Last Updated on April 24, 2024 by Sandra Allens
Top Pick: Wireless Sleep Phones from AcousticSheep
This is the best sleep headphones you can buy if you’re looking forward to buying one but don’t have time to research it.
We recommend Wireless Sleep Phones from AcousticSheep as the best option Based on our extensive research.
Overnight, headphones and earbuds are not easily worn unless one is motionless at night. There are several problems that can arise with wireless earphones, including them falling out, getting lost, or becoming damaged. As we checked our sleep headphones, we were disappointed to find that none blocked silence, worked to mute your tinnitus, or offered the ability to listen to music while sleeping. Despite our testing, every pair was disappointing. Compromises will be required if specific needs are to be met.
1. Wireless Sleep Phones from AcousticSheep
Listening to Music/Other Audio Can Help You Fall Asleep
With the SleepPhones, you’ll be able to listen to any type of audio wirelessly via Bluetooth, as they come in different sizes and fabrics. It is true that they are more expensive than other companies offering products of the same style.
If you enjoy listening to music, watching videos, or using meditation apps, the AcousticSheep SleepPhones Wireless set is just right for you. It is easier to find a headband that is comfortable for you if you have options in sizes and fabrics. Furthermore, the felt-covered flat speakers do not only take up more space, but they do so with higher bass levels as well. A Bluetooth-enabled device, which has a battery life of up to 12 hours, can stream audio wirelessly. Easy removal of speaker and Bluetooth module makes it easy to clean the headband. If it interferes with a hair bonnet, dental headgear, or nighttime skin treatment, the cloth might not block external noise, even if it provides sound insulation. If you are mostly using headphones at night, spending $100 may seem excessive.
2. Sleepbuds II from Bose
Blocking or Masking Sounds
The earbuds may cover loud noises also won’t irritate your ears, but they only let you listen to Bose Sleep app’s sounds as well as music. They don’t mask loud noise like regular wireless earbuds, and they don’t cause any discomfort when worn. Bose Sleep app is the only way to listen to music and sounds.
the Sleepbuds II by Bose earbuds offered effective noise cancellation when sleeping next to someone who snores loudly, or next to neighbors who stay up late. Noise-cancelling capabilities are not as strong as headphone models offered by Bose, but they still reduce the effect of outside noise to a great degree.Using the isolation built into the earbuds, you can play white noise or other sounds to mask the noise. Wireless streaming was removed from Bose’s earbuds in order to keep them as small as possible. It is necessary to preload all music and sounds before using the Bose Sleep App. In addition to the alarm feature and call alert functionality, Sleepbuds II lacks awareness mode, making it difficult to hear crying babies, barking dogs, or home security alarms. If you are a morning person, it might be better to have a longer battery life. The Bose Sleepbuds II are recommended when your surroundings are distracting. A $250 price tag may seem excessive to some people, especially if it starts at $250.
3. Headphones by Moita Sleep
The Best Sleep Headphones Are Basic and Affordable
However, they are not designed specifically for streaming music and lack any customer service or warranty, but they are still quite useful for listening to a variety of sources for listening to music.
The Sleep headphones from Moita might be worth a shot if you’re willing to take a chance. The headband-style speaker was most comfortable when positioned on the side. There are many problems with this headset, besides the fact that the headband blinks excessively at night and that the bass is too low. We were unable to locate any information about Moita, despite the fact that they are a direct seller on Amazon. As well as the shortest return policy (plus the design may not stay consistent), there is no guarantee that this pair of eyeglasses will be available in the long run. Sleep headphones from Moita may help you fall asleep if you need assistance.
Who Should Wear Sleep Headphones
Audio—whether white noise, music, or meditation—can help some people fall asleep or stay asleep using sleep headphones. Listening to music through headphones or ear buds is generally uncomfortable, and when One sink into a pillow, earbuds can fall out. If the headphones fit correctly, they should stay in place until morning, and they should Lie on it all night long without getting stiff.
Using headphones while sleeping is possible. When you live alone or share a room with someone who likes similar music, you can use a white noise machine or a small speaker to aid in your sleep. Using earplugs to block distracting sounds is a far more affordable alternative. When earplugs are not sufficient or you share a room with someone who enjoys audiobooks, ASMR, or TV, sleep headphones are a great way to drift off to your favorite media.
Other Options for Sleep Aids
- Sleeping with Mack’s Earplugs in soft foam with a slim fit is the best option most people find. Mack’s are the best earplugs for sleeping after measuring 25 sets of earplugs and testing the best sleepers.
- An annoying noise, such as a motor noise, can be muted by white noise machines. Among the best values on the market, LectroFan EVO stands out.
