white noise machines

As with every lifestyle product out there that has been proven to sell, there are plenty of manufacturers producing a range of white noise machines.

Some are incredibly reputable and worth trusting whereas others cannot really be relied upon to help you.

If you have no knowledge of the market then it can be difficult to distinguish the best providers from the worst so the following information will cut down your research time for you and tell you all about the reputable white noise machine brands.

Marpac

Marpac is an American company that is based in North Carolina and makes all of its products on site to ensure their absolute quality.

It produces “sound conditioners”, or white noise machines that are designed to produce soothing, natural sounds to mask unwanted noise.

The company was founded and has been going strong since 1962 with many patents and innovations to its name, including the Sleep Mate, Sound Screen and Marsona.

Marpac has also prided itself on being a family run company, and indeed an employee owned company since 1997, that has moved with the times and embraced new technology as and when it has become available.

Today, its products are available to people all over the world via the Internet and many of them are amongst the universal bestsellers.

Although it sells other products too, such as bicycle safety lights, the sleep solutions are its pride and joy.

HoMedics

Unlike Marpac, HoMedics does not specialise in sleep solutions and white noise machines but it does offer a whole range of health and wellness products that are designed to make life easier and improve the health and general bodily fitness of its customers.

Established in 1987, it is based in Township, MI but has offices all over the world, including but not limited to Italy, the UK, Germany, Canada and Brazil.

The goals of the company are to aid and enhance relaxation via a range of high quality but affordable products that come with lengthy guarantees.

This includes massage, sensory, diagnostic, weight management, spa and epilazione products as well as sleep aids like the Sound Spa Relaxation Sound Machine.

Although some of its products are difficult to get a hold of, they are worth looking into because they tend to be very effective.

Marsona

As previously stated above, Marsona is a brand that comes under the Marpac umbrella so it is a reliable and honest brand that is synonymous with quality, effectiveness and value for money.

Unlike other Marpac sound conditioners, the Marsona white noise machine actually embraces digital sound technology by having several sound selections recorded onto its memory.

Environmental sounds are usually found on the machines but there are some others available that are known as “Lifesounds”, or a brook, a heartbeat and a womb being just three of the sound options.

The Marsona white noise machines are constantly being developed to enhance the options available to those looking to relax and sleep well, all of which use the latest digital media and are well worth every single penny invested in them.

Sound Oasis

Marketing its products as from a “world leader in sound therapy systems”, Sound Oasis boasts numerous products that help the body to relax and tend to be widely used as sleep aids.

They utilise the latest technology and are well known for their quality.

Having won numerous awards in the health and wellbeing industry, consumers and expert alike happily recommend their products… and there is quite a range to recommend.

Offering a therapy system, a travel sound therapy system, a deluxe sound conditioner and a seamless white noise machine, amongst others, it also has an awful lot of research behind the company.

Dr Lee Bartel, Steven Halpern, Dr Fred Schwartz and Dr Jeffrey Thompson have all thrown their weight behind their products and rightly so because the range is fantastic.

Please note that all of the above brands create white noise machines and other mechanical sleep systems.

There are plenty of other brands and individuals alike that have created downloadable apps, downloadable content and CDs but those listed above actually provide entire systems that can help you to relax, sleep and focus, depending on your wants and needs.

So you are thinking about investing in a white noise machine.

You may have heard about the wonders of such a machine by word of mouth, reading an article or even seeing one on a TV show or in a movie.

No matter where you have the idea from, the white noise device has numerous benefits for you, which we will go into in a little while, but you should first know exactly what they do.

More to the point, you should know exactly what white noise is.

The Scientific Explanation

There are two possible definitions of white noise, the first of which is the scientific one. White noise is technically a variety of sounds, all of which are on different frequencies and combined together to create what can be a harsh sound.

Just as there is a spectrum of light, there is a spectrum of sound and combing numerous frequencies essentially scrambles the sound into white noise.

The combination can include up to 20,000 tones playing simultaneously and is often used to disguise other sounds because it has a natural masking effect.

The Layman’s Explanation

You may not have understood the scientific explanation unless you have a good grasp of physics but then you do not need to fully understand it to appreciate the value of white noise. It is basically defined as a steady, unobtrusive sound that can be used to drown out noises or soothe the mind.

