TestTones

Play a pure 16,000 Hz tone instantly — test speakers, subwoofers and your hearing

Home Test Tone Frequencies 16,000 Hz Test Tone

16,000 Hz Test Tone

Play a pure 16,000 Hz tone instantly in your browser — no app, no sign-up, nothing to download. It is generated live as a mathematically exact sine wave, preset and ready. Press Play to hear it, and use the controls to change waveform, channel and volume.

16000.0 Hz
B9
1 Hz 100 1k 10k 22k Hz
Ready
Waveform
FFT Spectrum

Waveform & Channel

Volume & Duration

50%
Listen safely

Start with the volume low and raise it slowly. This is near the very top of human hearing. A minority of adults hear it at all, and your speakers or earbuds also have to be capable of reproducing it. Silence here is common and usually not a concern. Loud tones of any frequency can harm hearing over time, and very low tones at high volume can strain speakers — keep levels comfortable and take breaks.

What is 16,000 Hz?

16,000 Hz is a tone in the very high treble region — near the top of human hearing. Its nearest musical note is B9 (about +21 cents away), and its sound wave is roughly 0.021 m long in air. Because it is a pure sine wave, it contains only this one frequency with no harmonics, which is exactly what you want for testing and calibration.

16 kHz is near the practical top of most adults' hearing. Reproducing and hearing it depends heavily on both your equipment and your age.

What you can use a 16,000 Hz tone for

  • Informal 'hearing age' / high-frequency hearing checks
  • Testing tweeter and headphone treble response

Can you hear 16,000 Hz?

This is near the very top of human hearing. A minority of adults hear it at all, and your speakers or earbuds also have to be capable of reproducing it. Silence here is common and usually not a concern. If you are testing your hearing, do it at a modest, consistent volume in a quiet room and compare both ears. For a full walkthrough, see our at-home hearing range test guide. Remember this is a self-check, not a medical diagnosis.

Frequently asked questions

What is a 16000 Hz test tone?

A 16000 Hz test tone is a pure sine wave vibrating 16,000 times per second. It falls in the very high treble range (near the top of human hearing) and its nearest musical note is B9. You can play it instantly above to test audio equipment or your hearing.

Can everyone hear 16000 Hz?

This is near the very top of human hearing. A minority of adults hear it at all, and your speakers or earbuds also have to be capable of reproducing it. Silence here is common and usually not a concern.

What note is 16000 Hz?

The nearest equal-tempered note to 16000 Hz is B9 (about +21 cents away).

Is it safe to play 16000 Hz?

Yes, at a sensible volume. Start low and raise it gradually. Very loud tones of any frequency can harm hearing or, at very low frequencies, over-drive speakers — so keep levels comfortable and take breaks.

Explore more test tones

Need a different pitch? Browse every test-tone frequency, or jump to a nearby one:

12,500 Hztest tone 15,000 Hztest tone 17,000 Hztest tone 18,000 Hztest tone

You can also use the full test tone generator for frequency sweeps, speaker balance and polarity checks, and the tinnitus matcher.