAny surround test works on any device
Fact: A browser can only send separate channels when the output reports them. On stereo devices every test is simulated, which is why this tool shows its output mode.
MythOptical is as good as HDMI for 5.1
Fact: Optical carries 5.1 only as compressed Dolby Digital or DTS. For uncompressed PCM, including browser audio, you need HDMI.
Myth7.1 is always better than 5.1
Fact: In small rooms where the seats are against the back wall, a 7.1 system adds little. Placement and calibration matter more than channel count.
MythThe subwoofer should be loud enough to feel everywhere
Fact: A well set sub is felt but not located. Too much level hides the speakers and makes dialogue harder to follow.
Surround sound test FAQ
How do I test my surround sound speakers?
Connect your computer to the receiver or soundbar by HDMI, set the output to 5.1 or 7.1 in your sound settings, open this page and choose the same layout. Press Test all and check that each sound comes from the speaker that glows on the room map. Tap any speaker to replay it, and mark each one in Channel check.
Why does every sound come out of my front speakers?
Your computer or TV is sending stereo. Set the output device to 5.1 or 7.1, use an HDMI connection instead of optical or Bluetooth, set the TV’s audio output to pass-through, and reload the page. When the badge turns green, the channels are separate.
Can a website really play true 5.1 or 7.1 sound?
Yes, when the output device reports six or eight channels. The Web Audio API can send audio to each channel separately, and this tool routes every test sound to its own channel in the standard order. If the device reports only two channels, the tool switches to a clearly labelled virtual mode.
What is the difference between 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound?
5.1 uses three front speakers, two surrounds and a subwoofer. 7.1 adds two rear speakers behind the listener, so the surrounds move to the sides and sound can travel smoothly from side to back. 7.1 suits larger rooms with space behind the seats.
Why is my subwoofer silent during the test?
Check that the subwoofer is powered on and its volume knob is up, that it is set to Yes in the receiver’s speaker setup, and that the cable is in the sub pre-out. Loop the SUB channel for a few seconds, because many subwoofers wake slowly from standby.
A sound plays from the wrong speaker. How do I fix it?
The speaker cables are usually in the wrong terminals on the receiver. Swap the pair that is reversed, for example surround left and right, or side and rear surrounds, then run Test all again until every sound matches the map.
Does this test work with a soundbar?
Yes, if the soundbar has real or virtual surround channels and receives multichannel audio. Connect the computer to the soundbar’s HDMI input, or to a TV with eARC pass-through. Virtual surround soundbars will place sounds less precisely than separate speakers, which is normal.
Can I test Dolby Atmos height speakers here?
No. Atmos height channels are carried as objects inside a Dolby bitstream, which a browser cannot create. This tool tests the 5.1 or 7.1 base layer. Use your receiver’s built-in test tones or an Atmos demo disc for the height speakers.
Does it work with 7.1 gaming headsets?
Yes. USB surround headsets usually appear as 7.1 devices, so the badge may turn green. The headset then converts the eight channels into virtual surround for two ear cups, so positions are approximate.
Which sound should I use: music, voice or tone?
Start with Music for a fast health check. Switch to Voice to judge dialogue clarity on the center channel, and use Tone, which is pink noise, when you want to compare levels between speakers or check with a sound level meter.
Is anything recorded or uploaded during the test?
No. Every test sound is generated in your browser on your own device. The tool does not use the microphone and sends no audio anywhere. Your layout and volume choices are saved only in your browser.
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