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Most people who struggle to fall asleep and stay asleep swear by white noise.

If you’re not entirely sure what that is, white noise is a constant ambient sound, which is how the national sleep foundation describes it.

 
 
 
 
 
9.3
9.0
8.8
8.6
8.3
$114.99
$39.99 ($39.99 / Count)
$99.99 ($99.99 / Count)
$49.99
$34.95
Tear drop
Square shape with rounded edges
Rectangular
Round
Hexagon
7.5 x 5.5 x 4.5 inches
2.2 x 2.2 x 2.5 inches
7.88 x 2.13 x 2.5 inches
5.5 x 5.5 x 4 inches
4.4 x 4.4 x 2.2 inches
2.6 pounds
8 ounces
2 pounds
2 pounds
1.2 pounds
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
9.3
$114.99
Tear drop
7.5 x 5.5 x 4.5 inches
2.6 pounds
Yes
9.0
$39.99 ($39.99 / Count)
Square shape with rounded edges
2.2 x 2.2 x 2.5 inches
8 ounces
Yes
8.8
$99.99 ($99.99 / Count)
Rectangular
7.88 x 2.13 x 2.5 inches
2 pounds
Yes
8.6
$49.99
Round
5.5 x 5.5 x 4 inches
2 pounds
Yes
8.3
$34.95
Hexagon
4.4 x 4.4 x 2.2 inches
1.2 pounds
Yes
03/12/2024 09:14 pm GMT

Ultimately, it’s designed to mask disruptive “peak” sounds such as heavy footsteps and slamming doors.

Some of the most common sources of white noise are humming fans, air-conditioners, dehumidifiers and there are even white noise machines specifically designed for this purpose.

Lately, though, a different type of noise has begun to make waves, literally. It is called “pink noise”.

And according to the National Sleep Foundation, it could prove to be more effective than the static white noise sound that’s commonly used by insomniacs.

In the following guide, we’ll take a look at some of the best pink noise machines on the market and why you should be investing in them.

Overall Winner: Sound+Sleep SE Special Edition High Fidelity Sleep Sound Machine

Sound+Sleep SE Special Edition High Fidelity Sleep Sound Machine

If you would like to enjoy real sounds and get better sleep, then the sound and sleep SE machine is definitely the answer. Containing 64 dynamic sound environments in 16 categories, it’s sure to give you the type of rest and relaxation you are longing for.

There’s nothing quite like a good night’s sleep to help you take on the challenges of the next day ahead. This machine will help you get the sleep you need with its soothing background sounds that are designed to block ambient noise and put you in a relaxed state. This also allows for a better quality of sleep.

Real sounds from actual recordings are what you can expect from this machine. Some sleep machines only offer basic sounds, but this one offers recordings of hundreds of environmental and natural sounds that are carefully mastered to sound incredible on a high fidelity speaker.

Ultimately, this all provides a unique sound experience each and every time. Your brain automatically detects patterns and this is one of the reasons why some machines which simply loop the same sound tend to lose their effectiveness. This machine provides a unique, customized sound environment that is natural, effective, and, most of all, realistic.

The patented adaptive sound technology will help you fall asleep and stay asleep. It constantly monitors your environment and adjusts to reduce interference as well as any unwelcome noises. This will suit apartment and city dwellers alike.

Ultimately, your sound and sleep SE machine can run the entire night long, or you can set it to gently lower its volume and turn off once you drift off to sleep. So whether you are sleeping all night, all day, or merely taking a power nap, you can control the time you need.

The 3.5 mm audio output allows you to choose your own speaker pillow, headphones, or earbuds to avoid disturbing others. You can also use it to attach your portable speaker or use the audio input to enjoy your own music or content on the high fidelity speaker.