Our Selection Process
In fact, individuals may wear headphones for a number of different reasons, including comfort, but in many cases it is out of a desire to wear headphones while sleeping. Some people would rather not disturb their roommates while listening to audio. It is for this reason that people look for muffled or masked noises. The irritating ringing in their ears can be distracting to some Tinnitus sufferers.
Sleep headphones did not meet all our criteria. We didn’t recommend one of them wholeheartedly because one of them had a flaw. Thus, we recognized we would likely have multiple recommendations when reviewing sleep headphones.
Here Is a List of Features We Considered when Choosing Sleep Headphones:
- No matter how you sleep, they should also be comfortable. A sleep headphone is either wireless earbuds, an earmuff, or a headband with speakers. It is generally recommended to use earplugs if you sleep on your back, earplugs for the back sleepers, and earbuds if you dislike feeling them in your ears. Earmuffs are best for the back sleepers. As you sleep, you move, it’s easy to tangle cables if you are wearing headphones. Furthermore, we considered alternative options for persons who wear hats or other headgear in the night.
- There should be a choice of sizes to fit a different sizes of heads and ears. Too tight a headband may cause headaches. The straps will slide off if they are too loose. You must carefully fit earbuds in your ears to achieve a tight seal, which can block noise.
- As you fall asleep, you should be able to choose the music that you listen to. For one person, what is relaxing may grate for another. Music, audiobooks, meditation, white noise, or even ASMR can all be enjoyed while you sleep.
- Cleaning them should be relatively simple. Occasionally cleaning the earbuds’ sound tubes and wiping them down would be sufficient. In contrast, fabric headband must be washed regularly. Speakers, other electronics, or a washable headband will make it difficult for sleep headphones to remain in best condition.
- A minimum battery life of ten hours should be achieved. Listen for an additional hour before bedtime so you can wind down. Ideally, one should sleep seven to nine hours a night according to the National Sleep Foundation. Light sleepers utilize white noise or music to avoid waking up, which can drain a battery over the course of an entire night.
- A bright light or distracting beep should not be present. You may be disturbed by these things at night. The device will most likely wake you if it begins to beep while you’re still using it to notify you a battery is running low.
- Affordability should be a priority. Since sleep headphones tend to have some features that would make them inconvenient to use in the day, this point is particularly important.
- The sound and latency should be reasonable. Watching Netflix to fall asleep, like, is inconvenient if the sound quality muffled or piercing because the lips will not match the dialogue when you try to relax.
Based on all of these criteria, we invited nine sleep headphones to Amazon, including some affordable but lesser-unknown but affordable options, in addition to several names we could find.
Using each set, I tested connectors, fit, comfort, sound quality, and sound compatibility. Aside from pairing the headphones with the phone, I ran the calibration and update software that came with each headset and installed any apps that were available. During the night, I lay in a variety of positions while wearing each pair. Also on the table, I stood a few feet away from my phone to test my ability go before the signal dropped. Watching streaming videos and listening to music, I assessed the impact of wireless signal latency on audio and video quality. As part of my job, I took apart and reinstalled the components in order to assess difficulty of installing Bluetooth drivers on headband-style models. It was natural for me to sleep in them all. They only managed to survive the night in two.
The headphones we reviewed did not meet our stringent criteria despite our best efforts. During our testing, we discovered that all models had major issues: they were overpriced, uncomfortable, difficult to assemble after cleaning, interfered with sleep, or had all of these issues simultaneously. As a way to solicit feedback and narrow down the best product selection, members of the panel were shown various products based on their hair sizes, sleeping positions, and sleeping needs. Rather than finding solutions that are perfectly fitting to specific problems, we tested only a few options in order to find solutions that are useful. When more affordable and better sleep headphones become available, this guide will be updated.
Furthermore, in order to evaluate the three palatable sleep headphones, Reinierdejong asked staff members suffering from tinnitus to participate in a blind test.
1. Wireless SleepPhones from AcousticSheep
Music or Audio Can Help You Fall Asleep
Streaming audio to the SleepPhones via Bluetooth is possible from any Bluetooth device. Fabrics and sizes vary. Their prices are higher than those of many similar competitors.
- Its purpose. AcousticSheep’s SleepPhones Wireless sleep headphones provide the best method of falling asleep as they provide the sound of their favorite sleep tunes, ASMR videos, or meditations in the background without disturbing their partner or roommate. You can use them if you can’t sleep in quiet areas or if wearing earbuds during the night disturbs your sleep.
- We love it for these reasons. All the headphones we tested have a sound system that is flexible and also comfortable, but this headband-style set has an impressive speaker design. We tested many models of SleepPhones, and none of them would dig into the back of your ears. These sleep tossers come in funky fleece for people who desire a more cozy experience or airy breeze fabric for those who prefer a lighter feel. They will either act as a headband or rest over the eyes. The design of these hats ensures that every head will find a fit that feels comfortable and does not feel squeezing.
