White, Pink and Brown Noise: Differences and Sound Samples

White, pink and brown noise differ in how sound power is distributed across frequencies. White noise puts equal power into equal-width frequency bands; pink noise puts equal power into each octave; brown noise gives still more weight to low frequencies. Choose by listening quietly on the device you will use.

The colour describes a signal's spectrum. It does not tell you which sound you will find comfortable, or establish that one colour will improve sleep or concentration.

White noise vs pink noise vs brown noise

An octave spans a doubling of frequency. Higher octaves therefore cover wider frequency ranges, which is why equal power per octave is different from equal power per equal-width band. MathWorks' coloured-noise documentation describes these spectral definitions. “Bright,” “soft” and “deep” describe common listening impressions, not measured loudness or a promise about your response.

Listen to three short examples

Start with your device volume low and play one clip at a time. These eight-second examples were synthesised for this guide. They are not recordings from Relaaax, and they are not a calibrated, loudness-matched test. Your headphones or speaker will change what you hear.

White noise sample

Pink noise sample

Brown noise sample

Choose for the room and speaker you actually use

1. Try each sound briefly on your usual output device, with the volume low.
2. Adjust the level separately for each colour. The same volume setting does not establish equal perceived loudness.
3. Notice whether the sound helps cover an ordinary distraction without becoming a distraction itself.
4. If none feels comfortable, stop or try a natural sound, such as rain. You do not need to prefer a noise colour.

A small phone speaker may reproduce little of the low-frequency content that makes brown noise sound deep. Compare on the speaker you will actually keep nearby, rather than choosing on headphones and expecting the room to sound identical.

Do not keep raising the level to cover a loud street or a noisy neighbour. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders explains that risk from noise depends on sound level and exposure time. A volume percentage on a phone does not tell you the sound level reaching your ears. Lower the volume or stop if listening is uncomfortable.

Is brown noise better for sleep?

There is no basis here for naming a universally best sleep colour. A systematic review of noise as a sleep aid found mixed results across studies and rated the evidence that continuous noise improves sleep as very low quality. That review does not establish that brown noise is superior to white or pink noise.

A 2026 laboratory study followed 25 healthy adults across seven nights. Under its tested conditions, pink noise at 40 or 50 dBA reduced REM sleep compared with a noise-free control night. Those are study conditions, not recommended playback levels. The study did not compare all three noise colours or establish their long-term effects.

You may prefer one sound as a background routine. That preference is useful when choosing what to play, but it is different from evidence that the sound treats insomnia or improves sleep for everyone.

Try generated noise in Relaaax

Relaaax includes white, pink and brown noise generated on the phone, alongside natural sounds. Its built-in sounds can play offline, and an account is not required to start playback. Choose a noise you have listened to comfortably and set a timer if you want the session to end.

Before relying on a longer session, test playback with the screen locked. If the audio stops unexpectedly, the guide to sounds that stop after screen lock separates timer, audio-route and background-playback problems. For a trip, prepare and test offline playback before leaving.

Frequently asked questions