Audio Reaction Time Test
Close your eyes if you like — listen for the beep and react the moment you hear it. Measure your auditory reaction time in milliseconds.
There's no visual cue — listen for it.
Tip: press Space to react, and try it with your eyes closed.
What is a good audio reaction time?
Sound reaches the brain faster than vision is processed, so auditory reaction times are the quickest numbers on this site — typically 20–40 ms ahead of a visual test.
| Rating | Reaction time | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Elite | Under 140 ms | About as fast as a human response to sound gets. |
| Fast | 140–170 ms | The range sprinters react to a starting pistol in. |
| AverageMost people | 170–210 ms | Where most people land with wired headphones on. |
| Below average | 210–280 ms | Common on speakers or in a noisy room. |
| Slow | Over 280 ms | Usually audio output latency rather than your hearing. |
Reading the numbers: Check your audio path before trusting a slow result. Bluetooth headphones add 100–300 ms of latency and will wreck this measurement completely — wired headphones are the only setup that gives a clean number. Browsers also block audio until you interact with the page, so the beep only works after you click to start.
Reacting to sound instead of sight.
A generated beep with nothing on screen to give the timing away, so your ears do all the work.
Beep cue
A clean Web Audio tone signals go.
Auditory timing
Millisecond timing with no visual cue.
Click or Space
Respond however's fastest for you.
False-start detection
Reacting before the beep resets the attempt.
Headphone-friendly
Best measured with headphones for a clean signal.
Private by default
The tone is generated locally — no audio files to fetch.
How the beep test runs.
Start it, wait through the silence, then respond on the tone.
Start listening
Put on headphones and click to begin.
Wait for it
Keep still — eyes open or closed.
Hear the beep
A tone plays after a random delay.
React instantly
Respond the moment you hear it.
When hearing is the trigger.
Plenty of real reactions start with a sound rather than something you see.
Auditory vs visual
See how your ears compare with your eyes for reflexes.
Sound-cue training
Rehearse reacting to a whistle, horn or start signal.
Test audio latency
Get a feel for your setup's sound delay.
Sprint-start practice
Train the react-to-gun reflex sprinters rely on.
Alertness check
A quick gauge of how switched-on you are.
Compare sessions
Track your auditory reaction over time.
How the audio reaction time test works
Click to arm the test, then listen. After a random delay a shortbeep plays — react the instant you hear it by clicking or pressing Space. There is no visual cue at all, so this measures auditory reaction time on its own. Reacting before the beep counts as a false start.
Sound is usually processed faster than vision, so most people are20–40ms quicker here than on a visual reaction test — often around 150–200ms. Try it with your eyes closed to remove visual distraction entirely.
Headphones are recommended: they cut out speaker latency and room noise for a cleaner measurement. If you hear nothing, check your volume and that the tab isn't muted — browsers only allow audio after you've clicked, which is why the beep starts working once the test begins.
Audio Reaction questions, answered.
Is auditory reaction time faster than visual?
Yes, usually. Sound reaches the brain slightly faster than visual information is processed, so auditory reaction times are typically 20–40ms quicker — often around 150–200ms.
Do I need headphones?
Headphones are recommended because they remove speaker latency and background noise, giving a cleaner measurement. Speakers work fine, but the result may include a few extra milliseconds of audio delay.
Why can't I hear the beep?
Browsers block audio until you interact with the page, so the sound only works after you click to start. Check your volume isn't muted, and that the browser tab isn't muted either.
Why is audio reaction useful to measure?
Many real reactions are triggered by sound — a starting pistol, a car horn, an audio cue in a game. Testing it separately from vision gives a fuller picture of your reflexes.
Tests closest to the Audio Reaction test.
Different senses and cues, same question: how many milliseconds pass between the signal and your response.
Reaction Time
Wait for the pad to turn green, then click as fast as you can. Track your best and average reaction time across attempts — all in your browser.
Color Reaction
The pad flashes different colors. Click only when it turns green — react fast, but don't get caught out by the wrong color.
Number Reaction
Watch the numbers flash by and click the moment your target number appears. Measure how fast you recognise and react — all in your browser.
Keyboard Reaction
Wait for a key to appear, then press that exact key as fast as you can. Measure how quickly your fingers respond — not just your mouse.