For our top pick as the best sound machine, the Dreamegg Sound Machine has a very smooth flow will not startle you at all. It has a total of 6 relaxing sounds for you to choose from, including ocean and rain, and it is good for people who snore and baby nurseries. If you are suffering from tinnitus then this is a good unit. In fact, there is a memory feature even when you turn it off.

Our step-up pick is the Marpac Dohm Classic and you can get different white noise in a custom way as it is not digital (it is mechanical). You also get two speeds due to its dual speed motor and it is ideal for most light sleepers as well, not just babies. It has a fully adjustable tone with a twist to adjust system and its acoustic housing makes it a mechanical white noise generator.

The budget pick is the Big Red Rooster and this one also has 6 settings to choose from. It is portable so it can be used overseas or for travel purposes, so you can take it anywhere with your kids. It can produce various other sounds like thunder and rain. If you previously used fans as noise to fall asleep to, this kind of unit is a good choice. It can be set to 15, 30 or 60 minutes for its timer.

A Little Background

A sound machine can give off soothing sounds.

A sound machine is a kind of device that is capable of producing white noise that is soothing to babies and even for adults. This white noise generator can be found in most baby centers and shops as an additional appliance that is usually battery operated. However, some can be plugged into a wall outlet in order to power it up.

The most probable use of a white noise machine or a white noise generator would be for putting babies to sleep. Babies can have difficulty in sleeping because they can get easily distracted and are more sensitive to sounds than adults and older children are. Therefore, it is necessary for parents to help mask away the outdoor noise by using a white noise generator that can also help calm down their baby or child.

They can come in various forms, but most of them are either square or circular shaped with a speaker box to produce white noise. The designs of the white noise generator can be a factor in terms of the distribution of the white noise. For example, it might be able to distribute the white noise better if the speaker is on top or on the sides aside from just one side. This is important if your baby room is not very good in room acoustics.

Some can come in digital form when producing white noise while others can come in the mechanical form in terms of producing white noise.

Digital form types of white noise generator are more ideal for those who are in the budget because they can already produce a lot of white noise in one go, but are not very natural in terms of white noise quality. On the other hand, mechanical white noise generators are pricier but have a better quality in terms of white noise.

Some of these units can help you sleep on a camping trip.

They are mostly battery operated so that you can take them with you anywhere. This lets you take the white noise generator with you during a car trip when your baby can’t easily sleep. It is essential for when your child is distracted by outdoor noises and you just want them to sleep better. You can also use it in a camper, RV or hotel when you want your child to sleep comfortably wherever they go.

Babies and children benefit the most from a white noise machine.

Some of them even have lights that can help calm down your baby or child when he or she can’t fall asleep, as it can act as a night light of sorts. The lights may cycle depending on the brand that you have. Such lighted units can be a bit pricier but can be ideal for those who need night lights.

How we Picked

In choosing the best sound machine, you need to consider the following factors:

Digital or mechanical: the white noise generator can either be mechanical or digital in terms of generating the white noise. The digital type of this unit can give you access to more than 3 types of white noise, which are all digitally recorded so that you can play them over and over again. They provide a less natural white noise but are cheaper.

Portability: you have to consider a white noise machine that is easy to move anywhere. A portable one can be battery operated and charged on a power bank or some other source. This lets you travel with the white noise generator. It is good for when you want your baby to sleep soundly even in a hotel or another house or bedroom.

White noise options: it should not only have a white noise option but a myriad of options as well. There can be different selections and settings, such as the noise of the rain, the ocean waves, a lullaby that is relaxing for your baby and many others. The selection should be easy to do and to switch between as well so that you will have less effort in handling your baby’s sleeping experience.

Lights: some that have lights can be ideal for those who want a built-in nightlight as well. Most of the brands of white noise generators out there have 7 colors of lights that cycle throughout the operation. They cost more battery life but are great for nightlight purposes.

Ease of adjustment: the white noise generator should be easy to adjust for its settings, whether it is for the lights or for the white noise. As we said above, an easy to adjust unit can be great so that your baby does not get startled by pressing the buttons and the like.

Fading or ramping down: this makes the white noise generator more calming when it turns off. Imagine if the white noise suddenly stops when the battery runs out – this can startle your kids! For a true blue white noise generator to be calming to your child, it should have a fade down option when the battery is out.

