Surround Sound Test

Introduction

This page maps surround labels onto ordinary stereo sound. Browsers almost always give web pages two channels (left and right), not discrete 5.1 or 7.1 speaker feeds. That is a browser and OS limit, not a missing DeviceHub feature. Expect a clear left/right placement check, not a true home-theater speaker test.

What this tool does

It plays short tones panned toward front-left, front-right, center, and surround-left/right positions in stereo. You hear orientation cues. It does not send separate streams to rear or height speakers, even if your AVR has them.

When to use it

Use it to confirm stereo output works and that left/right imaging feels sensible before a call or game. Use your receiver’s own speaker-check menu when you need real discrete surround.

How it works

Supported: modern Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari with Web Audio after a click. Unsupported for true multichannel: any browser that only exposes stereo to the page (most of them). Permissions: none beyond starting sound with a click. Hardware: headphones or stereo speakers; a 5.1 AVR will still receive a stereo mix from the browser. Expected: tones lean left or right; “surround” labels are approximate pans, not dedicated rear channels.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Connect headphones or stereo speakers and set a moderate volume.
2. Click each position button and listen for left/right placement.
3. Treat surround labels as stereo approximations.
4. Stop playback when finished.

Common problems

Hearing everything in front on a surround system is normal for browser stereo. No sound usually means muted tab, blocked autoplay until you click, or the wrong output device.

Privacy explanation

Tones are generated locally in your browser. Nothing is uploaded. No microphone or camera permission is used.