Stereo System Test & Analysis Tones
All CD-burnable files are in 192kbps MP3 format and 192kbps MP4 (.M4A) format. To use these files on your stereo(s), download the ones you want by right-clicking them (Windows) or control-clicking them (MacOS) and save them to your drive. Burn a CD-R with these files using any CD burning app, the same way you would any normal music CD-R. Use your new CD to test your car or home stereo.
Now offering the widest range of free subwoofer static test tones on the web!
Extreme high freq.
99.999% out of range of the human ear, 98% out of most systems' range. Overtones/harmonics can be heard only.
High freq.
Mid-range freq.
Low freq.
Extreme low freq.
Subwoofer static test tones — the widest range of free subwoofer test tones on the web.
Frequently Asked Questions
First off, don't ignore the warning. If you have a very powerful stereo system, many of these tones can and will cause hearing damage if heard at extreme volumes over a long period of time. These tones are in fact more dangerous than standard songs being blasted because they are uninterrupted shots of pure, raw, frequency specific tone. Be weary of all frequencies. Lower tones may vibrate your entire car or house, but high tones can be dangerous too. I don't mean "loud" volumes, I mean "extreme" volumes. It is best to test the extreme limits of your stereo, especially car stereos, for only brief moments while you are at somewhat of a distance away from the speakers. Never listen to these in headphones. Accidentally subjecting your ears to these tones at extreme headphone volumes, even for a second or two, is roughly the same as putting a drop of rubbing alcohol in your eye. And if you don't care about your ears, then at least be careful not to blow a speaker out, which is also possible with these files (especially if you have a setup where you are overdriving your speakers to begin with.)
How do I play these tones on my car/home stereo system?
Several ways:
- COMPUTER ATTACHED TO HOME SYSTEM OR WITH EXTERNAL SPEAKERS: If you have your computer attached to your home system, or if you have a substanial computer speaker system, simply click the files to play them from your browser.
- CAR / HOME STEREO: You'll need to download these files and burn them onto an audio CD first. To download the files, right-click them (Windows) or option-click them (MacOS) and save them to your drive. Once downloaded, you can use these files (MP3) exactly the same way you use any MP3 song file. Use your favorite CD burning application to burn these files on CD the same way you would burn any music CD. If you are not sure how to do this, you should at least go here and start educating yourself on the subject, as well as acquire a super MP3 player/CD burning app. Additionally, you can put these files on an iPod, or on any other consumer music playback device that is connected to a speaker system.
- CAR / HOME STEREO WITH DOLBY 5.1 SURROUND SOUND: Surround sound files on my site are all in AC3 format. You will need to burn these AC3 files on a DVD and play it in your DVD player that is attached to your 5.1 system to hear them. AC3 files cannot be used by CD-audio burning software nor can it be put on an audio CD in general. You can make an audio DVD with an AC3 file, but you will need specific software that allows you to do so. This process is a little more complicated than burning a standard audio CD, so you will have to do some research about it if you have never done it before. For Macintosh users, it is suggested to use DVD Studio Pro to make 5.1 DVD's.
Why is burning a Dolby 5.1 DVD so complicated compared to making a music CD?
Because if everyone could do it, it wouldn't be cool anymore. That and with 5.1 surround, you're dealing with 5 (or 6) channels of sound vs. 2 channels for stereo (music), thus rendering music apps (MP3 players, audio CD-burning apps, etc) totally and completely useless as they only support mono or stereo. On top of that, once you create, mix, and master your 5 or 6 channels of sound, you then need to encode it into an AC3 file, which then is used as either a movie's sound track file or simply the sound of an audio DVD. This entire process requires two or three different applications and a little thumbing through some user manuals. As a rule, these apps do not come cheap, and neither do DVD-R's (when compared to CD-R's) If I find out cool and easier ways to make these for the common user, I'll let you know. (PS: if you have ever downloaded or purchased the THX intro sound and burned it on an audio CD, understand that you did not download the actual 5.1 version of it. You have a stereo mixdown of that intro sound only, and it is not truly Dolby 5.1. FYI) Email me with additional questions.
Why do I hear sound on the really x-low frequencies when you say they are out of human ear range?
When a tone is being played, usually it is the dominant frequency you hear the most, but its actually a combination of frequencies thats simply dominated by one specific tone (500hz, for example). When the dominant tone is out of range, and you crank your system up to try and play it (in vain) you will clearly hear all the overtones and/or harmonics that are normally drowned out or unnoticed that are in range. For more on this and other cool geeky sound stuff, Google yourself fool.
Do you know what the heck you're doing when it comes to sound production and stereo system stuff?
I am a part-time musician, a hobbyist music engineer/producer, a professional computer graphics/web developer, and an admitted audiophile. I don't have any cool little sheets of paper that show any of my qualifications hanging in my study, if I had a study. Thats all I can tell you.
Can my dog hear the really high frequency files even though I can't?
Yes, and ol' Fido shant be too thrilled by you blasting those while he's around.
Are your low-frequency files considered "illegal bass"?
Guns can kill, yet guns are legal. How you use these files is what can make them be useful, or disruptive. Law enforcement has a lot of varying degrees of what is considered "noise pollution" from city to city. Use your best judgement, always, and never intentionally try to create a disturbance somewhere where no one cares about your "boomin' system" to begin with. You look like a real jackass when you do that.
Why do you just give these test tones away for free?
Its just a hobby, and if I ask people for money, then suddenly the quality of the tones is subject to scrutiny, which leads to accountability, which leads to complaints, which can ultimately lead to lawsuits. If you think these files suck, oh well. Don't use them. You get what you pay for. At least that's how I see it!
Can you make me a test tone of a specific frequency(ies) that is longer / shorter / quieter / louder / customized?
Yes, within reason I will accept requests, make them, and post them on here. It will take me approximately "however long it takes me" to get them done and posted. Submit a request...
Can these files damage my speakers if I play them too loud?
Hell yeah they can. Especially if you don't have the right pass filters or crossovers set up. Most decent systems, ranging from "very nice" to "competition level" can handle these tones perfectly. Use your best judgment.
What kinds of stereo systems have you tested your tones on?
Mainly I test on my 10 speaker, 900 watt system in our car. Its a Kenwood 45 watt x 4 tuner/CD player, a Jensen JXP720 amp, and two 400 watt, 4 ohm, 10" something-or-other woofers in a vented cab. We bridged it, so the box is quite punchy. At home I have a Sony surround sound stereo system with 50+1 CD player, dual tape deck, and a groovy "I-forget-how-many-but-its-a-whole-lot" watt amplifier. Speakers include two main stereo speaker enclosures that house two 12" woofers, two 5" midranges, and two 2" tweeters, as well as my center, left-surround and right-surround speaker boxes which, sadly, do not have the range or punch I'd like them to have. Alas, size matters. Budget being what it is, I deal with what I have. Both my car and my home system can upset neighbors very quickly with these tones - so use them with care. On my computer, I use two amplified JBL-Pro monitors for stereo playback.