Good battery life: aside from a good battery life, the white noise generator should also have energy saving features in order to save up on battery consumption to avoid charging it often. For instance, it should have a feature that will lower the white noise gently when the battery is low.

Durable housing: this is also important if you want to take the white noise machine or white noise generator with you to travels with your baby or little one. ABS plastic is often used for many white noise generators out there in terms of the housing material.

Our Pick

If you do want the best sound machine, we suggest the Dreamegg Sound Machine. It has a total of 6 relaxing white noise that you can choose from so that it will suit your needs and you don’t have to listen to the same thing over and over again. It will help you to fall asleep quickly and will be helpful if you have kids as well, such as those who could have difficulty in sleeping at night.

It can help them calm down due to the white noise that can mask away other background noises. In addition to that, the sound machine is quite portable so that you can take it with you wherever you go. You also have the various options for the white noise, such as ocean and rain, which can help you or your baby to soothe down.

The unit can produce a soothing lullaby for babies as well, which can be helpful if they want something to help them fall asleep faster. It also provides a very smooth flow will not startle you, which is important if you are a light sleeper, or if your baby is one. The 60-minute auto-off timer can be set for 15 or 30 minutes as well so that you can customize the machine depending on how long you want to let it run for.

For people who snore, the white noise generator can be a great masking choice for such annoying sounds. It can also be used for baby nurseries so that your child can fall asleep soundly and faster. It will also minimize the sounds of noisy neighbors such as pets and machinery if any, and there is also a memory feature even when you turn it off.

Overall, if you are suffering from tinnitus, this unit can also be helpful as a great white noise generator that can be used in masking most ambient noises. It is backed by a 1-year warranty.

Flaws but Not Dealbreakers

The only con but not a deal breaker with the Dreamegg Sound Machine is that the other sounds may not sound as natural as other machines, but that is true with most in this price range.

Step-up Pick

The Marpac Dohm Classic is our step-up pick, which has a more powerful design despite its price. There are a total of two speeds due to its dual speed motor so that you can select depending on your preferences to save up on electricity and consumption, and also not to break the motor too easily due to the adjustable speed.

Working on 120v systems, the acoustic housing makes it a mechanical white noise generator, unlike the cheaper generators out there that use only digital white noise that does not seem realistic at all.

You can still get different white noise with the Marpac Dohm Classic due to the fact that it has a fully adjustable tone with a twist to adjust system. This is highly important if you want a clear, concise and custom made white noise generated for you or your baby.

It is also quite compact in terms of its housing, so you can take it anywhere with you. It does not sacrifice the solid durability as well, even while being portable. The Marpac Dohm Classic is a good choice to drown out noises from your neighborhood with its precise volume control. It is also a perfect gift for light sleepers.

With this unit, you get a total of three color choices: white, black and tan, which can complement your bedroom setting as well. It is perfect for babies and children and is backed by a one-year limited factory warranty.

Budget Pick

The Big Red Rooster is our budget pick if you just want one that has 6 white noise in just one go. It has a seamless loop as well that feels natural, and it can produce sounds like the falling rain to help soothe your child or for someone who has ringing in their ears (tinnitus). It can also have other sounds such as a brook, which can help calm your senses.

Because of its portable design, the Big Red Rooster can be used overseas so you can take it with you for traveling and the like. It can easily mask background noises due to the calm sounds of the ocean that are recorded in the unit. You can help your child get pleasant dreams with this unit with subtle sounds of rain and thunder as well.

The portable design allows you to take it anywhere with your kids and the white noise really works well. There is also an option for a summer night ambient noise, which can also be soothing and relaxing overall. If you previously used fans as noise to fall asleep to, this can be a good choice for you.

If you want to fall asleep easier then this is great for travel as a companion for sleeping. It can be timed at 15, 30 or 60 minutes if you wish. The Big Red Rooster is also convenient if you’re traveling due to the voltage conversion. It only requires 3 AA batteries or an AC adaptor to be powered up.

Best Sound Machine with Many Sound Programs

If you want a white noise generator that has many programs, the Pictek White Noise is a good choice. It has an auto-off timer from 30 to 60 minutes that can help you to set the appropriate time that you want to use it for. It even has 3 types of natural white noise with 24 sound options so that you can choose according to your needs and the favorites of your baby or child.

This white noise machine has an adjustable volume control so that it will not be too noisy for you when you try to sleep or if you are trying to get your baby to sleep properly. It will block out most neighbors and household noises with its white noise technology and is only powered by 4 AA batteries, which you can easily buy anywhere.

