Sound Machine Review

If you have trouble falling asleep at night, counting sheep is a thing of the past. Sound machines, equipped with soothing sound therapy options, are kicking those sheep to the curb with their gradual off features, built-in alarm clocks and iPod adapters. Sound machines are clinically proven white noise generators that play music with specific sound waves that your brain can easily match. Once your brain is operating at the same wave length as the sound being played, it is easier for you to drift to sleep and sleep better with a noise generator. Some noise machines offer up to 20 different sounds, like the Sound Soother White Noise Machine, while others offer only one. We’ve compiled the best sound machines on the market and have included articles on sound machines to assist in your purchasing decision. At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don’t Have To.™

Sound Machines: What to Look For

The appropriate amount of sleep can make or break the next day. It makes sense to invest in a product whose functionality is based on placing your brain into a deeper slumber.

Features
A sound machine’s main job is to soothingly lull the user to sleep with an array of different sounds, but the best white noise generators set themselves apart from the competition by carrying several additional features. Most come with a 30-60-90 minute timer that causes the sound machine to automatically shut off when the cycle has completed. Others come with iPod docks and headphone jacks for customizable sounds. One of our top picks, the HoMedics SoundSpa sound machine, has a built-in alarm clock and a handy snooze button that doesn’t abruptly wake you but, instead, gradually obtains your attention. Another important feature is the endorsement from the Tinnitus Practitioners Association, an organization of audiologists dedicated to providing tinnitus relief. The Sound Oasis S-650 is one such product backed by the TPA as an ideal sound therapy option for those suffering from sleep ailments associated with tinnitus, or ringing in the ears. Night lights and AM/FM radios were also a few of our favorite features.

Ease of Use
Whether in the middle of the day or in the dead of the night, adjustments to your noise machine should be easily carried out. Digital LED and LCD displays help a sleepy user change the settings or turn off the current sound with a touch of a button. Auto shut off or gradual off options save the user from being disturbed and save battery power in the process. For sleep deprived travelers, the top sound machines come with both an AC adapter and a battery powered option for on-the-go uses.

Sound Selection
Far off in the distance you hear the soft patter of rain drops, the sound ebbing and flowing as the storm quietly comes to an end and you fall asleep. Or perhaps you prefer the sound of crickets happily chirping through the night, singing to each other as you drift off. Regardless of your ideal way to begin your REM cycle, the best sound machines will have a variety of sounds to help you fall asleep. From the crackle of a fireplace to the rumblings of a thunderstorm or the crashing waves of the surf, several options await with the top white noise machines.

Shopping for the right white noise generator is a lot like shopping for the right pair of shoes. While all noise generators may look good on your bedside table, they may just not be the right fit. You’ll need to weigh the importance of additional features, like AM/FM radio or an iPod dock, versus the quality sounds of a machine specifically designed to combat sleep ailments. On our side-by-side matrix, you’ll see a distinct line separating those sound machines that strictly offer sound therapy and those that offer built-in alarm clocks, headphone jacks, night lights and more in addition to calming white noise.