Subwoofer test
Step through the low-frequency range from 80 Hz down to 16 Hz to hear how low your subwoofer can play.
Before you begin: Set your device, amplifier or receiver to a low volume. Low-frequency test tones place sustained demand on speakers and subwoofers. Stop the test if you hear distortion, knocking, rattling or any other unusual noise. Do not increase the volume simply because you cannot hear a particular frequency.
What should I hear?
Many home subwoofers begin to fade somewhere around 30–40 Hz, while more capable models may continue playing down to 20 Hz or below.
Near 20 Hz and below, you may feel vibration or pressure more than you hear a clearly defined note. The exact point at which the sound fades will depend on your subwoofer, room, listening position and volume.
If the bass fades much earlier than expected, check that the subwoofer is powered on and connected correctly. You may also need to review your receiver’s bass-management settings, crossover configuration and subwoofer level.
Do you hear chuffing or whooshing noises?
Chuffing is turbulent air noise coming from the port of a ported subwoofer. It can occur when the subwoofer is being driven close to its output limits.
Reduce the volume if you hear chuffing. Persistent port noise at moderate volume may indicate that the subwoofer is struggling to reproduce the selected frequency. Sealed subwoofers do not have ports and therefore do not produce port chuffing.
No subwoofer connected?
You can also play the test through regular speakers or headphones at a low volume, but the results will not represent the performance of a dedicated subwoofer. The lowest tones will usually fade sooner, and headphones will not create the same room-filling physical pressure you may feel from a subwoofer.