# WHITE NOISE

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-noise/49113>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 9, 2001, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-noise/49113 "2001-01-09T04:05:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-noise/49113/1 "2001-01-09T04:05:54Z")

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A friend suggests using white noise to mask traffic sounds as I try to sleep in the daytime. He says to record it off the TV and then play it through my stereo boosting the bass a bit. I am wondering: can I achieve the same effect with my stereo receiver, tuning it to the AM band , inbetween stations?

Thanks  
Q

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**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-noise/49113/2 "2001-01-09T04:15:45Z")

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Yes indeedy.

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**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-noise/49113/3 "2001-01-09T04:38:31Z")

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It is the Hissing sound you hear on the FM band.  
I don’t believe it is possible to tune it in with a digital receiver though.

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**Author:** ![sethdallob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@sethdallob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sethdallob)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-noise/49113/4 "2001-01-09T05:13:55Z")

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I use a pink noise machine from Hammacher Schlemmer (~$35) and it drowns out just about anything you throw at it, and I find the noise less obnoxious than static. It’s more of a whooshing sound. The machine is called “Sleep Sound” in the catalog, methinks.

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**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-noise/49113/5 "2001-01-09T06:38:58Z")

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I used a window fan on the nightstand for that purpose once. I keep meaning to get one now since I sleep days now and sometimes with the kid watching cartoons in the next room, but every time I get paid I forget.

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**Author:** ![Phobos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Phobos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phobos)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-noise/49113/6 "2001-01-09T13:59:48Z")

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these work for me…(not all at once!)…  
a window/table fan  
an air filter  
a humidifier

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**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-noise/49113/7 "2001-01-09T17:53:40Z")

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I find a Britney Spears cd ideal for such situations.

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**Author:** ![pgmarsha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e7dd6/32.png) [@pgmarsha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pgmarsha)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-noise/49113/8 "2001-01-09T18:24:47Z")

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Try the Golf channel. Zonks me out every time.