What is 250 Hz?
250 Hz is a tone in the low midrange region — the 'warmth' region and low voice range. Its nearest musical note is B3 (about +21 cents away), and its sound wave is roughly 1.372 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.
250 Hz is a standard audiometric frequency and sits in the 'warmth' region of a mix. Too much energy here sounds boomy or muddy; too little sounds thin.
What you can use a 250 Hz tone for
- Checking speaker warmth and 'boominess'
- Room-mode and standing-wave hunting
Can you hear 250 Hz?
This sits in the range where human hearing is most sensitive, so almost everyone hears it clearly at a low volume. 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 250 Hz test tone?
A 250 Hz test tone is a pure sine wave vibrating 250 times per second. It falls in the low midrange range (the 'warmth' region and low voice range) and its nearest musical note is B3. You can play it instantly above to test audio equipment or your hearing.
Can everyone hear 250 Hz?
This sits in the range where human hearing is most sensitive, so almost everyone hears it clearly at a low volume.
What note is 250 Hz?
The nearest equal-tempered note to 250 Hz is B3 (about +21 cents away).
Is it safe to play 250 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:
You can also use the full test tone generator for frequency sweeps, speaker balance and polarity checks, and the tinnitus matcher.