Here are a bunch of reviews that I found. Does anyone have any real world experience?
We have a Marpac-Dohm unit. Under the bed, on a 24-hour timer so it comes on at bedtime and shuts off about the time we naturally wake up on weekends. Bought it in 2006, and it runs night after night. Works for us.
We have #9 (HoMedics sound spa). The battery compartment hatch is better on your review model, but we have the AC adapter. It works fine, but we recently got an air filter (allergies) which is plenty noisy, so HoMie is in the kitchen now, keeping the dogs calm(er) when rainstorms pop up and we need to be out of the house.
These make GREAT baby shower gifts–mothers go nuts when they unwrap one; keeps the little demons asleep.
Sound quality? 
You’re asleep.
I have an iPhone nightstand radio/alarm clock and I use it with a white noise app…
I use a box fan. $17 at Target. It seems loud at first, but after a few nights, you get used to it, and after a couple of weeks, you don’t really hear the fan noise anymore, it gets to be like a ssshhhhhh sound. It works very well for me to drown out noise- I started using it when I lived in apartments years ago and now I can’t sleep without it.
I’ve tried a couple over the years, and not been super impressed. There are often certain little noises or patterns in the audio that I notice and find distracting instead of relaxing. I much prefer just having an oscillating fan or air conditioner running, and I found it blocks out background noise better.
When I’m travelling, I have MP3s of a “relaxation sounds” CD on my phone that I’ll play through a bluetooth speaker. Gets the job done.
An amazingly large number of people over the years regularly fall asleep while watching/listening to TV.
I use a fan, oscillation turned off though because the change in sound as it sweeps side to side is distracting.
All I have to do to hear sleep-inducing sounds, at least in the summer, is open a window to hear the waves on Lake Michigan. Yet I remember a house guest once who brought with her an artificial wave sound machine to help her sleep. She claimed the natural sound wouldn’t work.
We used a fan for years, and just got this one about 3 weeks ago.
It had to be loud, and this was the loudest I found in Bed Bath &Beyond.
It has multiple sound choices and has worked well for the wifey since we got it. She has it on thunderstorm.
I would certainly recommend it, though haven’t tried most of the others so can’t compare it to them.
one little drawback is that the sound will momentarily cut out on occasion. Its happened 3-4 times since we had it (just one incident). One time it was cutting out every minute or so which defeats the purpose of relaxing sound completely. We just changed the setting to a different sound and it hasn’t happened to that extent since.
We have one of those electrostatic air cleaners (the kind with the charged wires and plates) that has a fan blowing air through it, so it provides something like white noise while doing something, however ineffectual, to remove allergens and dust in the room.
Yes! I have the kind that has a motor running a fan, inside a closed housing, with small vents to emit the sound. It’s lasted for fifteen years now.
I’ve also used an electronic version, that simulates rainfall, surf, wind, etc. I’ve seen different versions of these.
Beware of the kind with a really short sound sample file! My b.i.l. gave me one for Xmas that has a “babbling brook” sound – that lasts eight seconds and repeats! In time, I got to recognize the various micro-sounds (this particular bubble, that particular snap, etc.) and it became wearying, not restful!
I use some white noise maker app on my phone when needed. But, thanks to watching the Super Bowl, I might switch to www.dreamingwithjeff.com. The dude abides.
Yes, we use Marsona units at home. (Whole family)
When I’m traveling, I use an app on my iPhone set to a mix of rain and waves.
We have the cheapie Homedics Sound Spa unit. It works great, no issues, nice little machine and small and light enough that I can pop it in my bag when I’m traveling.
Ages ago I had some “nature sounds” recordings I used when sleep wasn’t coming easy. They worked fairly well. Haven’t tried any of the newer devices.
I’ve tried them but honestly I like this better: Guided Meditation for Sleep Problems and Insomnia - YouTube
I just turn a radio on at low volume. sometimes it works itself into my dreams in interesting ways.
I used to before my wife but she won’t have it.
Just the opposite. Any kind of sound interferes with my sleep. I use foam rubber earplugs that deaden every bit of sound. Bliss.