It is easy to replace or wash the electronics on the headband. Despite being washed several times per instructions, the headband held up perfectly. A second headband costs $20. In the top of the bag there is a small slit, secured with Velcro, where you can access the charging port and Bluetooth module. These headbands are more durable than other cheap headbands, with thicker fabric that keeps you cool, thicker stitching that prevents slippage, and Velcro closures instead of non-sealing spaces.
These SleepPhones not only have a color-coded speaker, but also grey stitching on the left and right speakers. In other sleeping headphones, we tested, the drivers had to be reinserted according to specific directions. SleepPhone buyers from AcousticSheep are also entitled to a one-year warranty, something most of their competitors do not offer.
Bluetooth modules offer volume controls, track skips, play/pause controls, and power controls. In spite of the fact that the module is under the fabric of the headband, it is relatively easy to control with your fingertips. In order to prevent inadvertently pushing the buttons when lying on your back, the company recommends wearing the module toward your forehead rather than behind your neck. Bluetooth headphones can be paired with SleepPhones in the same way as with any other Bluetooth device. The phone on my bedside table was never easy to connect, and I had no problems walking to the bathroom. Keeping your music device near your bed can reduce any hiccups by causing a signal to get distorted from pipes and metal beams.
AcousticSheep claims that the SleepPhones Wireless have a battery life of 12 to 13 hours, but its duration is dependent on how loud you keep them and how long you play media before bed. The results we got were within the claimed window when we played it at 60% volume. However, we prefer a more moderate volume when trying to sleep so a lower volume might have been helpful. For Best results, plug in your SleepPhones every morning because a full charge takes around three hours from a dead battery.
Compared to cheaper options we tested, the SoundPhones Wireless headphones had a more intense bass response. Compared to the budget headphones, the drivers produced low bass notes when listening to hip-hop tracks. Although, given the SleepPhones’ intended use, at bedtime, we’re willing to overlook their lack of bass power, since they’re not intended to reproduce movie booms. Our tests led to a clear sound with minimal harshness and other cheap sound characteristics at the low and high frequencies.
The top models provided enough sound options and fit well to mask tinnitus equally. SleepPhones provide the same tracks through a small speaker that those with tinnitus use when they play them through a regular speaker.
Neither earbuds nor earcups of over-ear headphones are as sound-isolating as fabric headbands, so sounds can bleed through. If the SleepPhones are set to a medium level of volume, your bed partner will not be able to hear them, but if you turn up the volume to maximum, they may hear a tizzy outline or buzz. Though it still has a better volume than the speaker on a bedside table or a cell phone. Even though SleepPhones can be very quiet, you can still hear some surroundings, so these may prove useful for people who want to hear their children or pets during sleep or who want to stay familiar with their surroundings during the night.
- These flaws may prove to be a deal breaker. Even though SleepPhones impressed us the most, there are a few downsides to consider before you purchase a pair. As we mentioned earlier, fabric doesn’t provide the best sound insulation. The headband does not muffle loud sounds such as construction noise, barking dogs, or noisy neighbors despite its mild muffled effect.
Not everyone will like the design of the headband. It may not be as convenient for some as they wear hot weather headgear, use nighttime skin treatments that may damage fabric, wear hair bonnets at night, or wear CPAP masks at night.
SleepPhones’ $100 price tag makes it hard to justify their use during the day. Earmuffs should not be required on a chilly day; the fabric ensures that they breathe, so they will not be as effective in cold weather. Breeze-fabric headbands are made for exercising, though AcousticSheep says sweat will invalidate warranties. You cannot make or receive calls with SleepPhones as they lack a microphone.
2. Sleepbuds II by Bose
Blocking or Masking Sounds
This earbud masks loud noises while you sleep and isn’t uncomfortable to wear. Bose Sleep offers a limited selection of sounds and music, although it is the only sound/music app that you can hear.
The Bose Sleepbuds II set is the only sleep headphone set we found that is more effective at blocking disruptive noise so you can get to sleep. Through Bose’s app, you can isolate and monitor both your snoring partner and barking dogs, while simultaneously being able to sleep through jackhammers and other unwanted sound.
- What makes us like it. It uses Bose’s specially designed soundscapes to block noise and mask disturbances. Using the Bose Sleep app, users can load one of the curated soundscapes directly onto the earbuds. Despite their reputation as noise-cancelling headphones with active noise reduction, Sleepbuds II do not feature active noise cancellation technology. In contrast, active noise cancellation ineffectively reduces hammering sounds and voices, which are higher in pitch. Bose instead designed the Sleepbuds II to obstruct soundwaves and allow you to plug in white noise to mask the noises.
