You may have heard of brown noise online: it’s white noise’s newer and better cousin!
Like any trend, there are a lot of claims made about what brown noise can do (as well as some criticisms, of course). I regularly use brown noise as one of my favorite sounds for sleep.
In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about brown noise, such as:
- What exactly is brown noise, and does it actually work?
- Some excellent examples of brown noise
- How brown noise differs from white noise and pink noise
- The benefits that brown noise brings
- How you can use brown noise for yourself.
- Let’s dive right in!
What is Brown Noise?
Brown noise is a neutral, uninterrupted sound that contains all of the frequencies your ears can detect at any time.
A key characteristic of brown noise is that higher frequencies are played at lower volumes while lower frequencies are played at higher volumes.
This results in brown noise having a low rushing or rumbling effect.
Is Brown Noise Really Effective?
The effect of brown noise is different for everyone!
However, many people find that brown noise helps them to sleep, study, or relax.
Some studies show neutral noises such as brown, white, and pink noise can be effective in aiding concentration in children with ADHD or reading difficulties.
Examples of Brown Noise in nature
Brown noise can be synthesized to be completely neutral, but it also occurs in plenty of natural sounds. These include heavy rain, waterfalls and other rushing water, and strong wind.
Some people even enjoy more varied soundscapes, like thunderstorms or forest sounds.
You can also find brown noise emitted from man-made sources such as fans, distant traffic, or even airplane engines!
Brown vs Pink vs White Noise: What’s The Difference?
All of these noise types contain every frequency of sound, which is what makes them so neutral!
However, the relative volume at which these frequencies are played is what makes each noise color different.
White noise plays all frequencies at the same volume and is best described as sounding like an unused radio station or TV static.
On the other hand, pink noise plays lower frequencies louder than higher ones, causing it to sound more smoothed out and with fewer cackling or hissing sounds. Pink noise strongly resembles the sound of light rain.
Finally, brown noise is a step beyond pink noise as it plays the lower frequencies louder and the higher ones softer.
This gives it its characteristic deeper sound – as if you were on a shoreline listening to waves crashing in the distance.
Benefits of Brown Noise
While everyone reacts to brown noise differently, here are some of the commonly reported benefits!
Make sure to play around with different types of brown noise out there to find the one you like the most.
Brown noise improves Sleep Quality.
Like white noise, brown noise helps many people sleep by providing a smooth and consistent aural backdrop to drift off to.
This means you’re less likely to be kept up by a dripping faucet or snoring partner!
Brown noise is also deeper and more soothing than white noise, which many find more relaxing.
Brown noise is my go-to sleep sound. I created a custom brown noise sound that you can download for free.
Brown noise enhances Focus and Concentration.
Many people prefer to have some background noise while working or studying.
Brown noise can be the perfect choice due to its soothing effect on the brain and not being as distracting as music or podcasts.
As more people choose to work from home, brown noise is becoming an increasingly popular option for those accustomed to working in an office environment (which typically has some level of ambient noise).
Providing Relief from Tinnitus
Tinnitus is a persistent and irritating problem that many people deal with. While it’s often described as ringing in the ears, it can also sound like humming, buzzing, or quick tapping.
Brown noise helps alleviate tinnitus by giving your ears a different stimulus, reducing your symptoms.
Many people who struggle with tinnitus have found brown noise (and other neutral noise) helpful, especially for sleeping.
Acting as a Sound Masker
Sound masking simply means adding generated “background noise” into an environment to help block out (or mask) other sounds.
It’s often used in office spaces to minimize the chances of hearing unwanted conversations, both for personal comfort and privacy.
Brown noise can even be used as a sound masker at home or on public transport!
How to Use Brown Noise Effectively
Explore our free sounds and choose the right noise for you. Knowing your preferences is a key consideration in finding the best type of brown noise.
Do you prefer synthesized, truly neutral noise or something more natural, like rainfall?
Are you okay with the same sound on repeat, or do you need it to change every once in a while?
Once you’ve found the noise you want to try, decide on an output device! A high-quality speaker is probably the best option for long-term brown noise exposure or sound masking, but this isn’t always feasible.
Television or computer speakers will do in a pinch. However, you’ll need to adjust your screen display in your settings to avoid screen burn (especially with older displays) or unwanted blue light exposure – particularly at night.
Headphones are also a great choice for work or study. Many fans, air conditioning units, and even the weather create brown noise naturally as well, although you won’t get the same level of customization, of course!
You’ll also need to ensure your noise is playing at an adequate volume; anything below 70 decibels is safe to listen to in the long term.
However, you may want it quieter than that, depending on why you’re using it (i.e., for sleep, focus, or work) and the noise level of the other sounds you’d like to block out or minimize.
It’s generally an unspoken rule, but it’s also important to make sure you’re being considerate to those around you!
If you’re using brown noise to reduce stress levels or enhance focus, it will work best in combination with other interventions.
Make sure to stay hydrated and well-fed, get plenty of sleep, and take frequent breaks while working to maximize your efficiency!
Key Takeaways
Brown noise is a neutral sound that prioritizes low frequencies, giving it a comforting, deep rumbling or rushing effect. Many people use brown noise to help them sleep, focus, relieve tinnitus, or mask other sounds.
If you’re in the same boat or just simply looking for a neutral noise to listen to, why not try out some brown noise and see if it helps?