Surround Sound Test
Play a test sound through each speaker of a 5.1 or 7.1 system to check placement and wiring. Shows how to enable surround output if you only get stereo.
Volume warning: test tones start quiet. Raise the volume slowly. Loud tones, especially bass and high frequencies, can damage speakers and hearing.
How to test
- 01Set your computer's output to 5.1 or 7.1 (see the fixes), then reload this page.
- 02Press each speaker in the diagram. The sound should come only from that speaker.
- 03If the page reports stereo only, follow the fixes to enable surround output.
Why a browser may only get stereo
A web page can only use as many channels as the operating system gives the browser. Most computers default to stereo even when they're connected to a 5.1 or 7.1 receiver, so the page first reports how many channels it can reach.
Set the output to 5.1 or 7.1 in your system's sound settings, then reload. Chrome and Edge pass multichannel output through most reliably.
Channel order
Computers number channels in a fixed order: front left, front right, centre, subwoofer (LFE), then the surround pairs. In 7.1 the extra pair is named rear or side depending on the system, so those two pairs are the ones most often swapped.
If a sound comes from the wrong speaker, check the receiver's speaker assignment before moving cables. This test can't check Dolby Atmos height channels, which need Dolby-encoded content.
What your result means
Each sound comes from the matching speaker
Your surround setup is wired correctly.
Nothing to fix.
A sound comes from the wrong speaker
Swapped cables, or a different channel layout in your receiver.
Swap the cables, or check the receiver's speaker assignment.
A speaker stays silent
A cable, a receiver setting (speaker set to None), or the speaker itself.
Check the cable and the receiver's speaker setup.
The page says 'stereo only'
Your OS or browser is sending only two channels.
Enable 5.1/7.1 in your OS, then reload.
How to fix it
Windows
- Control Panel → Sound → select your device → Configure → choose 5.1 or 7.1 Surround.
- Reload this page in Chrome or Edge.
Mac
- Open Audio MIDI Setup → select the device → Configure Speakers → Multichannel.
- Reload this page.
TV and receiver
- Connect the computer to the receiver by HDMI (or to the TV's HDMI eARC port).
- Check the receiver's speaker setup: each speaker must be set to Small or Large, not None.
Questions
Why does the page only find two channels?
Browsers can only use as many channels as your operating system gives them. Set the OS output to 5.1 or 7.1 first. Chrome and Edge handle multichannel output best.
Can I test Dolby Atmos here?
No. Atmos needs Dolby-encoded content and a compatible app. This page tests each speaker channel, which is the first thing to get right.
Why is the 7.1 channel order different on my receiver?
Systems name the extra pair differently (rear vs side). If the rear and side sounds come from swapped speakers, check the receiver's speaker assignment.
Is anything uploaded?
No. The test runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you see, say or film is sent to us or stored anywhere.