The 10 Best Sound and White Noise Machines (2023): Cheap, Night Lights, Lullabies

by admin March 19, 2023

written by admin March 19, 2023

Photo: Amazon

Alexa works too

Amazon Echo Dot with clock (5th generation)

If you have an Amazon Alexa speaker, you can enable an Alexa skill called ambient noise to select sounds ranging from a whale to a dishwasher or a washing machine. There are dozens of others Alexa sleep sound skills accessible. Alexa can even suggest some when you ask about white noise or sleep sounds. You can search White noise playlists on Spotify or other music services like Prime Music.

This is the latest 5th Gen Dot that we haven’t tried yet. Gen 4 is no longer available, but we think it’s similar enough to recommend.

$60 at Amazon

$50 at target
Photo: Getty Images

Try an app and a Bluetooth speaker

White noise apps

You don’t have to buy the Allway to hear both sleep sounds and regular music. If you have a smartphone with a speaker, you already have a sound machine.

I used to blow Good Charlotte from a Walkman under my pillow to fall asleep as a terrified teenager. I finally joined an app that lulled me to sleep with the sound of a tumble dryer. There are tons of sounds to help you relax, but if you need some inspiration, we’ve rounded up our favorite apps and Spotify playlists here. A Bluetooth speaker will make it even better, and you might even already own one.
Photo: SNOOZ

More sound machines we like

recognitions

Dream Egg D1 ($36): This one plays many of the same sounds as the D11 portable machine, with a handful more fans and a spectrum of sounds. It would work for a baby’s or an adult’s room. The control panel is matte and soft to the touch, and you can set it to play continuously or for 30, 60, or 90 minutes. I tried the white version but you can get some other nice colors on the Dreamegg site. The edge is also glowing.

Snooz Sound Machine ($100): The Snooz Machine has one sound: the soothing whirr of a fan, thanks to the real fan spinning inside. That’s the sound I lean into the most, so I guess there’s nothing to fiddle with. It also has a nice show and hide timer feature so it doesn’t get in the way. The biggest issue is how expensive it is for a noise that other machines on this list include among many.

Allway Aqua10 ($120): I love that this looks like a cute Marshall amp and works as a decent sounding bluetooth speaker for sleep sounds and anything else you want to hear the rest of the day. You’ll need the Allway app to access the sounds, including roaring fires, bustling cafes, a spectrum of colorful sounds, and a wide range of instruments. They play between five and 120 minutes. The Aqua10 also has a humidifier feature which looks extremely cool paired with lights that illuminate the vapor like a fire. But I found it finicky, and it seemed to stop even though the reservoir was full. And while it seems easy to clean on the surface, I’m not sure you could actually scrub the parts that need cleaning to make a humidifier work properly.