Pros

  • Customizable timer
  • Adjusts to environment
  • Audio output for personalized use

Cons

  • Some users have complained about sound being “high static”

Specifications

  • Shape: Tear drop
  • Size: 7.5 x 5.5 x 4.5 inches
  • White noise:  Yes
  • Weight: 2.6 pounds

Runner-Up: Sound Oasis Pink Noise Bluetooth Sound Machine For Sleeping

Sound Oasis Pink Noise Bluetooth Sound Machine For Sleeping

If you’re looking for professional quality sleep sound therapy, then this is your answer. With 20 built-in sounds plus pink noise, this machine offers even better sleep than others on the market. The compact, Bluetooth sound machine provides an oasis of quality sound at a great value. Not only is it quality but the small size makes it perfect for travel or to be stationed on your nightstand at home.

Ultimately, this machine uses the same sounds that the hospitals and audiologists from around the world use. The machine has been developed using the help and advice from sleep experts from around the world. Ultimately, it is a culmination of 25 years of sleep research to help you sleep, feel, and live the better.

This machine is proven to help you sleep better, manage tinnitus, noise from neighbors, and it also works to give your baby a good night’s rest.

It has a built-in microSD card that is preloaded with 20 quality sound Oasis tracks. You can even select a sound that will play continuously throughout the night.

The exceptional quality of sound is delivered from an acoustically superior aluminum housing. Thanks to its compact size, this machine is perfect for use at home or on the go.

The use of a sound card allows unlimited sound library expansion, and you can even download your sounds from the sound Oasis website. You can keep it plugged in with the included USB charge cable or use it cord-free with the built-in rechargeable lithium battery, which gives you up to 4 to 5 hours of use on one charge.

Pros

  • Supports micro SD card for sound expansion
  • Aluminum housing provides exceptional sound
  • Use with USB or cord-free with rechargeable battery

Cons

  • Difficult to tell which type of sound you are selecting

Specifications

  • Shape: Square shape with rounded edges
  • Size: 2.2 x 2.2 x 2.5 inches
  • White noise:  Yes
  • Weight: 8 ounces

Alternative: Sound Oasis Stereo Bluetooth Sound Machine For Sleep And Tinnitus Masking

Sound Oasis Stereo Bluetooth Sound Machine For Sleep And Tinnitus Masking

This sound therapy system from Oasis is the ultimate dual-purpose sound machine for enhancing the quality of sleep. Users are able to enjoy 20 professional sounds that are suitable for managing tinnitus, insomnia and blocking out annoying sounds that disrupt your sleep.

During the day, you can enjoy the BST – 400 as a clear bass Bluetooth speaker. This attractive and dual function machine is ideal for creating a healthy sound environment that promotes deep sleep, enhances memory, and offers an improved and more superior quality of sleep at home or while traveling.

As a bonus, it contains easy touch controls, attractive design as well as a cordless option since it contains a rechargeable lithium battery.

Pros

  • Works as a sound machine at night and bluetooth speaker by day
  • Cordless making it easy for travel
  • Easy user interface

Cons

  • Not returnable

Specifications

  • Shape: Rectangular
  • Size: 7.88 x 2.13 x 2.5 inches
  • White noise:  Yes
  • Weight: 2 pounds

Alternative: Yogasleep Dohm (White/Pink) | The Original White Noise Machine

Yogasleep Dohm (White/Pink) | The Original White Noise Machine

Many people believe that white noise is just recordings of rain sounds and ocean waves. However, it is more a collection of sounds that has the same intensity through the audible range creating a uniform sound ideal for masking loud disruptions and outside noises.

So basically, white noise smooths out your audible environment to enhance studying, focusing, and sleeping. So while many people refer to it as white noise, it is more commonly known as pink or brown noise, which is pleasant to the ear and conducive to sleep. It is also less high-frequency, but high-quality sound.

Our sound machine creates the soothing ambient sound off rushing air without the disruptions and cooling effects of actual wind. Our machines are also noise-canceling and replicate the constant “whirring” of an air-conditioner or fan. Although it’s simple, this machine is very effective and doesn’t contain the irritating looping effects of many other low-quality sound machines.

So it is a natural sleep aid and a 100% natural solution for getting the best possible night’s rest. Enjoy deep sleep without drowsiness, grogginess, or any of the side effects of taking sleeping pills. The steady sound of the pink noise will help you fall off to sleep faster and stay asleep for longer.