This might sound a little bit vague but the whole concept of white noise is in general.

For example, the Cambridge Dictionary online defines it as “a mixture of sounds or electrical signals which consists of all the sounds or signals in a large range” and the Oxford Dictionary online just states that it is “noise containing many frequencies with equal intensities”.

There is no specific explanation because there is no set formula for white noise.

Trying to pin it down exactly is like using the exact composition of Yellow Submarine by The Beatles to define pop music without considering any other song.

Depending on the number of sounds and their frequencies, the sound of white noise may subtly differ from one machine to the next.

So how does it work?

Well, to drown out the sounds of neighbors, street noise and other sounds that disturb you it uses a strange method that is similar to distraction.

For example, if you are talking to a person then your ear tunes into their speech, just as if you are trying to sleep and you can hear people next door then your ear tunes into that particular noise and keeps you awake.

If two, three, four or even ten people are talking at once then you will be able to listen to just one person by tuning your ear into what he or she is saying.

However, if there are thousands of people talking all at once then you will not be able to hear what one person is saying and it becomes a form of white noise.

A white noise machine uses thousands of sounds so that your brain cannot isolate any of them. This is why it helps to soothe you. 

The definition of white noise is difficult to narrow down to a specific meaning but pinpointing its benefits is incredibly easy. And there are plenty of them to consider.

Although white noise in its raw state can be pretty harsh and assault your ears rather than soothe them, there are plenty of different forms of white noise.

This explains the extensive benefits to a great degree and also explains why people go out of their way to purchase white noise machines to help them.

In terms of the benefits, some of the most popular are outlined below for your information. This list is by no means exhaustive but it will give you a good idea as to what white noise can do for you:

Benefit One: White Noise and Treating Illnesses and Conditions in Adults

White noise machines can help in the treatment of certain ailments, such as ADD/ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder), tinnitus, inner ear disorders and hyperacusis. As far as ADD and ADHD are concerned, a study performed in Sweden and published in 2007 actually proved that white noise helps sufferers to focus.

As it blocks out all external distractions in sound form, it encourages the brain to zero in on a particular task. A

s such, it can be useful when trying to teach children with ADD or ADHD and can also help to improve their behavior.

In some extreme cases, it was found that white noise was the only thing that provided any degree of mental clarity.

In addition to providing concentration and attracting attention in those with attention deficit problems, white noise can also aid those with tinnitus by enabling their minds to block out the noises they hear constantly as a result of the ailment.

As it diverts attention from the ringing, it allows sufferers to relax and get some much needed downtime.

It also works in pretty much the same way for those with inner ear conditions, by providing a distraction and enabling focus.

Benefit Two: White Noise and Soothing Restless Newborn Babies

White noise can soothe newborn babies.

It is a known fact that babies can hear sounds that are made outside of the womb before they are born but the mother’s body muffles them.

This creates a type of white noise that they then associate with the safety and security they feel at the same time as hearing these sounds.

As a result, white noise is perfect for soothing fractious newborns who are struggling to settle and sleep after they are born.

This particular benefit has been particularly associated with babies suffering from colic who will scream and scream unless exposed to white noise. It is not just newborns that benefit from a little white noise though.

Studies have proved its usefulness in little ones up to the age of 12 months but parents have reported longer lasting effects in older children too.

Benefit Three: White Noise and Enhancing Meditation

White noise makers are common in areas and facilities that offer meditation classes or areas because white noise is amazing in terms of encouraging the mind to achieve a deep state of relaxation.

It apparently offers significant therapeutic benefits in that it has been documented to help people achieve a more relaxed state of consciousness.

This in turn enhances your mental well being and can encourage you to release stress far more easily than would otherwise be possible.

This is especially true when it is combined with binaural beats, which are specific low frequency pulsations that stimulate certain brainwaves.

With or without this though, white noise is excellent for meditation and is widely available in specific meditation formats.

Benefit Four: White Noise and Deeper and Better Sleep

Although there are many benefits associated with white noise, its properties for enhancing sleep are perhaps the best known.

As it helps the mind to let go of sounds that may routinely disturb sleep and send it into a deep state of relaxation, releasing stress and anxiety, it encourages you to go into a deep sleep.

