White Noise / Sound Machine Comparison (updated April 2011) → Based on Data From Over 4,550 Actual Owners

See glossary below for more detailed information and explanation. Click on the model for a detailed
review / rating based on owner reviews. "NA" below means feature not available.

		Brook- stone	Brook- stone Travel	Ecotones Duet	Conair	DEX	Graco	HoMedics Sound Spa	HoMedics SS-3000	HoMedics SS-4500	Marpac 580A	Marpac 980A	Marsona TSC-330	Sharper Image	Sound Oasis Travel
	Owner satisfaction	83%	76%	86%	70%	65%	79%	81%	66%	77%	91%	88%	90%	60%	73%
	Sample size	250+	93	110	325	360	90	500+	260	425	1,600+	1,200+	83	75	175
	Price	Poor-Fair	Fair- Poor	Poor-Fair	Excellent	Good	Good- Fair	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Good-Fair	Fair-Good	Fair	Fair- Good	Fair-Poor
	Reliability	Fair-Good	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair-Poor	Fair	Good	Good	Good- Excellent	Fair	Fair
	Clock/alarm	NA	Good- Fair	NA	Fair-Poor	NA	NA	NA	NA	Fair	NA	NA	NA	Good- Fair	Good-Fair
	Timer	Good	Good- Fair	Good	Good-Fair	Fair	Good	Good	Good	Good	NA	NA	NA	Good	Good
	Sound quality	Good-Fair	Fair- Good	Good-Fair	Fair	Fair	Good- Fair	Fair	Fair-Good	Fair-Good	Good	Good	Fair-Good	Fair- Poor	Fair
	Loops not noticeable	Fair-Good	Good- Fair	Good-Fair	Fair-Poor	Fair- Poor	Fair	Fair	Fair-Good	Fair	Excellent	Excellent	Good- Excellent	Fair- Poor	Fair
	Volume potential	Good-Fair	Good- Fair	Fair	Good	Fair- Poor	Fair- Poor	Good	Fair	Good	Good-Fair	Good	Fair-Good	Fair- Good	Fair-Poor
	Variety of sounds	Good-Fair	Good- Fair	Good-Fair	Good	Good	Good	Good	Fair-Good	Good	Poor	Poor-Fair	Fair-Poor	Good	Good
	Nature sounds	Good-Fair	Good- Fair	Good	Good-Fair	Good	Good- Fair	Good	Good-Fair	Good	NA	NA	Good-Fair	Fair- Poor	Good- Excellent
	White noise	Good	Good	Good	Fair	Fair	Good- Fair	Good-Fair	Good-Fair	Fair	Excellent	Excellent	Good-Fair	Good	Good-Fair
	Can run on batteries	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
	Travel friendly	Fair-Good	Good- Fair	Fair	Fair-Good	Fair	Fair- Good	Good-Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Good-Fair	Fair	Good- Excellent
	No excessive brightness	Poor-Fair	Fair	Good	Fair	Good	Fair	Good	Fair	Fair-Poor	Excellent	Excellent	Good	Fair- Poor	Fair

             

Glossary

Owner satisfaction

Percentage of actual owners who indicated that overall they are satisfied with the product. The maximum
margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points.

Sample size

Number of owners included in the research for each product.

Effectiveness

How well the sound / white noise machine adequately masks unwanted noise and produces sound that
creates a more relaxing atmosphere.

Sound quality

How well the speaker(s) produces sound that is clear, realistic and pleasing to the ear.

Loops not noticeable

Most sound / white noise machines use uses digital recordings of noises to produce sound. These
recordings last only a few seconds and then play over and over. If a person can tell when the recording
starts over then the loop is noticeable, and this can be distracting to some people. The more expensive
models tend to not have noticeable loops.

Volume potential

How high the volume can go on the machine. Loud unwanted noises often require a machine that can
produce high volume in order to mask them.

Plays nature sounds

The machine plays nature sounds (rain, a flowing stream, waves coming ashore, croaking frogs, etc.), as
opposed to producing only white noise (consistent, steady noise).

Plays white noise

The machine plays genuine white noise (consistent, invariable noise). White noise is often, but not always,
the preferred sound from a sound / white noise machine because is it steady and lacks inconsistencies,
resulting in more relaxation. Nature sounds, by contrast, can lack consistency, such as when birds suddenly
chirp or a wave crashes onto the shore.

Variety of sounds

The number of different sounds the machine produces. It should be pointed out that most owners of sound /
white noise machines listen to only a small percentage of the sounds that their machine can produce. In
other words, variety is not especially important to most people.

Reliability

How well the machine is made and how long it can be expected to last given reasonable care.

Compact

The dimensions of the machine and whether it has a small "footprint."

Lightweight

The machine's weight. Most sound machines weight 1-3 pounds.

Can run on batteries

The machine does not be to be plugged in to operate. Most machines can run on four AA batteries.

Travel friendly

The machine is reasonably compact, lightweight and can be battery powered if necessary.

Clock / alarm

The machine includes a clock and alarm built into its design.

No excessive brightness

Whether or not the machine has lights on it. Having lights is an advantage in that you can easily operate
the machine in the dark. But lights can also be a disadvantage in that they may prevent darkness and
therefore sound sleep.

Appearance

The style and design are pleasing to the eye.

Timer

The machines can be set to go off automatically, as opposed to manually.

Value

Value does not necessarily mean a low price. It means that over the long term the sound / white noise machine
is a smart buy. For example, you can buy an inexpensive machine and have it break within a year requiring you
to buy another machine. Or you can buy a more expensive model that lasts longer and is actually cheaper over
the long term because it does not need to be replaced.