# anyone here use a white noise machine? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 2, 2006, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-a-white-noise-machine/342615 "2006-02-02T02:12:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-a-white-noise-machine/342615/1 "2006-02-02T02:12:33Z")
I’ve used a Homedic’s white noise machine for going on 8 years. I love everything about it except the fact it only goes in 60 minute increments. Having tinitus is something that can wake you up at night. I am presently surfing for a new machine. I do like the bells and whistles of different sounds, should I get bored of rainfall or summer night…etc. and it is a fun way to pavlov myself for future rainstorms…which make me instantly tired and nearly fall asleep on the spot. any suggestions are greatly appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-a-white-noise-machine/342615/2 "2006-02-02T02:21:07Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > Having tinitus is something that can wake you up at night. Wow. I thought _I_ had problems with it. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-a-white-noise-machine/342615/3 "2006-02-02T02:25:01Z")
I was given a Marsona TSC-330, and I love it. It does have the rain / waterfall / surf, but I think that’s just to sound new-agey and thus sell machines. They sound more like static, static, and static. You have a pretty good amount of control on the sound and volume. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-a-white-noise-machine/342615/4 "2006-02-02T02:49:00Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Wow. I thought _I_ had problems with it. It is not so much the constant ringing, but after the white noise machine turns off …there is no noise which is what I notice most and that wakes me up and then I notice my ringing again and I have to reach over and turn it back on…and I fall asleep until it shuts off again…and I notice the quiet…then I notice the ringing…lather rinse repeat. bit of a drag, really. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-a-white-noise-machine/342615/5 "2006-02-02T03:00:15Z")
Loop a sound file on the computer. Some players can run multiple instances of wave files. You can start up a couple diferent winds and a rain going at the same time, for a bit more randomness. A few chirping birds if the mood hits you or thunder and a real blow coming in. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-a-white-noise-machine/342615/6 "2006-02-02T03:36:37Z")
I’m cheap. I use a fan. I run it all night, year round. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Surb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@The\_Surb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Surb)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-a-white-noise-machine/342615/7 "2006-02-02T03:50:42Z")
We have a Phillips with six different sounds. It has a continuous mode and a one-hour mode. It even can run on batteries. We take it camping. I can’t sleep without it anymore. Also great in a hotel. ---
**Author:** ![TygerDralion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e19adc/32.png) [@TygerDralion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TygerDralion)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-a-white-noise-machine/342615/8 "2006-02-02T04:09:22Z")
I have a small HEPA filter machine that makes wonderful white noise. And makes the air cleaner, too! ---
**Author:** ![Stainz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Stainz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stainz)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-a-white-noise-machine/342615/9 "2006-02-02T04:13:49Z")
I have a little white noise machine I bought from Walmart - it was under $20. It has about 8 different settings (rain, thunder, heartbeat, waterfall, static white noise, etc) and volume control, and stays on until you turn it off. It also has an option to run on batteries, so it’s perfect for traveling. I LOVE IT!!! We are actually using it in the baby’s room right now. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-a-white-noise-machine/342615/10 "2006-02-02T04:28:16Z")
> [@Boscibo](#): > > I’m cheap. I use a fan. I run it all night, year round. Me too! ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-a-white-noise-machine/342615/11 "2006-02-02T09:32:42Z")
I’m like \*\*Boscibo \*\* and **Larry Borgia** –I use a fan. Works great, generates white noise, and can has additional uses (i.e., keeping you cool). ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-a-white-noise-machine/342615/12 "2006-02-02T09:34:55Z")
> [@Boscibo](#): > > I’m cheap. I use a fan. I run it all night, year round. My husband does this. I HATE IT. I sleep on the couch. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-a-white-noise-machine/342615/13 "2006-02-02T13:04:04Z")
Sharper Image makes a couple different models, but they’re kinda pricey. I bought a pocket-sized one about two years ago. It comes with headphones and runs continuously or on a timer (or till the batteries run down). I can have it under my pillow and the little earbud headphones don’t bother me. I’d love to have a regular one, but my husband (the Power-Snorer) says it would bother him and keep him up. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-a-white-noise-machine/342615/14 "2006-02-02T13:12:19Z")
I have one and use it sometimes, but generally find having the fan on more useful in blocking out noise and helping me sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-a-white-noise-machine/342615/15 "2006-02-02T15:11:58Z")
I am completely embarrassed to admit, but last night I took a good look at my Homedic’s sound machine and always had thought that the time dial thingie which goes for 15-30-60 minutes increments, was just for that. There is a Zero. Which I thought was a shut off, for all these years. I switched it too it, and my machine ran all night. I am such a retard. 8+ years of this faithfully by my side and I just notice. So, I just saved myself $. YAY! ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-a-white-noise-machine/342615/16 "2006-02-02T15:48:44Z")
My wife bought me an alarm clock years ago that looks like you could initiate a nuclear stike with it. It has a noise generator with things like rainfall, birds, crickets, etc… (I think she bought because she knows I love to fall asleep to the sound of crickets) but the problem is that the sounds are on a loop of like 8-10 seconds, so there is a noticeable pattern and that disturbed me and so I couldn’t sleep. So I use a fan. ---
**Author:** ![Ensign\_Edison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ab992/32.png) [@Ensign\_Edison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ensign_Edison)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-a-white-noise-machine/342615/17 "2006-02-02T17:19:42Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > I am completely embarrassed to admit, but last night I took a good look at my Homedic’s sound machine and always had thought that the time dial thingie which goes for 15-30-60 minutes increments, was just for that. There is a Zero. Which I thought was a shut off, for all these years. > > I switched it too it, and my machine ran all night. > > I am such a retard. 8+ years of this faithfully by my side and I just notice. > > So, I just saved myself $. > > YAY! I have the same machine, and you figured it out before I could tell you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-a-white-noise-machine/342615/18 "2006-02-02T17:24:09Z")
I have one last post for this thread. A very Nelson Muntz “Ha Ha”. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-a-white-noise-machine/342615/19 "2006-02-03T08:14:47Z")
> [@Larry Borgia](#): > > Me too! Me Four! All year round. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-a-white-noise-machine/342615/20 "2006-02-03T13:54:45Z")
See how wonderful the Dope is? A problem that has plagued you for years solved in mere hours, all because you asked a question here! I use a fan, too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-a-white-noise-machine/342615.md?page=2)