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What is brown noise?
Updated 22 October 2026
Brown noise is a random sound whose energy falls steeply as pitch rises, about 6 decibels for every octave. That leaves a deep, soft rumble with almost no hiss, like a strong wind heard from indoors or the roar of a distant waterfall. Press play to hear it.
Press play
Play opens the sound masker with this mix already loaded, so you can hear it and shape it.
How to set it up
- Play Brown noise, ideally on headphones. A phone speaker drops the deepest part.
- Play White noise to compare. The difference is all in the balance of high and low.
- Play Black noise for an even deeper version.
Where the name comes from
Brown noise is named after Robert Brown, a Scottish botanist who in 1827 described the jittery random movement of pollen particles in water, now called Brownian motion. A signal that wanders randomly in the same way produces this noise. It is also called red noise, which fits its dark sound.
Brown noise vs white and pink noise
White noise has equal energy at every frequency, so it sounds bright. Pink noise falls 3 decibels per octave, so it sounds balanced. Brown noise falls 6 decibels per octave, so the bass dominates.
Why brown noise is popular
Brown noise became widely popular around 2022, when people with ADHD shared how it quiets their racing thoughts. It is also a favorite for sleep, because it covers low sounds through walls without a harsh hiss. Research specifically on brown noise is thin; most studies used white or pink noise.
Questions
What does brown noise do to your brain?
It is steady, so the brain stops paying attention to it and other sounds stand out less. Claims beyond that are not well studied.
Is brown noise good for anxiety?
Many people find its deep, steady sound calming.
Is brown noise the same as red noise?
Yes.