Latency test
Two different delays are often mixed up: audio output latency (device/system buffering) and click reaction latency (human + input). This page shows both.
Entertainment only — device and browser dependent. For other tools, see Tests & tools.
What do you want to check?
Pick a task
For rhythm-game feel, start with beat alignment. To compare devices (wired vs Bluetooth), use audio output latency. For pure speed, use reaction latency.
Audio output latency (device / system)
This is the browser-reported buffering latency for your audio pipeline. It is about the device and system output path — not your reaction speed.
Note: some browsers don’t expose outputLatency. Values can change with Bluetooth, system load, and audio device settings.
Click reaction latency (human + input)
This measures how quickly you react to a cue. It includes your reaction time and device input delay. It is not the same thing as audio output latency.
Tip: do a few warm-up taps. Reaction time often improves after the first couple of trials.
Beat alignment (timing offset + jitter)
This is closer to a rhythm-game calibration tool: you tap along with a steady beat and we measure how early or late your taps land (offset) and how consistent they are (jitter). It is different from reaction time.
How to interpret
- If audio-only is much later than visual-only, your audio output path is likely adding delay (Bluetooth is a common cause).
- If visual-only is unstable (high jitter), you may be following the flash rather than predicting the beat — warm up a few taps.
Quick start
- Tap Refresh to read your device’s reported audio latency.
- Run reaction test to warm up and sanity-check input.
- Use beat alignment (audio-only vs visual-only) to diagnose delay.
Troubleshooting (common causes)
- Bluetooth audio often adds noticeable output delay.
- Background tabs/video calls can increase jitter.
- Mobile low-power mode may affect timing.
Interpreting results (practical)
Audio output latency (baseLatency/outputLatency) is a device pipeline estimate. It helps explain why rhythm-game clicks can feel “behind” on some setups.
Reaction latency is mostly about you (plus input delay). It’s useful for warm-up and for spotting “too early” taps.
Beat alignment is the most diagnostic: compare audio-only vs visual-only. If audio-only is consistently later, your audio output path is likely the bottleneck.
Tip: compare your own results across devices (wired vs Bluetooth) rather than comparing across people.
FAQ
- What is audio output latency?
- Audio output latency is the time from when a sound is scheduled to when you actually hear it from your device. Browsers may report an estimate (AudioContext baseLatency/outputLatency) that depends on hardware, drivers, and system buffering.
- What is click reaction latency?
- Click reaction latency is your response time to a cue (visual + audio) — it includes human reaction plus device input delay. This page measures it with a simple reaction-time test.
- What is beat alignment (timing calibration)?
- Beat alignment measures how early or late your taps land while you try to follow a steady beat. It’s closer to rhythm-game calibration than a reaction-time test, and it can reveal consistent offset and timing jitter.
- Audio cue only vs visual cue only — what’s the point?
- Audio-only isolates the sound output path (system buffering, Bluetooth) plus your tapping. Visual-only isolates visual timing and input. If audio-only is much later than visual-only, your audio output path is likely adding delay.
- Why is outputLatency missing?
- Some browsers don’t expose outputLatency. baseLatency is more widely available, and both values can change with device choice, Bluetooth, and system load.
- Is this a medical hearing test?
- No. This is a browser timing tool for entertainment and setup checks. Results vary by device, browser, and background load.
- How do I reduce latency for rhythm games?
- Use wired headphones if possible, close heavy background tabs, disable Bluetooth audio, and keep system audio enhancements off. On mobile, low-power mode can also affect timing.
- What do the numbers mean?
- There’s no universal “good” number across all setups. As a rough guide, smaller and more stable values feel better for rhythm games. Compare your own results across devices (wired vs Bluetooth) rather than comparing to other people.
More checks: Tests & tools · More games