High Frequency Response Check

Background

Humans hear frequencies from 20Hz up to 20kHz. As we get older, or exposed to loud sounds which damage our ears (such as loud rock concerts), the upper limit decreases. This test helps you benchmark the highest bound of your system's frequency extension. If you can't hear any of the high frequencies played back during this test, don't blame your speakers too quickly. Unlike low frequencies, high frequencies are easily reproduced, even with cheap speakers. In this test, the weakest components in your audio system are your ears.

The file

A -3dbFS sweeping sine tone, from 22kHz (supposedly inaudible) to 12kHz (if you can't hear this one...). On the top of the test tone, a voiceover tells you which frequency is currently playing.

22kHz-12kHz Sweep + Voice Over

Usage

Play back the file until you start hearing the underlying sweeping tone as it descends. The voiceover tells you the frequency you reached. This frequency more or less represents the upper limit of your audio system, or your hearing.

Beware: cheap sound cards may have trouble reproducing the highest frequencies of this test. At best, they won't reproduce anything. At worst, ghost frequencies will be generated in the audible range. These frequencies are not representative of the file's contents! If you hear strange ups and downs or anything else that does not sound like a continuously descending sweep, suspect this test to be corrupted by aliasing (the scientific name to this phenomenon).

Links

• Frequency Range of the Human Hearing
• Ultra-sonic Ringtones
• Lound Music and Hear Damage
• Digital Aliasing