If you have a fussy infant, this machine will definitely help to soothe and calm down your little one quickly and effectively. Not only does it help your baby fall off to sleep, but it helps them stay asleep as it blocks out environmental distractions.

Outside disruptions are also blocked out as irrespective of whether you are at home, the office or on the go. It buffers outside noise from noisy neighbors, snoring partners, barking dogs, or chatty co-workers all while helping to manage tinnitus symptoms.

Feel free to use it in your office, study at home or classroom to minimize outside distractions and help you focus on the task at hand. These machines are low-cost and will help keep sensitive topics and discussions confidential.

It is also easy to use, and all you need to do is just plug it in and flip the switch to choose your volume, which could be ‘high for noisy environments or low for everything else. There’s no complicated interface that makes it extremely user-friendly.

This is one sound machine that does not contain an irritating looping sound effect. Once you’ve selected the desired volume, twist to fine-tune your tone of white noise, and the natural fan-based sound will give you rich and continuous white noise without any distracting looping.

Pros

  • Soothes and calms infants
  • Works as a natural sleep aid
  • Blocks out outside noise and distractions

Cons

  • Basic sounds

Specifications

  • Shape: Round
  • Size: 5.5 x 5.5 x 4 inches
  • White noise:  Yes
  • Weight: 2 pounds

Alternative: LectroFan Classic White Noise And Fan Sound Machine For Sleeping Adults & Kids

LectroFan Classic White Noise And Fan Sound Machine For Sleeping Adults & Kids

When it comes to rest, sleep, and relaxation, this LectroFan sound machine works wonders. The fan sounds, as well as white, pink, and brown noise, helps you fall asleep and stay asleep much longer by helping you tune out the environmental noises that might otherwise disrupt your sleeping.

Using the LectroFan in your study or office area can help you concentrate so you can get to work and get things done with more focus. There is also a simple and effective solution for improving privacy and making sure that your conversations don’t distract others.

These sounds can also be used in your baby or toddler’s room to buffer out distracting noises and create a calming and soothing environment. This ensures better sleep for your little one and better sleep for you as well.

The LectroFan is an advanced approach to white, brown, and pink noise. It’s entirely electronic with no motor or any internal moving parts. So you do get to benefit from all the sounds along with an adjustable volume, and high fidelity speaker.

Pros

  • Improves rest and sleep for adults and children
  • Ideal for work, studying and privacy
  • Contains 20 sound settings to match your environment

Cons

  • Sounds may be too high pitched for some people

Specifications

  • Shape: Hexagon
  • Size: 4.4 x 4.4 x 2.2 inches
  • White noise: Yes
  • Weight: 1.2 pounds

Pink Noise Machine FAQ

Woman Sleeping

What Does Pink Noise Do?

Both white and pink noise are members of an entire color family of sound, including brown and black noise. Sounds are assigned these colors based on how energy is distributed over several frequencies.

For example, white noise is composed of energy that is equally distributed across audible frequencies. But brown noise, on the other hand, also known as red noise consists of higher energies at lower frequencies such as deep, roaring sounds and thunder.

Pink noise is deeper than white noise energy in that it includes all audible frequencies, but energy is not distributed equally among them.

The energy of pink noise is greater at lower frequencies and decreases as the frequency rises. Therefore it has a distinct sound that is much deeper than white noise.

So if you prefer listening to ocean sounds at bedtime, then you actually prefer pink noise.

Many sleepers believe that white noise does the best job of masking any form of noise pollution, such as a garbage truck lumbering up at 6 AM or a neighbor’s barking dog at midnight, the fact is white noise is evenly distributed across the frequencies effectively blocking out sounds that may disrupt your sleep.

However, studies have shown that these low-frequency sounds, such as pink noise soothe the brain by actually reducing brain waves, which helps to induce a superior quality of sleep.

So, according to experts who published a 2012 study on pink noise, it has been concluded that pink noise reduces brain wave complexity and induces more stable sleep time, therefore, improving the quality of sleep.

