A white noise machine can be a valuable investment for people who have a hard time falling asleep and those who would like to relax. The best white noise machine can be adjusted to produce an amount and intensity of white noise that is commensurate to the surrounding as determined by environmental noises or size of the room where it’s used. The machine works by releasing soothing white noise, which has a calming effect on the person listening and masking any distracting noise that may interfere with the relaxation or sleeping process. It also introduces white noise to quiet spaces, in this way helping improve the focus of those inside the space. This option is especially useful in providing background noise for people who find it hard to concentrate in quiet spaces. If this is you, you may want to consider keeping one in the office. It’s also particularly great in lulling babies to sleep and pacifying fussy babies.
The effectiveness of a white noise machine is determined by a number of factors. Most crucial among these are things like the types of sound supported, adjustability, sleep timer, how the machine is powered – whether by AC or batteries – and whether these are included when you buy. Other considerations are add-ons like a headphone connector and USB port. Further, in the review, we’ll look at these features in greater detail.
This review is the result of the in-depth research we undertook in a bid to identify how the different white noise sound machines in the market work. Part of our research included comparing the white noise machines we had personally used and analyzing the data we obtained from manufacturers’ websites. We present our findings in a clear, easy to follow format that includes a comparison table, in-detail reviews of each product, and a buying guide.
If you’re looking for a white sound machine that you can carry with you when traveling, the Adaptive Sound Technologies LectroFan White Noise Sound Machine is a good choice. The small and compact size makes it highly portable as it is light and won’t take up much space in the bag. With its neat, geometric design, it seamlessly blends into any room to double up as a decor accent for any interior style.
This Lectrofan white noise machine comes with twenty unique sounds: ten ambient variation sounds and ten fan sounds, that block out all kinds of noise, including repetitive droning sounds in the environment and loud distant noises. In deathly quiet spaces, the machine introduces soothing sounds that quickly bring the room to life. This can be useful for people who like to have some background noise as they work. Precise volume control allows you to control the volume of the machine to suit your environment.
It also comes with a sleep timer, which enables you to control how long the machine plays every single time. With this feature, you don’t have to worry about the machine playing all night.
It’s powered by AC and USB, meaning you can connect it to a power outlet or to any 5V battery pack that has a USB port, a versatility that makes it possible for you to use it in rooms without power supply.
The Marpac Dohm Original White Noise Machine produces a distinct fan sound, creating an illusion of rushing air that is soft and calming. You can operate it at two-speed levels. The low setting gives you a soft, low sound that is ideal when you want to introduce a soothing sound in an otherwise quiet room. The high setting plays high tones designed to tune out any range of noises, from street noises to loud conversations and music, machine noises, and animal noises.
To use, plug into a 120V AC, choose your setting, and rotate the cap to find a suitable sound. A headphone connector allows you to plug in your headphones if you prefer to listen through these.
A compact round gadget, Marpac White Noise Machine adds a modern touch to any interior, making it a complementing accent in any room. It’s available in white, gray, tan, and black.
Marpac gives you 101-day free trial period, during which you can return the machine if it doesn’t meet your expectations. If you decide you keep it, you get a 1-year warranty that includes replacement or service. The motor tends to develop a rattling noise after some time, so watch out for that. This shouldn’t be a problem if it happens during the warranty term as the manufacturer will take care of it.
When you long for a sleep-boosting noise-maker but don’t want to spend much on it, the Big Red Rooster White Noise Machine is the kind of machine you go for. And it’s not just the price point that is attractive here. It’s also the quality of white noise you get for this price and the fact that it’s small enough to fit in any number of spaces. The machine comes with six unique sounds, namely ocean, rain, brook, thunder, summer night, and white noise. Plug in the machine, choose your sound, set the volume, and enjoy. It comes with an AC adapter that is designed to work at 110V-240V, which makes it ideal for international travel. You can also power it using 3AA batteries, so you can take it with you even when going to places with no power supply. There is an optional timer that you can set for 15, 30, or 60 minutes if you prefer not to run the machine all night.
