# What's the best ambient sound machine (like for sleeping) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 24, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-ambient-sound-machine-like-for-sleeping/533642 "2010-03-24T17:51:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-ambient-sound-machine-like-for-sleeping/533642/41 "2010-04-01T15:58:59Z")
I used to have a tape of a thunderstorm in the country with heavy rain. Now and again you could hear sheep bleating. I know that it sounds weird but it used to send me off to sleep in minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-ambient-sound-machine-like-for-sleeping/533642/42 "2010-04-01T17:54:22Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > A fan is fine in cold weather. Just aim it away from you. That must be a personal preference thing; we use our fan in our bedroom all winter, and we keep it so cold in there that most people would be very uncomfortable. I just snuggle down in the blankets (LOTS of blankets). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chicken\_Fingers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Chicken\_Fingers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicken_Fingers)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-ambient-sound-machine-like-for-sleeping/533642/43 "2010-04-01T18:55:21Z")
I use a fan, or I play a CD of ocean waves. Just steady waves, no seagulls, no music. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-ambient-sound-machine-like-for-sleeping/533642/44 "2010-04-01T19:11:20Z")
> [@Chicken\_Fingers](#): > > I use a fan, or I play a CD of ocean waves. Just steady waves, no seagulls, no music. Can’t stand the ones that play that bloody awful"heavenly"music. ---
**Author:** ![tmijs789](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/58f4c7/32.png) [@tmijs789](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tmijs789)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-ambient-sound-machine-like-for-sleeping/533642/45 "2010-04-09T17:31:48Z")
> [@](#): > > I use a fan, and a rotation of DVDs. I’ve been told by more than a few people that using a room fan or the tv is actually more effective and less distracting than sound therapy machines. Isn’t having the tv on in an otherwise dark room distracting? I currently alternate between a couple [white noise machines](http://www.soundmachinesdirect.com) (tried the “nature sounds” type of cd’s…didn’t take) and plain old fashioned counting backwards. I suffer from tinnitus so I have to have some kind of noise in the background as well as doing the counting to ease my mind into sleep. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-ambient-sound-machine-like-for-sleeping/533642/46 "2010-04-09T18:40:13Z")
I had to switch off the iPod sound loop because of a couple of problems… first, the cross-fade was not enough to hide the sound of the transition, and second, the iPod would seemingly just _stop_ for 10 seconds now and then. I finally caved and got the Marpac 980 ($50 plus shipping). I love it because it provides neutral, even sound that doesn’t loop. Basically it’s a fan enclosed in a shell that prevents it from blowing external air around, which I like because it doesn’t make me cold or dried out like fans do. It sounds like a hairdryer on low speed. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-ambient-sound-machine-like-for-sleeping/533642/48 "2012-05-29T17:56:33Z")
I’ve used [this type](http://www.hammacher.com/Product/60586?promo=&catid=342) of two-setting white noise generator to block background noises for a long time. Simple and effective. I suspect thunderstorms, rushing rivers and ocean noises would get me up more often to piss. 🙂 For just noise blockage, wax earplugs are highly effective. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-ambient-sound-machine-like-for-sleeping/533642/49 "2012-05-29T18:33:00Z")
> [@uncle\_squeegee](#): > > If you have an iPhone, check out the White Noise app. The lite (aka free) version has white noise, beach waves, crickets, thunder, fan, rain, a clock, chimes, train, and airplane noise modules, plus an timer to turn it off. It can get pretty loud (but make sure you plug the phone in if you need it to run all night or the battery will die). I have this app on my iPad and use it when travelling (just the white/pink/brown noise, but it has tons of other noises too). At home we just use a fan for white noise. ---
**Author:** ![breezman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@breezman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breezman)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-ambient-sound-machine-like-for-sleeping/533642/50 "2012-05-29T19:34:40Z")
I really like [this one](http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=13630208) from Bed Bath and Beyond. I’ve had it for years, but now that I reread the original post, it probably has the same sounds as the one he has already tried. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-ambient-sound-machine-like-for-sleeping/533642/51 "2012-05-29T20:27:21Z")
Yeah, I have the app that **Uncle S.** recommended. I like it, and I don’t hear a loop. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-ambient-sound-machine-like-for-sleeping/533642.md?page=2)