Size and style: Ideally, a sound machine that takes up space in your bedroom will be, at the very least, somewhat compact and unobtrusive, and easy to fit onto a dresser or nightstand. But some modern sound machines offer white noise as well as a wider array of aural delights, like the sound of ocean waves crashing or crickets chirping. As such, sleeping with a sound machine turned on can be akin to having a box fan blowing in your bedroom - and indeed, people who run hot and don’t need any frills may prefer an actual fan to a more specialized sound-focused device. At their absolute simplest, sound machines typically make a consistent and even-toned whirring fan or static-y radio sound that’s intended to mask more disruptive and specific noises like people talking or a dog barking. Sound type and variety: A sound machine can generate sound either mechanically, via physical components moving inside it, or electronically. Here are the best sound machines and white-noise machines you can buy online.īest overall electronic | Best (less expensive) electronic | Best basic electronic | Best overall mechanical | Best (less expensive) mechanical | Best adaptive | Best for babies and kids | Best (less expensive) for babies and kids | Best for travel While they’ve long been a trusted tool of sleep-deprived new parents trying to soothe fussy babies to sleep - and then to ensure said babies stay that way - sound machines, or white-noise machines, can help you sleep better at any age by working to mask a variety of background noises, from conversation in an adjoining room to sirens racing by or garbage trucks clanking cans around outside. If you find yourself tossing and turning for hours or waking up easily after finally drifting to sleep, consider buying a sound machine.

White noise machine for tinnitus