The only problem we had with this unit has to do with the noise the buttons make when you push them. This is a design flaw rather than a functionality glitch, and while it may not be a big deal when you’re adding white noise to a quiet space, it can be jarringly loud when you’re trying to get a baby to sleep, and may even wake them up if they had fallen asleep.
If you’re primarily looking for a gadget that generates white noise and/or fan sounds, Adaptive Sound Technologies LectroSound White Noise Machine would be a good choice. The range of fan sounds and white noise in this machine is impressive, and the best part is that they play seamlessly. You won’t be able to tell where each sound begins or ends. It delivers the kind of flawless audio flow that lulls you or your little one to sleep in minutes.
It’s easy to operate. It has only three control buttons; the switch button, the volume button, and the sound option. Plug it in, switch it on, choose your preferred sound, and adjust the volume accordingly. To power it, you can connect it to an AC adapter or to any powered USB port. It comes as a complete unit, with the AC adapter included. So, you won’t need to buy any additional accessories before you can use it. While the quality of sound is largely okay, you may occasionally hear a scraping noise from the motor when the machine is running.
Adaptive Sound Technologies, the company behind the LectroSound brand, has a 30-day return policy. If you’re not impressed with the machine’s performance during this period, you can return it and get your money back. They also offer a 1-year warranty, so if you decide to keep it, you’re covered over this period.
If you’re the kind of person who relishes listening to a different sound each time you turn on the white noise machine, the Dreamegg D1 White Noise Sound Machine is for you. With twenty-one different sounds to choose from, you can enjoy sampling a different sound each time you use the machine. The sounds are grouped into three categories; fan sounds (7), white noise sounds (7), and nature sounds (7).
There is a timer with an auto-off feature that you can set for 30, 60, or 90 minutes. You also have the option to play the machine all night. Also available is an optional night light, an excellent feature for babies and adults who have a hard time falling asleep when there’s no light in the room. Simply press the light button to turn the light on/off, and choose the light mode you prefer between the constant on mode and the dimming mode. The memory function remembers your last settings for sound, volume, timer, and light.
The machine’s audio input allows you to play your music and other content through the speaker, making it an entertainment unit of sorts.
You can power it via an AC adapter or USB, both of which are included when you buy the machine.
Dreamegg gives 60-day money-back guarantee and a 1-year warranty for each unit.
One of the best features in the Vanzon White Noise Machine is the wide range of sounds you get to choose from, thirty-six soothing sounds to be precise, and in a mix that includes eleven fan sounds, seven white noise options, and eighteen relaxing and nature sounds. While the volume range is impressive and the quality of tone on most of the sound options is good, some sounds play on loop, which for individuals who have a hard time falling asleep or concentrating, is quite distracting. If you’re not highly sensitive to sound, this likely won’t bother you as you may not notice it.
It has an auto-off timer for 30, 60, and 90 minutes, and a timer-off option that allows you to run the machine all night. For extremely light sleepers and those who suffer frequent awakenings throughout the night, the latter is invaluable.
The memory function remembers your last settings for sound, volume, and timer, allowing you to plug in and play your favorite sounds without adjusting the settings each time.
A 3.5mm earphone jack allows you to connect your earphones or headphones and discreetly zone out even when you’re in a group of people. The machine itself is compact and lightweight, making it ideal for travel.
Should you have a problem with the machine, contact Vanzon. They’re open to issuing a replacement or refund, even in the absence of a warranty.
ArtNaturals Sound Machine is a multiuse, 3-in-1 unit that functions as a white noise machine, essential oil diffuser, and night light dispenser. It’s a great option for folks who want either a white noise machine and aroma diffuser or a white noise machine and night light as it means you don’t have to buy each separately.
Currently, this unit comes with eight essential oils (when bought directly from the manufacturer), but you can use the 300ml diffuser with any essential oil of your choice. You can operate all three functions – diffuser, white noise, and light – at once or operate each separately as need be, a mechanism that makes this a great white noise machine for baby. The aroma diffuser and night light can remain on throughout the night, but the sound machine automatically shuts off after 2 hours, even though the manufacturer says it should stay on for a minimum of 3 hours. To keep it running all night long, you have to reactivate it by pressing the button every 2 hours. It is a lot of work for someone who is trying to get a full night’s sleep.
