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Brown noise

Updated 22 October 2026

Brown noise is a deep, low rumble, more like a distant waterfall or the inside of a plane than a hiss. It has become one of the most popular sounds for sleep and focus because it covers noise without the sharp top of white noise. Press play to start it.

Brown noise

Press play

Play
Brown noiseDeep, low noise with the highs turned down.
Play
Brown noise for sleepDeep brown noise with a low fan under it.
More about brown noise for sleep
Play
Brown noise for studyingBrown noise with a thin layer of rain.
More about brown noise for studying
Play
Black noiseDarker than brown. Almost only rumble.
More about black noise

Play opens the sound masker with this mix already loaded, so you can hear it and shape it.

How to set it up

  1. Press Play on Brown noise. Use headphones or a speaker with some bass; phone speakers lose the low end.
  2. For deeper noise, open it in the sound masker and lower the 4k to 16k sliders further, or switch to Black.
  3. For a little more presence, raise the 1k and 2k sliders. That helps cover voices.
  4. Add a fan or rain if pure noise feels too flat.

What brown noise sounds like

Brown noise loses energy as the pitch goes up, about 6 decibels per octave. The low end carries the sound and the highs are almost gone. That makes it sound soft and muffled, the way loud sounds do through a wall.

Why people love brown noise

It is easy to listen to for hours, which is why it caught on for studying and ADHD. It covers the low sounds that get through walls and windows, which makes it good for sleep in cities. And it does not hiss, so it does not fatigue the ear the way white noise can.

Brown noise for sleep, study, and ADHD

Each has its own page with a mix and setup. For sleep, play it quietly with a fan. For study, add a little rain. For ADHD, many people turn it up a bit more.

Questions

What is brown noise?

Noise with much more energy in the low frequencies than the high ones. It sounds deep and muffled.

Is brown noise good for you?

At a low volume it is harmless, and many people find it helps them sleep or focus.

Why is it called brown noise?

After Robert Brown, the botanist who described Brownian motion. Its signal behaves like a random walk.

Related

Brown noise for sleepDeep brown noise with a low fan for the night.Brown noise for studyingBrown noise with a touch of rain for long sessions.What is brown noise?Why it sounds deep, and why so many people like it.Brown vs white vs pink noiseThe difference, played side by side.