It also keeps the memory of all settings so you don’t have to go an adjust it every single time you open the unit. It is also a disturbance-free unit to keep you sleeping soundly if you are a light sleeper who may not be comfortable with too much quietness or too much noise. It is also a good sleep machine for babies aside from adults.

With a 3.5mm earphone support, you can plug in your earphones and sleep properly as it stays on all night without any kind of disturbance or loss of noise at all. It is also deemed safe for babies due to the odor-free material that is made for the housing. It can also remember the volume settings by holding a button.

This unit has a total of 8 working modes for you to choose from, based on what kind of ambient noise you want. It is also USB operated and only consumes 5V USB power, making it economical.

Best Sound Machine with a Bass Enhancement

If you want a unit that has a bass boost button, the iHome Zenergy Portable can be a good choice for you. As a white noise machine, it can produce fan noise that is very natural overall. It has a total of 12 relaxing sound modes that you can select based on your preferences as to which can be the best for you.

Mimicking the sounds of nature, this unit is able to blend in with bedroom décor due to the good design outwards. It can also play thunderstorm and rain ambient music so that you can feel relaxed. It also has an option for a calming ocean breeze.

For earphones or headphones, there is also an AUX-in jack for this option. There are also heartbeat sounds for your baby while the sound quality is good overall. There is also an included AC adapter (international use for 100 to 240v systems) and its included sleep timer gradually decreases sound so your baby will not be startled. It runs on 4 AA batteries as well.

Best Sound Machine for Adults with Sleeping Problems

For those with sleeping problems, the Sharper Image Best can be a good choice. It has a total of 12 music options and it has a battery-powered option for traveling and the like while remaining in a soothing feeling.

Furthermore, it can be used for both AC and DC for international travel use so you can take it with you anywhere. It even has an omnidirectional digital speaker that distributes the nature ambiance better than most brands.

With a 30/60/90-minute timer option, this unit is great for general sleep therapy as you can have it on all night. It will not easily run out of battery and it has an assortment of options for the settings. You can use it at home for relaxation for your baby or for yourself, or you can use it for you to drown out the city noise at night.

It also has an auto shut-off function that can help save up on electricity and battery life. It also provides good stress relief due to the variety of music that you can find there. It has a3.5mm headphone jack for headphone and earphone users as well and has a timer to make it more energy saving overall.

Best Sound Machine for Babies and Nurseries

If you have a baby and they need a night light and a white noise machine at the same time, the Hatch Baby Rest can be a good choice for you. It is a new product among the white noise generators out there that is easy to use and is a smartphone app integrated device. It has various ambient noise like a rain shower, which can help soothe and calm down your baby or your kid.

One unique thing about this white noise machine is that it has a time-to-rise alarm for your kids to keep a good schedule for their bedtime. It can be programmed with your smartphone, which is very awesome and modern. The housing also looks stylish so it will blend in with existing décor in your kid’s bedroom.

The color and brightness can also be changed and it can also be protected by the child lock feature to avoid your child playing with the settings. It can be easily adjusted remotely using your phone and it is indeed one smart device with two functions: noise and lights. It has a noise volume option and it can be set to turn on automatically as well on a given period.

Best Sound Machine that is Portable and Travel-Friendly

For those wanting to travel with a white noise machine, the AVANTEK White Noise may be a good choice for you. It has over 20 settings for you to choose from, including 6 white noise sounds.

As a great feature, the sound will fade away gradually without disturbing you, so that you will not feel startled at all when the battery runs low. This is highly important if you are a light sleeper.

With a total of 6 fan sounds, it has an LED indicator light that is not too bright so as not to disturb you. It has a total of 8 different ambient sounds as well, which can block out most ambient noise such as farm animal noise outside. In terms of the housing, the plastic is sturdy enough for most regular users.

The unit will not distract you from your sleep due to the soothing sounds and the subtle light. It even has a memory function for a hassle-free operation. If you like water type sounds then this unit is good for you. It is quite convenient and lightweight and its timer can be set from 1 to 7 hours.

Best Sound Machine that has Lullabies

For those looking for a white noise generator that has lullabies, you may be in luck with the myBaby White Noise, which is also portable for travel due to the size. It has an auto-off timer for you to easily manage it when taking care of your baby. It has a heartbeat sound, which can be great for newborn babies and even younger kids.