Choose from 6 nature sounds and 7 LED lights, and combine them however you like. Each LED is designed to enhance a different mood and ambiance, so try them all to see which ones you like for what time periods.
You can power it using a USB or AC adapter. The plug, with its ill-suited location at the bottom of the machine, can be tricky to plug in and in the process cause leaks, particularly when the diffuser is full.
Adaptive Sound Technologies Lectrofan Micro2 Sleep Sound Machine offers a choice of 11 sounds, which include five fan sounds, four white noise options, and two ocean sounds. The memory function remembers your last settings for sound and volume. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with a timer and so will remain on until you manually switch it off.
It comes with a built-in rechargeable battery, but you can also power it using the USB by connecting it to an AC adapter or any powered device with a USB port. The USB, AC adapter, and battery are included in the purchase, so you’re not going to buy any of the accessories separately.
It has a wireless Bluetooth speaker, which you can pair with your smartphone and use to stream audio content. Using the built-in microphone, you can also turn the machine into a speakerphone when making or receiving phone calls as long as you’ve turned on Bluetooth and paired the phone to the Micro2. But it doesn’t have a headphone connector, so you can’t use it with your headphones or earphones.
This machine is small and compact enough to hold in one hand, which makes it a good choice for travel.
The manufacturer gives a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you keep the product, you enjoy a 1-year warranty.
The lightweight Pure Enrichment Wave Sleep Therapy Sound Machine, small and compact, is designed for optimal portability. It is compact enough to use in a wide range of applications, whether placing it on your nightstand, fitting it in a closet in the baby’s room, or squeezing it in your travel bag.
It offers a choice of 6 soothing sounds, namely fan sound, white noise, rain, ocean, stream, and summer night. The sound output is powerful, thanks to the premium integrated speakers which amplify each sound appropriately for the selected volume. The volume control is precise and supports a wide range so that it’s easy to adjust the volume accordingly for each room size or as per your requirements. The only problem is that you can discern the loop on each sound, and this more often than not detracts from what you’re trying to achieve.
Choose how long the machine runs by setting the timer to the 15, 30, or 60-minute mark.
This machine has a number of exciting features, top among these being the USB port. For a machine that’s so small, it’s impressive that it will charge your phone and other USB-powered devices. The removable stand keeps the look neat and ensures that the USB and charging cable won’t get twisted and eventually get damaged.
You can power this white noise machine via USB or AC adapter. It comes with a best-in-class 5-year warranty.
myBaby White Noise Machine is designed as a premium, sleep-inducing, lullaby-crooning white noise machine. Small, compact, and ultra-light, it is every mother’s dream as it will even fit into a diaper bag or purse. With six soothing lullaby sounds, it creates the ideal environment for baby to fall asleep quickly, no matter how fussy they are. The volume control is responsive. However, it isn’t extensive, so the options to customize the white noise to suit your environment and room size are limited. It also clicks loudly when adjusting the volume, and this can rouse a baby who is slowly falling asleep.
Also supported is a 3-tier auto-shut timer which you can set for 15, 30, and 60 minutes. Alternatively, you can set the machine in a continuously playing mode if you want the sounds to play all night.
You have the option to power the machine via a power outlet or via 4 A batteries. With continuous playing, the batteries will last 24 hours. The AC adapter is included in your purchase. But if you wish to use batteries to power the machine, you’ll have to buy these separately as they’re not included in the purchase.
HoMedics offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, which means you have to test the machine as soon as it’s delivered to determine if it’s worth your money before the return window closes.
In the section above, we have reviewed a good number of white noise machines. In this next section, we’ll look at the features that make a good white noise machine. These are the features you ought to pay attention to when shopping for a white noise sound machine. We’ll also answer some FAQs about these types of machines.
Let’s now look at the specific features that will help you identify the best white noise machine for your environment.