Even the lightest of sleepers and those suffering from insomnia have reportedly found that white noise machines can help them to get a good night’s sleep.

Benefit Five: White Noise and Blocking Out Sound

It has already been mentioned that one of the main functions of white noise is to block out sound.

Well, that is also one of the main benefits.

Have you ever wished that you could block out your neighbors when they are being noisy and you are trying to have a little rest after work?

Or maybe you have been to a hotel that is right by a main transport network and you cannot sleep because of the noise?

Is your desk at the office right by the photocopier or a really noisy assistant?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes then white noise could definitely provide you with an answer to your problem.

By blocking out unwanted noise, white noise can help to minimize disturbances so that your brain is free to focus on exactly what you want it to rather than the ambient sounds that you would rather ignore.

Benefit Six: White Noise and Achieving Better Levels of Concentration

This benefit is linked to the above point regarding the blocking out of sound but it is a major point in its own right.

If you do work in a noisy environment or have problems concentrating for any other reason, white noise machines can help you to eliminate distractions and focus on the task in hand.

White noise is renowned for being an excellent tool in sharpening the focus by allowing you to declutter your mind.

Whether you want to ignore chatter, increase your productivity in the workplace or enhance your learning ability, a noise machine can help you.

This is a major reason why many companies all over the world are now installing speaker systems to play white noise in offices during working hours.

All of the above benefits have been reinforced by various studies so the claims do have some credibility.

They are not just clever sales pitches to sell the virtues of white noise machines to you.

As previously stated, the benefits of white noise machines are not limited to those outlined above but they do provide an excellent place to start. 

It is a fact that some consumer goods quickly become pigeonholed, having multiple functions but becoming widely known for just one of them.

As with every gadget and aid that is available on the market, white noise machines have begun to be associated solely with one specific place of use – that is the bedroom – and for one purpose – as a sleep aid.

There are many reasons for this, from the way white noise machines have been marketed and advertised to what the medical profession has recommended them for on the back of credible studies.

However, there are plenty of reasons to use a white noise machine and plenty of places in which they can be used. Some examples can be found below:

In the Bedroom – This is the most obvious place to use a white noise machine and the one in which most people choose to take advantage of its benefits as a sleep aid. It can be plugged in and placed on your bedside table to ensure that you get the full benefits of white noise during your sleeping hours, whether they are in the day or at night. A good white noise machine will block out sounds from outside, a snoring partner or noisy neighbors and can help you to relax into an excellent sleeping state. You can also take advantage of different ambient sounds so that you can find the one that best suits you and your quest for the perfect night’s sleep.

In the Lounge – If you just want to relax after a long day at work then there are a million things that could prevent you doing just that when you get home. It may be that you cannot empty your mind and the day’s events go around and around in your head. It may be that you feel so stressed that you just want to cry. It may be that you feel ill but have so much to do that you cannot chill in your favorite chair. Just ten minutes with a white noise machine on in your lounge is often enough to help you to just block out the world, empty your mind and lose the stress that the day has heaped on your shoulders.

In the Classroom – Are you studying for a big exam or trying to write an essay and find it difficult to concentrate? If this applies to you then a white noise machine can help because it can actually enable you to declutter your mind, relax and focus. As such, you will find it easier to concentrate on your task and your overall education will benefit from that as a result. A full size white noise machine may not be an option if you are studying away from home but an application or a portable one may well help you.

In the Office – Did you know that many companies are using white noise machines in their offices? This is a fact that is largely the result of research that proved white noise can actually enhance productivity, reduce stress and thus the amount of time people have off sick, and reduce distractions that cost the company money. If your office does not have such a system in place then you could use your own white noise machine. After all, it can enhance your career prospects if it works to make you more productive, enhance the quality of your work and improve your focus.

In the Train or Airplane – Relaxing on public transport, whether in the air or on the ground, is not easy if you suffer from a phobia or feel claustrophobic. Similarly, you may be anxious about getting to your destination. Either way, a white noise machine could help to reduce your stress and give you the scope to relax. Of course, it can also help you to grab a quick nap if you so wish as well. This will make your journey more bearable and ensure that you feel refreshed and rested when you get there.

