AUDIO TESTER / LEARN
Frequency guide
Frequency is the number of cycles per second, measured in hertz (Hz). Higher frequency means higher pitch. Loudness is a different property: two frequencies at the same digital gain may sound very different.
| Range / tone | What it helps you explore | Try it |
|---|---|---|
| 20–60 Hz | Sub-bass. Often limited on small speakers. | Bass test |
| 60–250 Hz | Bass and the body of many instruments. | Bass test |
| 250–500 Hz | Low midrange and warmth. | Tone generator |
| 500 Hz–2 kHz | Midrange; a useful area for comparing channels. | 1,000 Hz tone |
| 2–4 kHz | Upper midrange; can sound prominent. Keep it quiet. | 2,000 Hz tone |
| 4–8 kHz | Presence and lower treble. | 4,000 Hz tone |
| 8–20 kHz | High treble; playback and audibility vary greatly. | 8,000 Hz tone |
| 440 Hz | A4 musical reference pitch. | 440 Hz reference |
| 1,000 Hz | Common signal-path reference; not an SPL calibration. | 1 kHz reference |
Frequency is not loudness
The tone generator’s level sets the amplitude of the digital signal. It does not tell you the sound pressure level in dB SPL. Headphone sensitivity, speaker response, amplifiers, system gain, room acoustics and your distance all matter.
Why a single tone sounds different from music
A sine tone isolates one frequency. Musical sounds and speech contain combinations of frequencies that change over time. Square, triangle and sawtooth tones add harmonics. A tone check can reveal obvious routing problems, but is not a full loudspeaker or room measurement.
The range is a convention, not a promise
20 Hz to 20 kHz is a commonly discussed nominal audio range. It is not a guarantee that every person or playback device can perceive or reproduce every tone in it. A browser test cannot separate the limits of the equipment from those of the listener.
Read the sound safety guide before exploring extreme frequencies.