There’s nothing like a good night’s sleep! Wake up refreshed and ready to tackle anything the world throws at you. But we all know that it isn’t always easy to drop off and stay in a restful slumber in today’s noisy world. That’s why we have found the best noise-canceling devices for sleeping that you can buy today!
Whether you are plagued by traffic noise, arguing neighbors, chirping birds, barking dogs, or even a snoring partner, it can sometimes be difficult to get to sleep and almost impossible to remain in the “land of nod.”
Just imagine if there was a device to aid your sleep and ensure that you wake up every morning fully rested and eager to start your day. Well, fortunately, there are many such devices and in this article, we explore the very best noise-canceling devices for a peaceful night’s sleep.
Noise-canceling and noise-masking devices have been in huge demand over recent years. They are designed to help your brain move into a comfortable state of subconsciousness whenever you need to sleep.
Devices for noise canceling for sleeping are engineered to manage noise disturbance in a few ways. They can create a physical barrier (noise blocking), and manipulate sound waves (noise canceling). They can even replace the sounds that are bothering you (noise replacement.)
Noise blocking devices
The most basic sound management solution is to simply block external sound from entering your ears (in a similar way to wearing ear protection devices in noisy factories). These kinds of ear coverings are designed to isolate any outside noise and stop it from reaching your ears.
Noise-canceling machines
A more recent invention, some earbuds/earphones go a step further. They cancel external sound waves with the use of electronics. These devices are favored by light sleepers as they actively remove lower-frequency sounds so that you can sleep like a baby!
Active noise-canceling devices, such as earphones or earbuds are fitted with tiny microphones that can hear ambient noise. They produce sound-canceling waves to effectively erase all ambient noise.
Noise replacement devices
The final option is sound replacement. As you know, not all sounds prevent you from sleeping. There are many sounds that aid your sleep. For example, when you hear the sound of an ocean, rainfall in a forest, or even the sound of a heartbeat, your mind is soothed and it’s easier to get to sleep and more importantly to stay asleep.
You may have heard of white noise. This type of sound emits the perfect type and level of sound waves to get your brain into the necessary state of relaxation for a great night’s sleep.
Should you choose earphones or earbuds?
First things first, when we say “earphones”, we mean the over-the-ear styles. These are not good for sleeping and are better for listening to music. They tend to be uncomfortable to wear when sleeping and often cost more than earbuds.
Standard earbuds tend to be comfier for sleeping but are not designed for this purpose. You should look for noise-canceling earbuds as they are made for sleeping and usually provide the white noise that you need to drop off.
What is the difference between white noise and pink noise?
White noise is made when sounds of different frequencies are combined. Pink noise is a consistent frequency in which every octave of sound carries the same amount of power.
Specially designed earbuds use white or pink noise to raise your hearing threshold so that you become less sensitive to familiar sounds. If you think of the sound of a dripping tap, during the day you hardly notice it, but when you’re trying to sleep it can sound much louder and drive you nuts. White or pink noise is designed to mask these kinds of sounds.
Typically, white noise is often associated with the static from radios or TVs (as in the Poltergeist movies) but for some of us, it can be too harsh for sleeping. White noise can sound like an unpleasant hissing to some people and they may wish to opt for a pink noise machine.
Scientific research carried out by the National Institute of Health has shown that pink noise is the best solution for faster and better sleep. Pink noise is better because it is less intrusive and has natural sound. These sounds include wind, rain, and running water.
Pink noise has been proven by science to minimize brain wave complexity, which usually results in a better night’s rest. A fascinating study showed that 60dB of continuous pink noise halved the time needed to get to sleep compared to no noise at all.
How can I sleep better without buying a sleeping device?
Before you spend your hard-earned dough on a noise-canceling device for sleeping, you might want to check that you are giving yourself the best chance of getting to sleep naturally. We have compiled a shortlist of factors that can affect your ability to get a good night’s sleep.
- Keep a regular sleep schedule – It is best to sleep and wake up at the same time each day.
- Try not to take naps – Napping during the day can make it more tricky to sleep at night.
- Establish a good nighttime routine – It’s important to relax completely before you sleep. For some, it can be by reading a good book and for others, it could be as simple as drinking a cup of hot cocoa in a warm bath.
- Don’t watch TV just before bedtime – This also goes for computers and cell phones. The light produced by these devices can make it much harder for your brain to switch off.
- Be aware of the temperature in your bedroom – Your sleeping area should be at a constant temperature throughout the night.
- Keep a good exercise schedule – Exercise is great to help most people sleep but should be avoided 2 – 3 hours before your bedtime.
- Be aware of your diet – Eating large meals in the late evening can cause difficulties when sleeping. Some foods that can keep you awake are ice cream, pizza, pasta, garlic, chocolate, and surprisingly alcohol.
- Avoid caffeine if you can – Caffeine can be found in many food products so make sure you look at ingredient labels before consuming any drinks or desserts.
The benefits of sleeping devices
- To create constant background noise for people who can’t sleep.
- To mask irritating sounds that can prevent you from falling asleep such as a TV from a nearby room.
- They block unwelcome noises that could wake you up during the night.
- They are a total godsend if your partner snores or farts regularly during the night.
- Can aid concentration for students or office workers.
- Masks conversations that are happening close by.
- They can also mask noises that might cause your dog to bark.
- Can be a very valuable tool for sufferers of tinnitus.
Best noise-canceling devices for sleeping
Marpac DOHM white noise machine
The Marpac DOHM is our choice for the best noise-canceling sleeping device available today. This device is very effective at masking ambient noise by creating a soothing and calm environment for rest or sleep.
The Marpac DOHM sound conditioner is constructed of durable plastic and uses a motor and a fan to create authentic masking sounds.