In a Hotel – There is nothing worse than booking a fantastic holiday only to find out that your hotel room has thin walls and your neighbors for the week do not know how to be quiet. Similarly, there is nothing worse than booking into a hotel on a business trip to discover that you cannot get any sleep before your big speech because the busiest road in the area runs right underneath your window. No matter which of these problems you face, a white noise machine can block out the noise and give you the peace and quiet you are looking for.

As you can see, white noise machines can be used pretty much anywhere, whether at home, at work or on your travels. Regardless of where you are, you can take full advantage of all of the benefits they have to offer. 

If you have decided that you want to invest in a white noise machine then you have literally made the first step towards better sleep, less stress and a whole range of other benefits that come along with the package.

However, it is only one element of the final decision. There are numerous facets that you have to consider before you actually choose the white noise machine that is best for you.

All of the elements of a white noise machine that you can and indeed should consider can be found below. With this quick and easy guide, you should be able to choose the one that is best for you in no time!

• Size

The first thing you need to consider is the size of the white noise machine because they vary greatly.

Some are compact and light and so are perfect for travel.

Others are quite large and so are ideal for permanent placement in a bedroom or lounge.

You need to think about what you need the machine for and how large it should be in line with that.

Similarly, you must think about where you are to put it and how large or small it would need to be.

For example, if you only have a small bedside cabinet then you will not need a large white noise machine.

• Price

As with the number of different sizes of white noise machine, there are plenty of options in terms of cost.

Some cost very little because they are quite basic in nature but others are more expensive because they have several settings and features.

As such, you need to decide which ones fit into your budget and how much you are prepared to pay for a decent night’s sleep or an hour of pure relaxation, depending what you want it for of course.

• Sounds

If you think that white noise machines had one sound then you are sorely mistaken.

Some have ten or twenty different noises for you to choose from whereas others may only have two or three.

You can often choose from pure white noise, waves, jungle sounds, forest sounds and various other forms of white noise or ambient sound.

Depending on what you want and the purpose of the white noise machine, you may only want a couple of sounds to choose from but if you really want to give your life a stress detox then you may want a range of sounds to choose from depending on your mood.

• Power Options

Most white noise machines are designed to plug into the main electric supply but some can be switched to battery power as well, which is ideal if you tend to travel a lot.

Some run off regular batteries but others have actual battery packs that you can charge and last for a certain number of hours.

If you only plan to use your white noise machine in the home then battery power may not be an issue but if it is then be sure to check out whether there is an alternative power option.

• Volume

Some white noise machines only have three or four volume settings whereas others have ten or more.

There are still a few with dials for increasing or decreasing volume but most are digitally controlled.

The more volume settings it has, the easier it will be to set the volume to a level that suits you but many people do not look at this as a major point when buying.

Believe it or not, it is a must.

• Settings

As far as white noise machines go, settings relate to whether you can set it to automatically loop, to switch off at a certain time, to change sounds automatically and so on.

The more settings there are, the more choice you have in regards to your sleep patterns.

However, the most common are settings that allow you to programme the white noise machine to switch off after 30 or 60 minutes.

Check out the special functions that are included with your machine but the general rules is that setting options will increase with expense.

The more expensive your machine, the greater number of options you will have at your fingertips.

• Ease of Use

The general rule is the more bells and whistles that the white noise machine has, the more difficult it is to use.

However, this is not always the case.

If you have advanced technical knowledge as far as gadgets are concerned then this may not be a problem for you but if you are somewhat of a technophobe then the best way to find out whether or not a specific white noise machine is for you is to check out consumer reviews.

People that have previously used specific machines will tell you all about the ease of use in their recommendation.

Amazon is a great place to go for accurate and unbiased consumer reviews.

• Extra Features

Many white noise machines have extra features, from an alarm clock function to a color change light that is designed to enhance its appeal for use in a nursery.

It has to be said that the vast majority of people looking for a white noise machine do not want extra features, with the exception of those looking for one suitable for soothing a baby, but they are still worth considering.

After all, practical considerations like having enough power outlets for a white noise machine and an alarm clock are worthy of a little time in thought.

If the above list makes it seem like there is a lot to consider then that is because there is.

Choosing to use a white noise machine is a lifestyle choice and one you have to get right if your sleep, relaxation or overall mental health is to improve from day one.

Take your time to consider all of the above points and you will get the white noise machine that is perfect for you first time.