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Headphones Delay
To measure headphones delay, we need access to your microphone. Click the button below to begin.
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Headphone Delay Test

Use this test to measure your headphone audio latency directly in your browser.
It plays a short sound several times, records the playback through your microphone, and calculates the exact delay between sound output and microphone input.

You’ll see your total round-trip delay in milliseconds — the time it takes for sound to travel from your computer to your headphones and back through the mic.

How the Test Works

  1. Play a short sound
    The app plays a short, sharp click several times to use as precise timing markers.

  2. Delay in your system
    Small delays occur due to Bluetooth transmission, audio buffering, and headphone signal processing.

  3. Headphones playback
    Your headphones output the sound. Keep the volume comfortable and stable.

  4. Microphone capture
    The microphone records the clicks as played by the headphones. The app uses this to detect timing differences.

  5. Processing and result
    The waveform is analyzed locally to find matching peaks and calculate the average audio latency in milliseconds.

What the Measurement Includes

Your final result shows the total audio round-trip latency, which includes:

  • Headphone DSP and internal processing delay
  • Bluetooth or cable transmission delay
  • Microphone capture latency
  • Browser and OS audio buffer delay

Typical ranges:

  • Wired headphones: 10–40 ms
  • Bluetooth headphones: 120–300 ms
  • Low-latency gaming mode: 60–120 ms

How to Get the Most Accurate Result

1. Keep the room quiet
Avoid fans or background noise — they can hide the test sound.

2. Position the microphone close to one earcup
Hold the earcup 2–5 cm from the mic so the clicks are clearly heard.

3. Adjust your volume
If the signal is too quiet, it won’t be detected.
If it’s too loud, it may clip and distort the result.

4. Don’t move devices during the test
Switching audio devices or moving the mic may affect timing.

5. Repeat the test
Run the test two or three times and take the average for best accuracy.

Advanced Notes

  • Bluetooth codecs affect delay
    SBC, AAC, aptX, and LDAC each introduce different latency levels.
  • ANC and spatial audio modes
    These features often add extra processing time — try testing with them on and off.
  • Browser differences
    Chrome, Edge, and Safari may use slightly different audio buffer sizes.
  • Wired is always faster
    For real-time work like gaming or recording, wired connections minimize delay.

Privacy and Data Handling

All sound analysis happens locally in your browser.
No recordings are uploaded, stored, or shared. The waveform data is processed in memory only.

Example Result

Average Latency: 182 ms
(± 10 ms across 5 samples)

A smaller value means faster sound response.
A delay above 150 ms is often noticeable in videos, calls, and rhythm games.

Use the Results

  • Compare Bluetooth vs wired mode
  • Test ANC or spatial sound settings
  • Find out if your gaming headset’s “low latency mode” really works
  • Choose headphones that match your performance or editing needs

Why Measuring Latency Matters

Audio latency affects every sound interaction — from watching videos to playing games or recording music.
By measuring your actual delay, you can see how your setup performs and take steps to reduce lag for smoother, more synchronized sound.

  • measure bluetooth headphone delay
  • test headphone latency online
  • how to check sound lag
  • reduce audio delay on bluetooth headphones
  • wired vs wireless latency comparison