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Surround Sound Test

Send a noise burst to each channel of a 5.1 system - fronts, center, surrounds, and subwoofer - and confirm the sound comes from the right speaker. Best over HDMI to a receiver in multichannel PCM mode.

(you)

Output mode detected on first play.

What to listen for

Wrong position: surround-left noise coming from the front-right speaker means cables swapped at the receiver's terminals - the most common surround fault and a two-minute fix. Silence: check the speaker wire at both ends, then the receiver's amp assignment (many route the surround-back terminals to zone 2 or height channels by configuration). Weak or thin sound from one speaker at matching volume settings suggests a partially inserted banana plug or a damaged driver - verify with the balance test and a sweep.

The LFE button plays a 50 Hz tone: it should be felt more than located. Nothing? The subwoofer's own gain, the receiver's sub level, and the LFE cable are the suspects in that order - the full bass workup lives in the subwoofer test. Once every channel plays from the right place, level-match and set distances with the home theater calibration guide.

Surround Sound Test FAQ

How do I test if my surround sound is working?

Play a signal to one channel at a time and confirm the sound comes from the matching speaker: front left from front left, center from the center, and so on. Wrong-position sound means swapped cables at the receiver; a silent channel means a connection, amp-assignment, or speaker fault. This page sends noise bursts to each channel individually - the same routine as a receiver's built-in test tones.

Why do the surround channels play from my front speakers?

The browser can only address channels your audio path exposes. Over HDMI to a receiver set to multichannel PCM, browsers that support 6-channel output address each speaker discretely. On a stereo device (laptop, most Bluetooth), everything folds down to two channels - this page then simulates positions with stereo panning, which tests imaging but not the physical surround speakers. The status line under the buttons tells you which mode you are in.

What is the LFE channel?

Low-Frequency Effects - the ".1" in 5.1, a dedicated channel band-limited to roughly 20-120 Hz feeding the subwoofer. Our LFE test plays a 50 Hz tone: you should feel it from the sub, not hear it localized at any speaker. If it is quiet, check the sub's own volume knob, the receiver's subwoofer level, and that the crossover is not set to bypass.

What is the correct 5.1 speaker layout?

Center directly at the screen; front left/right at ±22-30° from the listening position at ear height; surrounds at ±90-110°, slightly above ear height; subwoofer placement is flexible (find it with the crawl test). If a channel tests fine but sounds wrong in movies, placement and receiver distance/level calibration are the next suspects - see our home theater calibration guide.

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