Sound Reaction Time Test

Turn your sound on, click to start, and click again the instant you hear the beep. Five rounds give you a fair average.

Round: 0/5
Last: —
Average: —
Best average: —

Click to startTurn your sound on. After a random pause you will hear a beep — click as fast as you can. Five rounds.

How the sound reaction test works

After you start a round the box goes quiet and waits for a random moment between about one and four seconds. Then a short beep plays and the timer starts. Click, tap or press Space as soon as you hear it. The test takes the audio delay your browser reports into account, so the clock starts as close as possible to the moment the sound actually leaves your speakers.

Because the pause is random, you cannot predict the beep — you have to listen. Clicking too early is a false start, and that round is repeated. After five valid rounds you get your average, your fastest and slowest reactions and a bar for each round.

Sound versus sight

Hearing and seeing travel different paths to the brain, and simple sounds are often processed a little faster than simple visual changes. In games this matters: footsteps, reload sounds and audio cues can warn you before you see anything. Try this test and the visual reaction time test back to back and compare your two averages.

Getting an accurate result

Use wired headphones or your device speakers — wireless audio adds delay.
Close other tabs that play sound and sit somewhere quiet.
Keep a finger resting on the mouse button so the click itself is quick.
Do a few practice rounds first; the first round is usually the slowest.

Frequently asked questions

Is reaction to sound faster than reaction to sight?

For most people, yes — reacting to a simple sound is usually somewhat faster than reacting to a simple visual signal. Compare your average here with the visual reaction time test to see the difference for yourself.

Do my headphones affect the result?

Yes. Bluetooth headphones and some speakers add a noticeable delay before the sound reaches your ears, which makes your time look slower. Wired headphones or built-in speakers give the most accurate result.

Why do I hear nothing?

Check that your device is not muted and the browser tab is allowed to play sound. Browsers only allow sound after you interact with the page, so the first click on the test area also unlocks audio.

What happens if I click before the beep?

That is a false start. The round does not count and you simply try it again, so guessing the timing does not help your score.

Is my result saved?

Your best five-round average is kept in your own browser. Nothing is sent to our servers.

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