Tests / 01 — Left / Right

Left / Right test

Put your headphones on the way you normally would, then play each side. The lit ear cup below shows where the sound should be coming from.

Two short tones will play. If “Left” sounds in your right ear, your channels are swapped.

What this checks

The most basic thing a stereo pair must get right: the left channel reaching your left ear. It sounds trivial, but swapped channels are one of the most common headphone problems — and one people live with for months without noticing.

If left and right are swapped

Earbuds: check the L/R markings — it’s remarkably easy to wear them mirrored, and some shapes barely resist it.
Detachable cables: some cables can be plugged into the wrong sides on dual-entry headphones.
Software: a few OS accessibility settings and audio drivers can swap or mono-sum channels. Check your sound settings before blaming the hardware.
True wireless: if one bud was replaced under warranty, re-pair the set; some models can mis-assign sides.

What “Both” is for

The centered tone should appear in the middle of your head, equally loud in both ears. If it leans to one side, run the channel balance test next.