This refers to the types of sounds the machine produces. Each sound is designed to have a certain impact on the human brain. The most common sounds are fan sounds, nature sounds, and white noise sounds. The best white noise sound machine produces all three categories of sound. Top examples are the Adaptive Sound Technologies LectroFan White Noise Sound Machine, Dreamegg D1 White Noise Sound Machine, Vanzon White Noise Machine, and Lectrofan Micro2 Sleep Sound Machine. These sounds are not designed to be produced at the same time. Rather, you can choose a different sound each time you use the machine, depending on the mood and effect you wish to create.
White noise machines can be powered via an AC adapter, USB, or batteries. Some, like the Dohm White Noise Machine, require you to plug into a power outlet. But a majority has two power options that can be the AC or USB combo, like the Adaptive Sound Technologies LectroFan White Noise Sound Machine, Adaptive Sound Technologies LectroSound White Noise Machine, Dreamegg D1 White Noise Sound Machine, and Vanzon White Noise Machine. Or they can be powered by AC or USB, like the Big Red Rooster White Noise Machine, Adaptive Sound Technologies Lectrofan Micro2 Sleep Sound Machine, or myBaby White Noise Machine from HoMedics.
When choosing the power source, consider where you will be using the machine most frequently. If it’s in a place with no power supply, choose a unit that can be powered via USB and/or batteries.
The same applies when choosing a sound machine for use when traveling. You want a machine that can be powered using USB or battery, in addition to directly connecting to an AC source. This gives you the flexibility to use in during transit and in places with no power outlets. Batteries can be in-built and rechargeable or removable and replaceable. So, pick the most practical option for you.
Does the machine come with a timer that allows you to set how long the machine will play? Most white noise machines come with a continuous mode, which is the preferred mode for people who’d like to run the machine all night. But if you’re looking to play the machine for short durations at a time, you need one with a timer. Many of these will allow you to set the timer to play for 15, 30, or 60 minutes. A few, like the Dreamegg D1 White Noise Sound Machine, Vanzon White Noise Machine, and ArtNaturals Sound Machine allow you to set the timer for up to 90 or 120 minutes at a time.
If the machine comes with a headphone connector, you can connect your headphones or earphones and enjoy the relaxing sounds from the machines without disturbing those around you. This is a great feature to have when traveling because it allows you to maintain your white noise routine as though you never left home, and do so in private.
For the most part, white noise machines are affordable. You can get quality ones for $20 or less, an amount many people are comfortable parting with for the comfort it earns them. At the other end of the spectrum are the white noise machines going for $50 or more. If you choose to buy a machine that goes for these higher prices, be sure to first look at the white noise machine reviews available for the particular model you’re interested in. These will give you a fairly good idea of what to expect from the machine and help you figure out whether buying it is advisable. Otherwise, there are lots of white noise sound machines ranging from $20-$35 that offer a near-perfect balance between functionality and cost.
Pink noise is a form of white noise. The difference is that, unlike white noise, it is more intense at lower frequencies and weaker at higher frequencies. It is also softer and more calming and pleasing to the ear than white noise. An example is a drizzle or light rain.
Brown noise operates exclusively on low frequencies. As such, it’s deeper and lower than both white and soft noises and is considered great at improving concentration and relaxation. It sounds more like a roaring river. It’s the kind of noise that will help you focus at work.
White noise has been shown to help restless pets become less anxious. It has also been shown to be effective in getting pets that have trouble sleeping to sleep. If your pet has trouble falling asleep, either due to anxiety or noises in the environment, you may want to introduce white noise to calm them down and help them sleep better.
Our top choice is the Adaptive Sound Technologies LectroFan White Noise Sound Machine. We like its design and size, USB functionality, and precise volume control. We also like the sleep timer and the wide variety of sounds you get.
Our second choice is the Marpac Dohm Original White Noise Machine. The real fan sounds and the dual speed settings stood out for us. We like that you can choose between a low tone and a high tone depending on your environment and what you hope to achieve. We also like that you can use it with your headphones if you like.
Our third best white noise machine is the Big Red Rooster White Noise Machine. What stood out for us is its compact size, the six sound options and the sleep timer. We also like that you can power it via AC or batteries. And the price is, without a doubt, attractive.
