Previous research using repeatable samples of noise, frozen noise, has concentrated on evaluating models of signal detection [A. Ahumuda, Jr., R. Marken, and A. Sandusky, J. Acoust. Soc. Am.57, 385–390 (1975)] or estimating the “internal” noise of the auditory system [D. M. Green, Psychol. Rev.71, 392–407 (1964)]. The present research investigates the detectability of a 500‐Hz sinusoid, masked with different samples of frozen noise under both diotic and dichotic conditions. The results from several samples of noise and starting phase angles of the sinusoid will be presented. The data show differences in detection across different samples of noise as well as differences between diotic and dichotic conditions. The ability of various theories of binaural processing to account for the results will be discussed. [Work supported by NSF research Grant BNS‐77‐17308 and PHS Mathematical Psychology Training Grant MH‐11219.]