Controller Diagnostic

Microphone Tester

Test built-in controller microphones and 3.5mm headset audio on PS5 DualSense and Xbox controllers online for free. Real-time audio spectrum & dBFS level meter.

Click 'Test Microphone' to capture audio level visualizer...

Microphone Disconnected

AUDIO INPUT VOLUME 0 dB

Microphone Acoustic Performance Benchmarks

Speak at normal conversation distance and monitor input decibel thresholds:

-18 dBFS to -6 dBFS (Optimal)

Crisp speech clarity; low noise floor (< -45 dBFS); ideal voice transmission for in-game party chat and Discord.

< -30 dBFS (Low Gain / Muffled)

Weak audio signal. Requires increasing OS input gain or checking microphone positioning near the mouth.

0 dBFS Continuous (Static / Short)

Severe buzzing or constant clipping. Indicates dirty 3.5mm TRRS jack contacts, ground loop, or broken mic wire.

How to Get Started

Just three steps to run a complete controller test and understand your controller's health status.

Connect Controller

Connect your controller to your computer via USB cable or Bluetooth. If the browser doesn't respond, press any button on the controller to activate the connection.

Button Detection

Press each button in the visual interface and confirm the corresponding area lights up on screen. This helps troubleshoot unresponsive or double-clicking buttons.

Sticks & Vibration

Rotate the sticks to check linearity and drift issues; click the vibration test button to feel if the left and right motor feedback is working properly.

What would you like to do next?

Select a diagnostic calibration suite, deadzone analyzer, or high-frequency overclock tool.

Fix

Repair & Calibration

Calibrate zero-point offsets or follow step-by-step repair guides.

WebHID Calibration

Optimize

Game Deadzones

Calculate exact radial vs axial deadzone overlays for Fortnite, Apex, & COD.

Deadzone Calculator

Telemetry

Overclock & Circularity

Verify browser-observed update timing Hz stability and statistical circularity grades.

Hz & Circularity Tools

Controller Audio Hardware & Microphone Acoustic Processing

Modern gaming controllers integrate high-definition USB audio codecs to transmit multi-channel party audio, spatial game effects, and microphone voice streams without requiring dedicated soundcards.

DualSense Beamforming MEMS Microphone Array

Primary Voice Mic: Positioned directly below the PS logo button, angled toward the user’s mouth to capture primary vocal frequencies (100Hz–8kHz).
Secondary Ambient Mic: Located on the upper rear spine between the shoulder bumpers. It samples environmental room reverberation and button clicking noise, allowing real-time digital signal processing (DSP) to subtract ambient clutter from voice chat.

3.5mm TRRS Headset Jack Standards: CTIA vs. OMTP

Both PlayStation and Xbox controllers adhere to the modern CTIA standard: Tip = Left Audio, Ring 1 = Right Audio, Ring 2 = Ground, Sleeve = Microphone. Connecting an older OMTP headset (where Ground and Mic are reversed) results in hollow, quiet voice capture and heavy static crackle.

Controller Hardware Glossary & Tips

Stick Drift & Deadzones

Stick drift occurs when analog sticks register input without being touched. This is typically caused by physical wear in traditional carbon-film potentiometers. A deadzone is a software-level threshold (e.g., 5-10%) applied to ignore these microscopic false inputs.

Hall Effect Sensors

Unlike traditional ALPS potentiometers, Hall Effect modules use magnetic fields to measure stick position. Because there is no physical contact or friction between the internal components, they are virtually immune to wear-induced stick drift, drastically extending the controller's lifespan.

Polling Rate (Hz) & Input Latency

Polling rate is how often your controller sends data to your device, measured in Hertz (Hz). A standard Bluetooth connection yields around 125Hz (8ms latency). Overclocking or using a wired USB connection can push this to 500Hz-1000Hz (1ms-2ms latency), critical for competitive gaming.

Circularity Error

When you rotate a joystick along its outer edge, a perfect module should trace a mathematically perfect circle. Circularity error measures the deviation from this perfect circle. High deviations (>15%) can result in uneven diagonal movement speeds in FPS games.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about testing your controller.

How do I test the built-in microphone on a PS5 DualSense controller online?

Connect your DualSense via USB-C cable to your PC/Mac, select "Wireless Controller" as your default sound input device in system settings, click "Start Microphone Test" above, and speak normally. The live audio visualizer plots frequency spectrum and peak volume levels in decibels (dBFS).

Can I test a 3.5mm gaming headset plugged into my controller?

Yes! Plug your headset into the 3.5mm TRRS jack on your PS5 or Xbox controller. When selected as the system audio input, the Web Audio API analyzes microphone clarity, background noise floor, and signal-to-noise ratio.

Why does my controller headset microphone sound quiet or muffled?

Low volume is often caused by a CTIA vs. OMTP pinout standard mismatch (ground and microphone pins swapped) or dust buildup inside the 3.5mm jack housing. In Windows Sound settings, verify that input level is set to 80–90% with microphone boost enabled.

How does the PS5 DualSense dual-microphone noise canceling work?

The DualSense contains two MEMS microphones: a primary voice mic below the PS button and a secondary environmental mic on the top edge. Onboard DSP inverts environmental noise to phase-cancel background room hum and game audio from television speakers.

Does the Xbox Wireless Controller have a built-in microphone?

No. Standard Microsoft Xbox controllers do not contain internal microphones, but they feature a 3.5mm TRRS auxiliary port and proprietary expansion port for external gaming headsets and chatpads.

How this test works & its limits

This test reads your controller through the browser's standard Gamepad API — no drivers, no installs, nothing leaves your device.
Readings depend on connection mode: Bluetooth reports at lower rates than USB. Compare like-for-like (wired vs wired).
We measure the input reaching the browser — display lag and game-engine queues are outside this test's view.
A clean reading now does not guarantee no drift in-game: deadzones differ per game, and wear develops over time. Use the Drift Timeline to track yours.
This is a diagnostic, not a hardware-lab certification. For repair or RMA decisions, confirm with a second run or second tool.

Read the full methodology

100% Client-Side

All Gamepad API data stays in your browser. Zero tracking or data collection.

Instant Results

No downloads, plugins, or software installation needed. Works instantly.

Free Forever

No paywalls, subscription requirements, or hidden usage limits.