32,768 Hz is far above what headphones, speakers and sound cards can reproduce (most top out at 20–24 kHz), so there is no tone to play here.
What does 32,768 Hz sound like?
32,768 Hz is a ultrasound frequency. It is ultrasound: above the upper limit of human hearing, although many animals – dogs, cats, bats, dolphins and rodents – can hear it.
A 32,768 Hz sound wave completes 32,768 cycles every second, so one cycle lasts 30.5 µs. In air at 20 °C, where sound travels at about 343 m/s, each wave is 1.0 cm (0.41 in) long; in water it stretches to 4.5 cm because sound moves about 4.3 times faster there.
Wavelength of 32,768 Hz in different materials
| Medium | Speed of sound | Wavelength |
|---|---|---|
| Air (20 °C) | 343 m/s | 1.0 cm |
| Fresh water | 1,481 m/s | 4.5 cm |
| Seawater | 1,500 m/s | 4.6 cm |
| Helium | 1,007 m/s | 3.1 cm |
| Steel | 5,960 m/s | 18.2 cm |
| Glass | 5,640 m/s | 17.2 cm |
Harmonics and octaves
Real instruments playing 32,768 Hz also produce harmonics at whole-number multiples of the fundamental. Their relative strength gives each instrument its timbre.
| Harmonic | Frequency | Nearest note |
|---|---|---|
| 1× (fundamental) | 32.768 kHz | ultrasonic |
| 2× | 65.536 kHz | ultrasonic |
| 3× | 98.304 kHz | ultrasonic |
| 4× | 131.072 kHz | ultrasonic |
| 5× | 163.84 kHz | ultrasonic |
| 6× | 196.608 kHz | ultrasonic |
| 7× | 229.376 kHz | ultrasonic |
| 8× | 262.144 kHz | ultrasonic |
Which animals can hear 32,768 Hz?
Can hear it
Dogs, Cats, Horses, Cows, Sheep, Pigs, Goats, Rabbits, Rats, Mice, Gerbils, Guinea pigs, Hedgehogs, Raccoons, Ferrets, Opossums, Bats, Beluga whales, Bottlenose dolphins, Greater wax moths
Cannot hear it
Humans, Chinchillas, Elephants, Chickens, Canaries, Budgerigars (parakeets), Cockatiels, Owls, Bullfrogs, Tree frogs, Goldfish, Catfish, Tuna
Frequently asked questions
What does 32,768 Hz sound like?
It is ultrasound: above the upper limit of human hearing, although many animals – dogs, cats, bats, dolphins and rodents – can hear it.
Can humans hear 32,768 Hz?
No. 32,768 Hz is above the ~20 kHz upper limit of human hearing.
What musical note is 32,768 Hz?
32,768 Hz is outside the range normally used for musical notes.
What is the wavelength of 32,768 Hz?
About 1.0 cm in air at 20 °C and 4.5 cm in water.
Can dogs hear 32,768 Hz?
Yes – dogs hear roughly 67 Hz to 45,000 Hz.