Bearing a low profile design, the unit has a total of 6 lullabies that can help your baby to stay asleep even on a trip, as a white noise machine for babies. It has good volume control, according to most reviewers, and it is a great companion to travel with the kids. You can set it to 15, 30, or 60 minutes depending on your needs.

The unit can handle continuous play for overnight use, and it is also lightweight to carry around. The unit only uses 4 AA batteries or a wall adapter.

Best Sound Machine for Apartment Use

If you want something that is for apartment use, the LectroFan High Fidelity is quite portable enough and is powered by AC or USB. It is fully electronic without noticing a loop so it is cheap but of quality sound, as compared to mechanical counterparts out there. It can give you rest and relaxation due to the various 10 fan sounds.

For those who live in a place where neighbors have noisy pets, this can be a great choice for you. In terms of looks, it has a solid-state design so it is very sleek and conforming to your office or home. It can produce pure white noise that is pretty good, unlike the cheaper ones out there. This one can make non-repeating but continuous white noise, that you won’t be able to notice that there is a loop and that it is actually digital and not mechanical noise.

The Competition

Other sound machines or white noise generators did not make it to our list because they did not have a lot of options to choose from, were too bulky to carry around and were also not very durable and quality sounding. Some of them were also difficult to set up and didn’t have enough battery life.

Stress reduction	Those who feel stressed often are usually the ones who have lack of sleep. Therefore, by maintaining a good sleeping schedule, they can lessen their worries and recharge better for the next day.
Better creativity	Sleeping also helps you to process our memories and create new things for the next day ahead because your brain sorts out information better when you sleep.
Improved mood	A good sleep also keeps you recharged for your next work or activity so that you don’t feel down in the dumps or irritated.
Less tired feeling	You will less likely have that tired feeling when you get up or during the afternoon when the hours seem so slow in class or at work.
Work productivity	If you sleep early or on a regular schedule, there will be great work productivity by next day on a regular basis. This is because you will most often feel energized.
Weight loss	Did you know that sleeping early can also contribute to better weight loss? This is because you can also potentially burn calories in your sleep.
Driving safely	If you have properly slept the night before, you can definitely be more alert when you drive a car, motor or any other vehicle.
Immune system boost	Sleeping early also helps you to stay healthy, boosting your immune system, meaning that you will less likely have colds, cough, flu or allergies.
Live Longer	Overall, if you maintain your health by sleeping early or on a regular schedule, you will less likely have health problems and you may live longer than expected.

Wake up early	Waking up early may sound like a big chore for you, because you will feel very tired in the afternoon, but if you can control it by engaging in a physical activity throughout the day, you will most likely get knocked out by nighttime, which can help kick-start your new sleeping schedule.
Work elsewhere other than your bedroom	The temptation of sitting on your bed is a major cause of sleeping problems. You should control and condition your mind that you need to stay awake for work and stay out of your bed if you are working at home (e.g. as a freelancer on a laptop) and then only go to your bedroom when it is time for bed.
Sleep Masks	Try sleep masks if you are easily distracted by lights. This works for people who are light sleepers and can be easily awakened by even a nightlight.
Try soothing music	You can play a good Spotify playlist to lull you to sleep if you can’t afford a white noise machine.
Don’t look at the clock	Looking at the clock will only make you feel anxious with thoughts like “oh crap, it’s way past 12 AM, I failed my sleeping schedule again”, which will give you anxious thoughts altogether, causing insomnia. Clocks can give people a great amount of anxiety, even when awake, so you should just forget about time for a while and focus on sleeping instead.

White noise	Has a consistent noise and pattern that is ideal for light sleepers and for blocking out noise outside.
Pink noise	This is a special noise that has a lower volume and pitch and is ideal for people with tinnitus or ringing in the ear symptoms.

Nurseries and at home	For your baby to not get distracted by outdoor noise.
Hospitals	To help doctors and patients to feel privacy and comfort at hand.
Offices	Offices need to be private in terms of executive conversations.
Call centers	Same reason with offices, but mostly to help them focus on the job.
Lobbies	A lobby can help keep a conversation clear even when there are workstations nearby.
Schools	If your school has this program, they can help teachers and students understand lessons better.

Mechanical	Mechanical ones use a motor inside in order to generate white noise. They are more expensive but are more natural sounding.
Digital	Digital ones can offer a plethora of noise and ambient backgrounds. They can be cheaper but less natural sounding.

A Little Background

Other Frequently Asked Questions