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DISPLAY TEST/ONLINE
AES17 DIGITAL AUDIO SPECIFICATIONS

Subwoofer & Low-Frequency Bass Test - Free Audio Diagnostic

Test subwoofer bass response, low-frequency cut-off (20Hz–200Hz), and speaker driver rattling using continuous logarithmic sine sweeps.

WEB AUDIO SYNTHESIZER & SPECTRUM SCOPE
ENGINE: IDLE (CLICK PLAY TO START)
FREQ: 440 Hz|VOL: 80%
W3C WEB AUDIO API 48kHz
FREQUENCY SELECTOR440 Hz
OUTPUT GAIN / VOLUME80%
DIAGNOSTIC PROTOCOL

How To Run This Display Test (01, 02, 03)

01

Preparation

Clean your monitor surface, disable ambient light sensors, and set your display to native resolution and refresh rate.

02

Execution

Enter full-screen mode (F11) and use the diagnostic suite controls to progress through the test patterns.

03

Evaluation

Observe anomalies from different viewing angles in a dark room. Reference our testing guides to interpret your results.

HARDWARE ARCHITECTURE

Panel Technology Breakdown

Professional IPS (In-Plane Switching)

Superior color accuracy and viewing angles. Used in reference monitors. Prone to minor 'IPS Glow' in dark environments.

Consumer IPS (Fast IPS / Nano IPS)

High refresh rates and good response times for gaming, but lower static contrast ratios compared to VA.

VA Panel (Vertical Alignment)

Excellent deep blacks and high contrast (3000:1+). Often used in curved displays. Can exhibit 'black smearing' in fast motion.

OLED (Organic LED) & QD-OLED

Self-lit pixels deliver true black, near-instant response times, and infinite contrast. Subject to Auto Brightness Limiting (ABL).

ACOUSTIC FREQUENCY RESPONSE

Subwoofer Crossover, Port Tuning & Infrasound Acoustics

Low-frequency sound reproduction requires large mechanical driver excursion and high electrical power. Our logarithmic bass sweeps transition seamlessly from 100Hz down to sub-audible 10Hz, allowing you to test subwoofer crossover handoffs, locate port turbulence, and evaluate room boundary bass reinforcement.

Sub-Bass Range20 Hz – 60 Hz

Tactile acoustic vibrations produced by active subwoofers and planar magnetic headphones.

80 Hz THX CrossoverSatellite Handoff

Standard frequency threshold where satellite speakers hand off low-end signals to the subwoofer.

Room Mode NodesBoundary Reflection

Identifies standing wave peaks and nulls caused by parallel wall reflections.

Technical FAQs & Helpful Content

Subwoofer & Bass Response FAQs

Everything you need to know about this diagnostic instrument, calibration procedures, and display technical standards.

01.How do I test my subwoofer low-frequency cutoff (extension limit)?
Our bass sweep transitions from 100Hz down to sub-audible 10Hz. Listen for the point where volume drops dramatically or disappears completely to find your subwoofer's low-end limit.
02.What is the frequency range of human sub-bass perception?
Human hearing perceives deep bass starting at ~20Hz up to 60Hz as tactile physical vibrations. Frequencies below 20Hz (infrasound) are felt as room air pressure shifts.
03.What causes speaker cabinet rattling or buzzing during heavy bass sweeps?
Bass rattles are caused by loose cabinet enclosures, unsealed port tubes, vibrating desk surfaces, or driver voice coils exceeding linear excursion limits (Xmax).
04.How do room acoustic modes and standing waves distort bass sound?
Parallel walls reflect low-frequency soundwaves, creating standing wave nodes (bass buildup) and anti-nodes (bass dead zones) at specific seating positions.
05.What is the recommended subwoofer crossover frequency for studio monitors?
The THX standard crossover frequency is 80Hz. Frequencies below 80Hz are routed to the dedicated active subwoofer, freeing main speakers from heavy cone excursion.
06.Can laptop or mobile phone speakers play 20Hz sub-bass tones?
No. Micro-speakers in laptops and smartphones physically cannot move enough air volume to reproduce frequencies below 150Hz–200Hz.
07.What is subwoofer phase alignment (0° vs 180°)?
Phase alignment ensures your subwoofer cone pushes forward simultaneously with main speaker woofers. Out-of-phase subwoofers cancel out bass at the crossover point.
08.Why does uncompressed Web Audio sine sweep produce cleaner bass than YouTube videos?
YouTube applies lossy AAC/OPUS compression that truncates sub-20Hz low end and adds phase distortion. Web Audio API generates uncompressed pure 64-bit mathematical sine waves directly in RAM.
09.How do I locate the optimal subwoofer position in my room ('sub crawl')?
Place the subwoofer at your main listening position, play a 40Hz bass sweep, and crawl along the floor near room boundaries to find where the bass sounds cleanest and punchiest.
10.Is playing 10Hz to 20Hz sub-bass sweeps safe for high-end subwoofers?
Yes, provided volume is set at moderate listening levels. Avoid excessive amplification on ported subwoofers below their tuning frequency to prevent driver unloading.
Not sure which test to run next? Need troubleshooting advice?
Read Complete Diagnostic Guide →
PASS

SUB-BASS EXTENSION OK

Low-Frequency Transducer

20.0/Hz
Sub-Bass Limit20 Hz (Clean)
Crossover Handoff80 Hz THX

Subwoofer Metrics

Low-Frequency Telemetry

10-100Hz Sweep
Current Bass Frequency
60Hz
Sub-Audible Cutoff
20Hz
THX Crossover Handoff
80Hz

Bass Sweep Controls

Sub-Bass Range & Signal

Controls
70 %

Shortcuts

Keyboard Navigation

Hotkeys
B
Trigger 20Hz Sub-Bass Pulse
Space
Play / Pause Bass Sweep
R
Reset Frequency Sweep
TV users can navigate with D-Pad & Remote arrow keys
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