Best Sound Machines

Buying guide for best sound machines

For individuals who use them, sound machines are invaluable. The right model can help you fall asleep, block out distracting sounds, ignite your creativity, or even help with tinnitus. Finding which is right for you greatly depends on your needs, but there are a number of desirable features that all the best models have.

If you just want to sleep, a unit with a real fan inside that can produce natural background noise might be all that you need. However, if you will be using your sound machine to help you work, a wide variety of sounds such as rainstorms and ocean waves that you can remix into endless non-repetitive soundscapes is the best option.

You've probably heard of white noise, but what about pink, brown, red, blue, green, or purple noise? An entire spectrum of colored noises exist, each with its own range of frequencies and amplitudes.

Sound machine basics

If you're not yet well-versed in sound machines, let's learn more about what they're for and some of the reasons why users love them.

• Sound machines either emit noise (white noise, brown noise, or pink noise, etc.) or a range of relaxing recorded sounds such as a rainforest, ocean waves, or crackling fires.

• Some sound machines emit recorded sounds, whereas others have a real fan inside to create a natural sound. Notably, sound machines with a fan will only produce white noise and other colours of noise.

• Some sound machines are adept at masking other noises, such as the sounds of a construction site or heavy traffic.

• Many people find that sound machines – especially those that produce white noise – can help them fall asleep faster.

• Sound machines can help office workers concentrate, as they can help block out chatter from neighboring cubicles.

• Certain sounds may help with meditation and/or simple relaxation. If you often find yourself stressed or tense, a noise machine could benefit you.

Considerations for selecting a sound machine

Timer

Some sound machines have a timer so you can control how long it will run before automatically switching off.

This is particularly useful for people who run their sound machine at bedtime but might be disrupted in the night if the machine were to play continuously.

Sound selection

One of the most important features of a sound machine is the selection of sounds it offers.

Some sound machines produce white noise and other colours of noise only, whereas others focus on a range of noises from birdsong to rainfall to ocean waves and more in between. There are also sound machines that produce both.

There's no right or wrong choice here. You can base your sound selection on the types of sounds that you prefer. If in doubt, opt for a sound machine that can produce both coloured noise and nature sounds.

Looping

Sound machines play natural recordings or digitally produced sounds, but the way they do this differs between models.

The best units tend to have long recordings, along with the ability to mix different tracks and add background noises. In this way, the track is unique all the way through.

Basic sound machines, however, use looping to create a long track. They simply repeat, or "loop," the same recording over and over again. Depending on the length of the recording, this can end up sounding repetitive.

Ease of use

Look for a sound machine that's easy to use. Some have buttons on the body of the machine for each sound offered; others have a digital screen where you scroll through the different noises available.

Some configurations might be easy to use for one person but tricky for another, so we advise potential buyers to stick to their own comfort zone.

There's no point buying a sound machine you’ll never use because it's too tricky to select the sounds you want.

Noise masking

While some sound machines are designed to provide background noise only, others are intended to mask ambient noise in the vicinity. Decide whether you do or don't need noise masking, and choose a sound machine accordingly.

Power source

Decide whether you want a sound machine that plugs into a power outlet, is powered by batteries, or has the option to run either way.

Sound machine prices

The price of a sound machine depends on a number of factors, including the range of sounds it offers and the quality of the sounds produced. For instance, a sound machine with heavy looping will be cheaper than a sound machine with a long, unique track of sounds all the way through.

• A basic sound machine producing white noise and nature sounds can cost as little as $20 to $40. In this price range, however, you will find feature-looping which can become annoying and repetitive.

• A white noise machine featuring digitally produced or recorded coloured noise typically costs between $20 and $50.

• A white noise machine that produces natural white noise with the use of an internal fan costs roughly $30 to $50.

• A high-end sound machine that uses long natural recordings and mixes in other sounds so you don't get loops and repetitions generally costs from $70 to $100.

Tips

• If you intend to use your sound machine to fall asleep, a model with a timer would likely be beneficial.

• Many tinnitus sufferers find sound machines help reduce or alleviate the ringing in their ears. Whether the noise brings about physiological changes in the hearing centres of the brain or simply provides a distraction is still debated by experts.

• If you're sensitive to repetitive sounds, avoid a sound machine that uses obvious looping.

• If you want to use your sound machine while you travel, a battery-powered option offers greater portability and convenience.

• Some sound machines need to be placed outside the room you're in to mask ambient noise, but others can stay in the room as normal. Check the instruction manual of your chosen model for information about ideal placement.

High-end sound machines tend to feature less looping and repetition, especially those offering nature sounds. If you have the budget and the desire for less looping and repetition, you may wish to consider splurging on a higher-end white noise machine.

FAQ

Q. Should I choose a sound machine with a real fan inside?

A. If it's only white or other coloured noise you want, you may prefer the natural sound of a real fan instead of a digital sound. Many users do. What's more, there's no looping, so you won't get an earful of annoying repetition.

Q. Are there any other features I should look for in a sound machine?

A. Some sound machines have added extras, such as an FM radio or alarm clock. However, we believe these features are unnecessary in most cases, and we wouldn't particularly seek them out – unless we liked the sound machine on its own merits, anyway.

Q. What kind of sounds do sound machines produce?

A. This depends on which model you opt for, but some popular sounds that seem to be featured on many machines include rainfall, bird sounds, rainforest, ocean waves, flowing river, thunderstorm, train, city, fireplace, and heartbeat.

That said, if you opt for a white noise machine over a more versatile sound machine, you'll only get white noise and other colors of noise rather than the above kinds of sounds.