Brown Noise Player
Brown noise vs white noise vs pink noise
The difference is how power is spread across frequencies. White noise has equal power at every frequency and sounds bright and hissy. Pink noise falls 3 dB per octave and sounds even and soft. Brown noise falls 6 dB per octave and sounds like a deep rumble. Each one is darker than the last.
| Colour | Spectrum | Sounds like | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | Flat: equal power at every frequency | Bright hiss, like TV static or a hair dryer | Masking sharp, high-pitched sounds and speech |
| Pink | Falls 3 dB per octave (1/f) | Even and soft, like steady rain or wind in leaves | A balanced middle ground; used in audio testing and sleep research |
| Brown (red) | Falls 6 dB per octave (1/f²) | Deep rumble, like a distant waterfall or heavy rain on a roof | Low rumble like traffic or neighbours; long listening without hiss |
| Grey | Shaped to sound equally loud at every pitch | Even, with less of the mid-range the ear is most sensitive to | People who find other colours harsh |
| Green | Centred on the mid-range (an informal term) | Like wind in trees or a steady stream | Marketed as “nature” noise; no standard definition |
| Blue / violet | Rise 3 / 6 dB per octave | Very bright, sharp hiss | Audio dithering and other technical uses; rarely for listening |
How to choose
- The sound you need to cover is high and sharp (voices, a TV next door, birds): white or pink noise masks it with less volume.
- The sound is low (traffic, footsteps upstairs, a building’s hum, snoring): brown noise puts its energy where that sound is.
- You’ll listen for hours (a full night, a work day): try brown first. The lack of hiss makes it the easiest for many people to stop noticing.
- You find all of them harsh: lower the volume before changing colour; then try the Warm brown sound, which softens the top end further.
The best test is your own ears in your own room: play brown noise here and compare. The iPhone app adds white, pink, green and grey noise alongside brown.
Why brown noise became popular
Brown noise had a moment on social media in 2022, when many people — a lot of them with ADHD — described it as quieting their mind in a way white noise didn’t. That is personal experience rather than research, and the studies so far have mostly tested white and pink noise. But the preference makes acoustic sense: with the hiss removed, there is less to notice.
Frequently asked questions
Which noise colour is best for sleep?
There is no good evidence that one colour beats another for sleep. A 2021 systematic review found the evidence for any continuous noise improving sleep to be of very low quality. Choose the one you find most pleasant at a low volume — many people prefer brown or pink because they lack the hiss of white noise.
Which noise colour is best for focus or ADHD?
Most studies on noise and attention used white or pink noise, and a 2024 meta-analysis found a small benefit for people with ADHD or attention problems. Brown noise has barely been studied directly, though many people with ADHD say they prefer it.
Is brown noise louder than white noise?
Not at the same level. They feel different because brown noise puts its energy in the bass, where the ear is less sensitive, so it can feel softer at the same measured loudness and may be turned up higher without sounding harsh.
What noise colour blocks snoring best?
Snoring is mostly low-frequency, which brown and pink noise cover well. No noise will fully hide loud snoring.
Sources
- Riedy SM, Smith MG, Rocha S, Basner M. Noise as a sleep aid: a systematic review. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 2021.
- Nigg JT, Bruton A, Kozlowski MB, Johnstone JM, Karalunas SL. Systematic review and meta-analysis: do white noise or pink noise help with task performance in youth with ADHD or with elevated attention problems? Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2024.