Guide · 432 vs 440
432 Hz vs 440 Hz: what is the difference?
Short answer
440 Hz and 432 Hz are two reference pitches for the note A above middle C. 440 Hz is the international standard that almost all music today is tuned to. 432 Hz is 31.77 cents lower, about a third of a semitone. Many listeners describe 432 Hz as warmer and calmer. The research so far is small and mixed, so the best test is to switch between both with the same song and listen.
The Numbers
What 440 and 432 stand for.
Instruments are tuned to a reference note, usually the A above middle C. At A=440 Hz that note vibrates 440 times per second; at A=432 Hz, 432 times. Every other note is tuned relative to it, so the whole piece moves together.
The step between them is 31.77 cents, where 100 cents make one semitone. It is small enough that a single song sounds normal in either tuning, and big enough that many people hear it when they switch back and forth.
History
Why 440 Hz became the standard.
For a long time, orchestras in different cities tuned to different pitches. An international conference in London agreed on A=440 Hz in 1939, and the standard ISO 16 confirmed it in 1975.
The idea of 432 Hz has been around for a long time as an alternative. It became popular again online in the last decades, and today many listeners prefer it for relaxing, focusing or simply because they like how it sounds.
Research
What the research can and cannot say.
There are only a few small studies comparing music at 432 Hz and 440 Hz, and their results are mixed. They are not enough to prove health effects, so we make no health claims.
What anyone can test is how it sounds to them. Play the same song at 440 Hz and at 432 Hz, switch back and forth, and decide for yourself.
Step by Step
4 steps. One click.
- 01
Install Quantic Heartz
Download the app for macOS and drag it to Applications. On first launch it sets up its audio driver automatically.
QuanticHeartz.dmg → /Applications → done - 02
Play a song you know well
A familiar song makes the difference easiest to hear. Any app works: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube or your own files.
favorite song → play - 03
Switch on 432 Hz
Click the power button in Quantic Heartz. The song now plays at A=432 Hz, 31.77 cents lower, at the same tempo.
shift: -31.77 cents · 440→432 Hz - 04
Compare
Click the power button again to hear the same moment at the standard 440 Hz. Switch back and forth to hear the difference.
on: 432 Hz · off: 440 Hz
Pricing
Choose your frequency.
Unlimited access to 432 Hz frequency.
Monthly
Cancel anytime
- Unlimited 432 Hz access
- Ultra-low latency processing
- Professional audio quality
- All updates included
Yearly
Billed annually
- Unlimited 432 Hz access
- Ultra-low latency processing
- Professional audio quality
- All updates included
FAQ
Questions &
answers.
Is 432 Hz better than 440 Hz?
+Neither is objectively better. 440 Hz is the standard, 432 Hz an alternative that many people find warmer and calmer. Listen to both with the same song and choose what you prefer.
How big is the difference between 432 Hz and 440 Hz?
+31.77 cents, about a third of a semitone. The pitch drops by about 1.8 percent.
Does 432 Hz have health benefits?
+The research so far is small and mixed and does not prove health effects. We make no health claims. Many people simply enjoy how it sounds.
Why is most music tuned to 440 Hz?
+Because 440 Hz is the international standard: it was agreed in 1939 and confirmed as ISO 16 in 1975, so instruments and recordings everywhere match.
Can I listen to my music in 432 Hz?
+Yes. Quantic Heartz retunes the music and video on your Mac from 440 Hz to 432 Hz in real time, and is also available for Android on Google Play.
What does it cost?
+Quantic Heartz has a 7-day free trial with full access. After that it is €9.99 a month or €69.99 a year.