How to run the surround sound test
- Sit in your usual seat and turn the receiver volume down a little.
- Press "Detect my speakers". The tool reads how many output channels your browser gets: 2 (stereo), 6 (5.1) or 8 (7.1). Speakers that don't exist in your layout are greyed out.
- Press each speaker or "Play all in order". Each one plays 1.2 seconds of pink noise; the subwoofer (LFE) plays a 50 Hz tone instead.
- Point at the sound. It should come from the speaker that lights up on screen. If the front left button plays from the right, or the side and rear pairs are swapped, you have found a wiring or setting problem.
5.1 sound test vs 7.1 surround sound test
| Layout | Channels, in the order they play |
|---|---|
| Stereo | Front left, front right |
| 5.1 | Front left, front right, center, subwoofer, surround left, surround right |
| 7.1 | Front left, front right, center, subwoofer, rear left, rear right, side left, side right |
The 5.1 sound test uses six channels; the 7.1 surround sound test adds the rear pair for eight. The order matches the standard channel order Windows uses for multichannel PCM. On a Mac, the speaker positions are set in Audio MIDI Setup › Configure Speakers, so check there if the order looks shifted.
Only 2 channels? Turn on surround output first
A web page can't create channels your system doesn't offer. If the test reports 2, change the output before blaming the speakers:
- Windows: right-click the speaker icon › Sound settings › More sound settings › select your receiver or HDMI output › Configure › choose 5.1 Surround or 7.1 Surround. Then reload this page.
- Mac: open Audio MIDI Setup, select the HDMI or USB device, click Configure Speakers and pick the multichannel layout.
- Through a TV: many TVs send only stereo PCM back over HDMI ARC. Connect the computer straight to the receiver, or use eARC, to get all channels.
- Phones, tablets and Bluetooth: these give you 2 channels, so you can test left and right only.
What the results mean
- Sound from the wrong speaker: swap the speaker wires at the receiver, or check its speaker assignment menu. Side and rear pairs are the most common mix-up in 7.1 rooms.
- One speaker silent: check the wire at both ends and the receiver's speaker setup: a speaker set to "None" gets nothing. Try a known-good speaker on the same terminals to tell a dead speaker from a dead channel.
- Center sounds thin or muffled: the center carries most dialog. Aim it at ear height and make sure it isn't set to "None" or "Phantom".
- Levels differ a lot: the noise bursts are all the same level, so a much louder or quieter speaker points to the receiver's channel levels. Run the receiver's own calibration, or adjust with an SPL meter.
- Sound from all speakers at once: an upmix mode like Dolby Surround or "All Channel Stereo" is spreading the signal. Switch the receiver to Direct, Pure or Multichannel mode.
For the bass side of things, the subwoofer test plays tones from 20 Hz and helps set the phase. For a simple two-speaker check, use the left right audio test.
How we tested this tool
We rendered the tool's output in a browser into simulated 6-channel and 8-channel outputs and measured every channel: each speaker button sent its noise burst or 50 Hz tone to its own channel only, with the other channels silent. We also checked that on a normal 2-channel device the tool reports stereo, greys out the surround speakers and explains how to enable surround. We haven't tested it on a real 5.1 or 7.1 receiver yet; tell us through the contact page how your system did.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the test say I only have 2 channels?
The browser can only use the channels your operating system offers. If Windows or macOS is set to stereo, or the device is connected over Bluetooth or a stereo TV link, only 2 channels exist. Set the output to 5.1 or 7.1 in the system sound settings and reload the page.
Can I run a surround sound test on headphones?
Only left and right, because headphones have two drivers. Virtual surround software (Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos for Headphones, DTS) can turn a 7.1 signal into a 3D effect, and if it exposes 8 channels the test will use them, but you are hearing a simulation, not separate speakers.
Why is the subwoofer silent during the LFE test?
Check that the receiver's speaker setup has the subwoofer turned on, the sub is powered and its volume is up, and the cable goes to the Sub or LFE output. Some receivers and TVs drop the LFE channel from PC audio, so also try the subwoofer test page, which plays bass through the main channels.
Does this work through HDMI to a TV or soundbar?
It works if the TV or soundbar reports multichannel PCM to the computer. Many TVs only pass stereo PCM back through HDMI ARC, so a soundbar behind a TV often shows up as 2 channels. Connecting the computer straight to the receiver or using eARC usually fixes that.
What is the difference between a 5.1 sound test and a 7.1 surround sound test?
A 5.1 system has front left, center, front right, two surround speakers and a subwoofer. A 7.1 system adds a pair of rear speakers behind you, so the test plays 8 channels instead of 6.