LISTENING GUIDE · 01

One side sounds quieter. What should I check?

Before assuming your earbuds are faulty, separate three things: the connection, your settings and how they fit.

1. Compare the same signal

Music does not always put the same sound in both ears. A guitar on the left and a keyboard on the right may be an intentional part of the mix. For a fair comparison, choose a sine wave and tap Mono at the center of Earphone Check’s headphone image, which sends identical sound to both channels. Temporarily turn off spatial audio, virtual surround and personalized sound effects so they do not complicate the comparison.

2. Check balance and Mono Audio

Look for a left/right balance slider in your phone or computer’s sound or accessibility settings. If it has moved away from the middle, identical signals can play at different levels. When using the Left & right test, Mono Audio should be off: it may combine the two channels and make a left-only signal play in both ears. Setting names and locations vary by device.

3. Check the fit on both sides

A loose ear tip can reduce bass and make one side feel quieter overall. Refit both earbuds and use tips that seal comfortably. Each ear may need a different tip size. With over-ear headphones, check whether hair or the arms of your glasses are breaking the seal around a cushion. Adjust gently; forcing an earbud deeper is not the goal.

4. Change one part of the connection

For wired headphones, check that the plug is fully inserted and consider whether an adapter is involved. For wireless earbuds, check the charge on both sides and reconnect. If possible, try the same headphones with another device, or another pair with the same device. If the same side of the same pair remains quiet across devices, a product inspection may be useful.