What is 4000 Hz?
4000 Hz is a tone in the presence region — detail, edge and consonant sounds. Its nearest musical note is B7 (about +21 cents away), and its sound wave is roughly 0.086 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.
4 kHz is where the ear canal resonates and where hearing is near its most sensitive — which also makes it the frequency most vulnerable to noise-induced damage (the classic '4 kHz notch'). It is a standard audiometric test frequency.
What you can use a 4000 Hz tone for
- Level calibration and equipment checks
- Tinnitus frequency matching (as a starting point)
Can you hear 4000 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 4000 Hz test tone?
A 4000 Hz test tone is a pure sine wave vibrating 4,000 times per second. It falls in the presence range (detail, edge and consonant sounds) and its nearest musical note is B7. You can play it instantly above to test audio equipment or your hearing.
Can everyone hear 4000 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 4000 Hz?
The nearest equal-tempered note to 4000 Hz is B7 (about +21 cents away).
Is it safe to play 4000 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.