🔊 Audio Channel Tester
Analyze decoded audio channels, watch live meters and test common speaker layouts directly in your browser.
Plays a short tone only in the selected decoded channel. Your browser or operating system may still downmix if multichannel output is not enabled.
How to test audio channels online
- Upload a local file or enter a direct media URL. Local uploads are decoded in your browser.
- Check the decoded channel count and layout shown in the result summary.
- Play the file and watch the live channel meters and virtual speaker visualization.
- Use individual channel tests or the built-in 2.0, 5.1 and 7.1 tones to troubleshoot speaker routing.
- If a surround codec fails to decode, try a browser-friendly version such as WAV or FLAC. Codec support varies by browser and operating system.
Common surround sound questions
How do I test 5.1 audio channels online?
Upload a file your browser can decode as six channels. The tester maps common 5.1 positions, shows live meters during playback and provides generated 5.1 speaker-test tones.
Can this test 7.1 surround audio?
Yes, when the browser exposes eight decoded channels. Actual routing to eight physical speakers still depends on your operating system, browser, output device and receiver settings.
Why does AC3, E-AC3, DTS or TrueHD sometimes fail?
This tool uses the browser's Web Audio decoder. Some browsers and operating systems do not expose decoders for those codecs. WAV, FLAC, AAC or other natively supported formats can be more reliable.
Can this verify Dolby Atmos or height speakers?
No. Browsers may expose only a compatible base layer and often do not expose object-based Atmos metadata or rendered height channels. This tool only reports channels the browser actually decodes.
What is the LFE channel?
LFE means Low-Frequency Effects. It is the “.1” channel in layouts such as 5.1 and 7.1 and is commonly routed to a subwoofer.
Why are my rear or surround speakers silent?
The source may be stereo, the surround channels may contain silence, or your browser, operating system, television, HDMI path or receiver may be downmixing the signal. Use the individual speaker tests to narrow down the cause.
Can I test speakers without uploading a file?
Yes. Use the built-in 2.0, 5.1 and 7.1 generated test tones. These are useful for checking whether multichannel output reaches the expected speakers.
Is my uploaded audio sent to ValSolution?
Local uploads are decoded and analyzed in your browser. When you test a remote URL, your browser fetches that URL directly and the remote server must allow cross-origin access.
Does a detected 5.1 file guarantee my system is outputting 5.1?
No. Detection describes the decoded source buffer. The final output can still be downmixed or rerouted later by the browser, operating system, audio driver, television or receiver.
What do FL, FR, C, LFE, SL and SR mean?
They are common speaker labels: Front Left, Front Right, Center, Low-Frequency Effects, Surround Left and Surround Right. Some files use rear-channel labels or nonstandard channel orders, so the map is a practical convention rather than a guarantee for every file.