5 White Noise Machines That Will Make You Sleep Better

"White noise, also sometimes called broadband noise, is a consistent, steady sound that combines a wide range of sound frequencies that the human ear can hear at equal intensity. What are the other colors of white noise? Pink noise is a softer version of white noise where lower frequencies are louder than higher ones. Brown noise or red noise is deeper than pink noise, with high frequencies even further reduced, creating a bass-heavy sound."

"Blue noise is the opposite of brown or red noise; it emphasizes higher frequencies instead of lower ones. Violet noise or purple noise is an extreme version of blue noise and has no bass. Green noise amplifies mid-range frequencies. Gray noise is a balanced noise that has a psychoacoustic loudness curve applied, meaning all frequencies are perceived to be at the same volume."

"It's recommended to keep the volume of your white noise machine below 70-75 decibels to prevent long-term hearing damage. Can I use my white noise machine all night? Yes, it is generally safe to use a white noise machine all night if it's played at a low volume.Where should I put my white noise machine?Place your white noise machine a few feet away from your bed, ideally close to the source of noise. Do not place it directly next to your head."

White noise combines a wide range of audible frequencies at equal intensity, producing a consistent, steady sound. Pink noise emphasizes lower frequencies so lows are louder than highs. Brown (red) noise reduces high frequencies further, creating a bass-heavy sound. Blue and violet (purple) noise emphasize higher frequencies, with violet lacking bass entirely. Green noise amplifies mid-range frequencies. Gray noise applies a psychoacoustic loudness curve so all frequencies are perceived at the same volume. Keep white noise machines below 70–75 decibels to avoid long-term hearing damage. Using a white noise machine all night is generally safe at low volume; place it a few feet from the bed, not next to the head.

Read at Esquire