- In this report
- Overview
- Why we can't sleep
- The trouble with drugs
- What you can do
- Sound machines
- Myths about sleep
- Which techniques work best
- Take our interactive quiz
TREATMENTS RATED
Find out which therapies work best for insomnia as well as for other conditions listed in this report.
COST-EFFECTIVE DRUGS
Learn more from our latest Best Buy Drugs report.
LISTEN FOR YOURSELF
Hear the sound machines our panelists tested.
September 2008
Sound machines
Using noise for a good night’s sleep
Sound machines, which can make you feel like you’re in a forest or at the beach, worked almost as well as drugs at putting
survey respondents to sleep. We put three models at three price points to the test.
A group of panelists who said they had trouble sleeping tried the devices for 10 nights and evaluated whether the machines blocked out most intruding noises and helped them fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Each machine was tested by at least 10 panelists.
For the first seven days, the panelists set the machines to white noise or a comparable setting that sounds like a fan or a soft waterfall. Then the group had three additional days to use the machine with any of the other sounds offered, such as a steady rainfall or a flowing stream.
Research shows that white noise can increase sleep quality by reducing the time it takes to fall asleep and the number of times you’re awakened while sleeping.
“You don’t need to have a bad sleep problem to benefit from white noise in the background,” says David N. Neubauer, M.D., associate director of the Johns Hopkins Sleep Disorders Center. “I’m sort of an evangelist about these machines.”
Perhaps Neubauer is on to something: In our tests, all three of the units blocked out at least some unwanted sounds, and most of the people left the devices on all night. Plus, all of the machines were small and could easily be plugged in and placed on a nightstand or dresser.
If unwelcome sounds keep you awake, try turning on your air conditioner’s fan, a regular fan, or an air cleaner. And check out what our panelists thought of these sound machines:
Brookstone Tranquil Moments Sound Therapy System, $129
This machine, a favorite among the 12 panelists who tested it, masked most unwanted sounds when on the white-noise setting, and eight of our panelists said they would buy it assuming cost was not a factor. But it isn’t cheap at $129. This machine has a timer and 12 sound settings. Half of the panelists fell asleep more easily, and five said they stayed asleep longer. A downside: Some people found the operation light distracting, but it can be dimmed. No outlet available? This model also works on four AA batteries.
Marpac SleepMate 980A, $60
Most of the panelists thought this machine had only two volume settings (high and low) and one type of sound, similar to a fan, but the machine can actually create a variety of tone and volume selections. Only three of the 10 panelists reported they fell asleep more easily, but six said they stayed asleep longer. Half of the testers said they would buy this machine if cost were not a factor. The directions recommend placing it between where you sleep and where noise comes in, such as a window. This machine does not use batteries.
Homedics SoundSpa SS-2000, $20
This model has a timer with six sounds, including rainforest and heartbeat options. But only two of 13 testers said they would buy it, with several panelists describing the sounds as unnatural or annoying. Three people reported they fell asleep more easily, and five said they stayed asleep longer. Like the Brookstone unit, this machine can also run on four AA batteries.
A group of panelists who said they had trouble sleeping tried the devices for 10 nights and evaluated whether the machines blocked out most intruding noises and helped them fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Each machine was tested by at least 10 panelists.
For the first seven days, the panelists set the machines to white noise or a comparable setting that sounds like a fan or a soft waterfall. Then the group had three additional days to use the machine with any of the other sounds offered, such as a steady rainfall or a flowing stream.
Research shows that white noise can increase sleep quality by reducing the time it takes to fall asleep and the number of times you’re awakened while sleeping.
“You don’t need to have a bad sleep problem to benefit from white noise in the background,” says David N. Neubauer, M.D., associate director of the Johns Hopkins Sleep Disorders Center. “I’m sort of an evangelist about these machines.”
Perhaps Neubauer is on to something: In our tests, all three of the units blocked out at least some unwanted sounds, and most of the people left the devices on all night. Plus, all of the machines were small and could easily be plugged in and placed on a nightstand or dresser.
If unwelcome sounds keep you awake, try turning on your air conditioner’s fan, a regular fan, or an air cleaner. And check out what our panelists thought of these sound machines:
PEACE AT A PRICE This $129 Brookstone model was a favorite among our panelists.
This machine, a favorite among the 12 panelists who tested it, masked most unwanted sounds when on the white-noise setting, and eight of our panelists said they would buy it assuming cost was not a factor. But it isn’t cheap at $129. This machine has a timer and 12 sound settings. Half of the panelists fell asleep more easily, and five said they stayed asleep longer. A downside: Some people found the operation light distracting, but it can be dimmed. No outlet available? This model also works on four AA batteries.
Marpac SleepMate 980A, $60
Most of the panelists thought this machine had only two volume settings (high and low) and one type of sound, similar to a fan, but the machine can actually create a variety of tone and volume selections. Only three of the 10 panelists reported they fell asleep more easily, but six said they stayed asleep longer. Half of the testers said they would buy this machine if cost were not a factor. The directions recommend placing it between where you sleep and where noise comes in, such as a window. This machine does not use batteries.
Homedics SoundSpa SS-2000, $20
This model has a timer with six sounds, including rainforest and heartbeat options. But only two of 13 testers said they would buy it, with several panelists describing the sounds as unnatural or annoying. Three people reported they fell asleep more easily, and five said they stayed asleep longer. Like the Brookstone unit, this machine can also run on four AA batteries.
