A method for the performance testing of an echo canceller including the steps of transmitting a test signal to the echo canceller, recording an echo energy signal output from the echo canceller as a result of the test signal, measuring the energy and duration of the echo energy signal and calculating a performance score for the echo canceller based on the measured energy and duration of the echo energy signal, wherein the test signal transmitted to the echo canceller has a plurality of discrete frequency band segments of white noise representing sub-bands of an overall bandwidth ranging from about 0 kHz to about 3.5 kHz. The test signal preferably has four discrete frequency band segments of white noise, wherein each discrete frequency band segment of the test signal is repeated in succession, whereby the test signal has a total of eight segments. Thus, the test signal can have a first frequency band segment having a bandwidth of about 0 kHz to about 1 kHz, a second frequency band segment having a bandwidth of about 1 kHz to about 2 kHz, a third frequency band segment having a bandwidth of about 2 kHz to about 3 kHz and a fourth frequency band segment having a bandwidth of about 3 kHz to about 3.5 kHz.