Fifty samples of noise waveforms (N) and 50 samples of signal‐plus‐noise waveforms (SN) were rated on 10 occasions by four listeners. The listeners decided whether the waveform was N or SN, and rated the degree to which the waveform had the N or SN quality. The signal was a 1‐kHz tone 500 msec in duration. Both signal and noise were gated. The results indicate greater reliability for ratings of SN waveforms than for ratings of N waveforms. Further, the results suggest that listeners can be quite consistent in rating some waveforms, but still not agree with each other.