This noise-canceling device is so subtle that it can also be used in your office to block out your colleagues’ chatter without upsetting them. It’s not only good for aiding sleep but for times when you need to concentrate, too.
We love the simplistic design of the DOHM with its half-dome shape twists which you can use to adjust the tone and volume of the white noise. Other than the on/off button, there are no extra buttons or displays.
It has two fan settings (fast & slow) and the tone can be adjusted by twisting the top and body of the machine. This alters the airflow within the unit. Users should take a few minutes to adjust the sound machine to find the perfect sound for them.
The unit measures 5.8”x 5.8”x 3.8” and weighs 1.5 pounds. It comes with a one-year limited warranty and is assembled in the USA.
The Marpac DOHM has been around since the 1960s and has truly stood the test of time. It is also the official sound conditioner of the National Sleep Foundation.
Buyers should note that this is a white noise machine, which means that it ONLY plays white noise. It does not play pink noise such as rainfall, waterfall, or forest sounds. If you would rather have a device that plays natural sounds, check out the Sound + Sleep SE white, pink & brown noise machine featured below.
Sound + Sleep SE Special Edition white, pink & brown noise machine
If you have your heart set on a pink noise sleeping device that can bring the sounds of our beautiful planet into your bedroom then look no further. The amazing Sound + Sleep SE Special Edition not only features pink noise but white and brown noise, too!
The Sound + Sleep SE noise-canceling room device adapts to the ambient sounds in your bedroom. It features naturally recorded non-repeating sounds that could make you abandon your old standalone white noise machine.
The naturally recorded sounds are very authentic. For example, with the “city” soundscape, you can even hear the occasional car horn amidst the gentle hum of the city. While it takes a few minutes to get used to the unusual sound, this device beats the heck out of devices that use canned artificial loops.
The Sound + Sleep’s best feature is the ability to adapt to any ambient noise that is preventing you from getting a good night’s sleep. This doesn’t mean that the device just gets louder. Although the volume increases slightly the machine uses the richness of sound to cover annoying ambient noise rather than just drowning it out.
The difference between the special edition (SE) and the basic model just comes down to ports and a few additional sound profiles. If you don’t need the extra ports, you could get away with getting the basic model. And if you have a habit of sleeping anywhere and everywhere, there is also a mini version available, which is rechargeable but has fewer sound profiles than the SE.
The Sound + Sleep SE is equipped with 64 different sound stories which constantly evolve and never repeat. It works by automatically adding similar natural sounds from its extensive library to vary the user’s listening experience. This ensures that you do not hear identical sounds even when listening to the same story.
A final point is that this noise-canceling device for your home isn’t just for aiding sleep, it’s also very useful for meditation, relaxation, speech privacy, and study. This sound maker is one of the best on the market and has an excellent track record for helping people fall asleep easily.
Bose QuietComfort 20 acoustic noise-canceling headphones/earbuds
The electronic giant Bose has been working hard on noise-canceling technology for over 30 years. The technology was first used in their over-ear headphones – the QuietComfort 25. Thankfully the tech has been miniaturized and introduced to their flagship in-ear headphones – the QuietComfort 20.
They feature a battery pack located near the 3.5mm aux plug. It’s long and sleek, but not too heavy that it can cause damage to the headphone socket of your device The battery brick isn’t the smallest we’ve ever seen (measuring approx 9cm x 3cm) and two LED lights keep you informed of the remaining battery life and whether the noise-canceling function is in use.
Bose claims that these headphones offer 16 hours of noise-cancellation music, but in our tests, we got an average of 13 hours on a single charge. However, when the battery runs out, the earbuds will continue to play music, just without the noise-canceling feature.
The earbuds have a cool and funky design. They have rubber tips at the back of the earlobes which are attached to cone-shaped corridors near the eardrum. The design gives the QC 20 an excellent playback sound. The second advantage of this design is a perfect fit for most ears which means that no external noise cannot be heard.
In our opinion, the QuietComfort 20 is the best noise-canceling headphones for sleeping on the market today. This is achieved by using an array of microphones located in the buds and an electronic chip found just behind the inline remote.
The earbuds work by identifying unwanted sounds and creating opposing signals to cancel them. They also play music exactly the way the artist originally intended as no particular frequency is favored during playback.
There are two versions of the QuietComfort 20 – one is compatible with Apple devices and the other is compatible with Android.
Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs
The Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs earplugs are a cheap and effective way to cut out noise when you need to get some sleep. They are also recommended for stopping harmful noise at concerts or construction sites.
You get two pairs in each package, one pair for smaller ears and one for larger ones. They come with a handy elongated pull tab so it’s easy to remove them. They are made from soft, non-toxic, hypoallergenic silicone and feel very comfy in the ears.
We love the waterproof storage case to keep them safe and dry and this also prevents bacteria from growing inside it. The ergonomically designed aluminum case can also be clipped onto your keyring or backpack when you’re traveling.
Getting technical, the proprietary attenuation filters in these earplugs reduce all noise evenly across all spectrums, but they will not muffle voices or music. They simply reduce the overall sound level so you can get silent sleep without worrying about not hearing your alarm clock in the morning.
In short, the Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs are a great way to reduce the effect of sound while you are sleeping and they’re comfortable and cheap, too!
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Further reading
SleepyTi.me – A calculator in which you input the time you need to wake up, and it gives you the recommended time that you need to fall asleep.
Rainy Mood – As you have probably guessed, this website will play a soothing stream of rain and storm sounds to help you sleep. If you scroll down to the bottom, you will see a link to “Today’s music,” which is updated daily.
If you enjoyed this article, you might also like to discover the life-changing benefits of breathing through your nose while sleeping from our wellness section.
