Hearing-range tone

8000 Hz — 8 kHz Treble Tone

8 kHz is a high treble tone — the top of the standard audiogram range and a common point for checking high-frequency reproduction.

Audio visualization
Hz

 

20 Hz20 kHz
Waveform
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About the 8000 Hz tone

At 8 kHz you're well into the “air” and sparkle region of treble. It's a useful tone for hearing whether your speakers or headphones reproduce high frequencies cleanly, and for locating high-pitched whistles or interference.

Most people hear 8 kHz easily. Sensitivity to the very highest frequencies tends to decrease naturally with age, which is why the tones above this one can be harder to hear. This is a casual check, not a hearing test — for anything medical, see an audiologist.

In musical terms 8 kHz sits far above the top note of a piano, which ends near 4186 Hz, so it reads as pure treble “air” rather than a pitch you would hum. If a screen or charger gives off a faint whine and you want to pin down its pitch, play this tone and step it up or down until the two match. Keep it to a pure sine here — square and triangle waveforms add harmonics above 8 kHz that many speakers cannot reproduce cleanly.

Technical details

Frequency
8000 Hz
Nearest note
B8 (+21¢)
Category
Hearing-range tone
Period
0.125 ms
Wavelength (air)
4.3 cm
Octave up / down
16000 Hz / 4000 Hz

Common uses

  • Check high-frequency reproduction on speakers or headphones
  • Match or locate a high-pitched whistle or whine
  • A reference point before the higher hearing-range tones

Frequently asked questions

Can everyone hear 8000 Hz?

Most people hear 8 kHz easily. Sensitivity to the very highest frequencies declines naturally with age, so the tones above this one get harder to hear — but 8 kHz itself is usually well within range. This is a casual check, not a hearing test.

What note is 8000 Hz?

8000 Hz sits far above the highest note on a piano, so it’s pure treble rather than a musical pitch you could hum. The generator shows the nearest note and cents for reference.

Why don’t my speakers reproduce 8000 Hz well?

Some laptop and phone speakers roll off in the high treble, so 8 kHz can sound faint or thin on them. Over-ear headphones or full-range speakers usually reproduce it far more cleanly.

Nearby frequencies