Which Color Noise Is Best For Sleep?

Using White Noise Machine

It’s highly likely that you’ve heard of white noise. It’s often associated with a common static-like sound pattern added to alarm clocks and sleep aids in the market known as white noise machines. However, there are more colors of noise to the spectrum.

So ultimately, white noise is made up of random and equal amounts of frequencies from the entire sound spectrum. This is why it’s effective in masking just about every external sound.

It works because research has discovered that the human ear can only process a given number of frequencies at the same time.

Therefore white noise machines are designed to create some patterns utilizing all available frequencies. So some of the common benefits of white noise are that it improves concentration and promotes sleep.

Some listeners do, however, find that white noise is too high pitched. And they may prefer pink noise, which is like noise however operates on a lower frequency and creates a deeper and more gentle sound.

So ultimately, pink noise can be compared to the sounds of rushing water, strong wind moving through dry leaves, and heavy rain.

The sound is more subdued, deeper, and offers the same benefits of white noise because it also eliminates background sounds.

So ultimately, pink noise improves focus, gives you relief from headaches, soothes babies, and offers better sleep for the entire family.

Ultimately, lots of people have been noting that brown noise is probably the best for inducing sleep.

Brown noise also known as red noise takes the low-frequency emphasis of pink noise a step further by creating a noise pattern that is closer to a buzzing or humming rather than hissing.

Brown noise is often compared to rushing water and has a hum similar to a clothes dryer or a passing train.

The deeper qualities of the sound are great for relaxing and inducing sleep.

Ultimately, brown noise has been known to be extremely effective in relaxation and meditation, improving focus, increasing the reading comprehension, and giving you overall better quality of sleep.

What Is An Example Of Pink Noise?

Sound Wave Of Pink Noise

Pink noise is a variation of white noise. However, with pink noise, there’s power in the low-frequency bands, so there is a lot of bass added to it.

Pink noise sounds a lot like humming or soft static. So try to imagine waves crashing, a train chugging along, or rain falling and you’ve got pink noise.

Aside from the pink noise that can be found online, there are physical devices that you can use to listen to while you sleep.

However, the type of pink noise used in lab settings or studies are administered in a specific type of way. So the pink noise you come across online may not be exactly the same thing.

Can All White Noise Machines Produce Pink Noises?

White noise has been soothing people off to sleep for ages. It basically encompasses all of the frequencies any person can possibly hear and has the potential to drown out outside sounds.

Ultimately, the consistency of white noise creates a true masking effect which ultimately helps people fall asleep faster.

White noise has been so effective in helping people to sleep over the years that it has led to the development of sound machines. These sound machines are capable of playing white noises to help you focus, relax and fall to sleep.

Lately, though, pink noise has become the darling of all sleep sounds. This is probably because research has suggested an increase in time spent in deep sleep and enhanced memory when listening to pink noise.

Pink noise is a mix of high and low frequencies like the sound of gentle ocean waves or falling rain, so it is very soft and calming. Most sound machines these days have the ability to play both white and pink noise.

Conclusion

So ultimately the truth is no one really knows which sound is the best for inducing sleep and relaxation.

The truth is, while white noise, pink noise and brown noise are all proven to be effective in helping people to get rest and relaxation, ultimately it’s hard to tell which is the best.

For some people, white noise has consistently helped them to fall asleep and stay asleep for years.

Others are firm believers that pink noise is more calming and soothing while there are those that are firm supporters of brown noise.

So basically once you find a sound that you like and has consistently helped you fall asleep, consider buying a sound machine that offers various types of sounds to choose from.

These machines are recommended since they offer far higher definition sound and are able to play louder volumes than a phone.


Author

  • Nature Sound Retreat

    We're the group of holistic healers with a passion for sound therapy, meditation, and the benefits that music and noise can offer our bodies and minds. With over 10 years of experience teaching others about inner peace and how to achieve it with ease, we hope to share that knowledge on Nature Sound Therapy for you to enjoy for yourself.