Why do the rear channel tests play through my front speakers?

The signal is probably being downmixed to stereo. Check your operating system speaker layout, HDMI or receiver connection, browser output device, and any virtual surround processing.

Does this test upload or record audio?

No. Test signals are generated locally with the Web Audio API. The tool does not need microphone access and does not upload audio.

Speaker routing, made visible

Hear every channel.Trust the result.

Test stereo, 5.1, and 7.1 speaker layouts from your browser. We show what your device actually exposes before sending a signal.

Start speaker test Check your setup first

Interactive channel test

Choose a layout. Tap a speaker.

Not checked yet

Speaker test stopped

0audio uploads

3speaker layouts

8discrete channels

1honest capability check

Before you press play

A clean signal needs a clean path.

Four quick checks prevent the most common false result: a real multichannel signal silently folded down to two speakers.

Set the system layout

Choose 5.1 or 7.1 in your operating system's speaker configuration before opening the test.

Use a wired path

HDMI to an AV receiver is the most reliable route. Bluetooth usually exposes only two output channels.

Disable upmixing

Turn off virtual surround and all-channel stereo while testing so one input channel does not appear across several speakers.

Start quietly

Set your receiver low, play one channel, then raise the level gradually. The LFE signal is intentionally bass-heavy.

Channel reference

What each layout should reach

LayoutFull-range speakersLFEBest for

2.0Front left + right—Desktop speakers, headphones

5.1Front, center, surrounds1TV rooms, compact theaters

7.1Front, side, rear1Dedicated home theaters

Good tests explain their limits

Frequently asked questions

Can a browser really test 7.1 surround sound?

Yes, but only when every link in the chain exposes eight channels: the operating system, browser, connection, receiver, and speaker configuration. The capability card above reports what the browser can currently address.

Why do rear channels play through the front?

That usually means the path is being downmixed to stereo. Check the system speaker layout, selected output device, HDMI mode, and receiver processing. Disable virtual surround before testing again.

Can I use headphones for this test?

Headphones normally expose two physical channels. They can demonstrate virtual spatial processing, but they cannot prove that eight discrete loudspeakers are wired correctly.

Does SurroundTest record or upload anything?

No. Every tone and noise signal is generated locally in your browser. No microphone permission, account, or file upload is required.