A great example of this is Sleepbuds II. It was recently a perfect test of the Sleepbuds II’s noise-blocking ability when workers from my next-door building installed a gate under my second-floor bedroom window. Bose’s “Rustle” noise masks the rumbling noise of the ruckus on the other side of the fence with rain sounds and a naturescape. In order to gather data, I slept for 30 minutes just before my lunch break. With these earphones, I am confident they will be much more effective in diffusing the most unwanted chaos in your life.
Sleepbuds II performed at least 11 decibels better than NoiseCancelling headphones and earplugs in the nuisance sound range between 100 and 1,280 Hz, as measured using the same method we once used to evaluate NoiseCanceling headphones. Although the devices may not greatly reduce noise on their own, they can still be useful if they can reduce it by 11.1. The difference between an earplug reducing sound by 11 decibels and one by 29 is the decibel reduction. Physically reducing noise and concealing sounds are the two qualities that make Sleepbuds II so effective.
For its Bose Sleep app, which simulates a meditation music bed with 14 noise-masking noises, 15 naturescapes, and ten tonal settings, the Sleepbuds II must be purchased. On Bose’s website, they are all available for free listening. Up to ten tracks can be wirelessly uploaded, stored, and toggled between the earbuds. With seamless looping, your choice of audio will start seamlessly and endlessly, so you won’t have to worry on the start of your chosen track. There were a couple of tracks that helped our tester who suffers from tinnitus reduce the volume of his or her ringing significantly. The sound options are limited, so you have fewer options for masking.
You won’t hear any external sounds with the Sleepbuds II since they block almost all sound. An alarm can be set on the earbuds using the app on your smartphone. Several features are available to receive phone-call alerts, however, the Sleepbuds II do not have microphones, which means that you cannot answer your call through your earbuds. To answer the call, you must remove them from your ears.
You can sleep comfortably on your side thanks to the tiny earbuds that fit flush in your ears. In order to be comfortable, true wireless earbuds protrude into your ear canal on your back, since the microphone and larger Bluetooth modules are embedded in the ear canal. The Sleepbuds II headphones feature a size-mixable design that ensures most people will find the headphones comfortable.
Typically, a Sleepbuds II battery lasts for 10 hours, though the listening time may get shorter if you transfer tracks or listen at high volume. When you wake up, you should be sure to return your earbuds to their charging cases in order for them to be fully charged at that time. You only need to recharge the case once a week because it holds three full recharges.
In the event that you splash these earbuds with water, they’ll survive since they’re water-resistant with an IPX4 rating. For any issues you may experience with your Bose gear, the company offers a one-year warranty.
- Possible dealbreakers. The Sleepbuds II set does not have a microphone, and audio cannot be streamed wirelessly. Upload your tracks to Bose Sleep by selecting them from the options. It’s hard to justify spending $250 on earbuds that only play a few dozen sounds, despite their thoughtful design. Sleepbuds II offer an impressive design, but they’re useless for everything else. It is the only device available that can address these problems, so we are the only ones who recommend them. Earplugs intensify sound by occluding it from your ears, causing your muscles to contract. A jackhammer or snoring cannot be eliminated with earplugs. For some people who desperately need sleep, the Bose Sleepbuds II set may work.
It is also a concern that after an emergency occurs this pair might be difficult to notify due to their obscured sound and isolation. Sleepbuds recommends setting the devices to automatically shut off after a brief time, especially if you are not able to stay alert from sleeping with one earbud in.
As well, we prefer that the tips of the wings be separated from their peripheries, since sometimes the tips do not match the peripheries, which causes the wings to be unstable and uncomfortable.
3. Sleep Headphones from Moita
Sleep Headphones at An Affordable Price
With this pair of very cheap earbuds, you’ll find just one size of headband-style sleep headphones. The phones can be used to stream Bluetooth audio sources, but no customer service will be provided to you.
- Its purpose. A full night of streaming audio was only possible with the Sleep headphones from Moita set. There are six different budget sleep headphones in this review. If you’re not sure if you want to use a sleep headphone, slip-on headphones are an excellent option. In exchange for that under-$30 price, you may have to give up some things.
- What makes us like it. Sleep headphones from Moita provide the necessary functionality at the lowest price possible, which is one of the best things about them. Sleep headphones with foam-covered hard disks were tested-think of how Walkman headphones were coated with foam in the 1980s. A few minutes after wearing them, we developed earaches. Speakers from Moita and Moita sets have slight differences. Radiation is applied to the hardest part of the body using X-rays distributed evenly. All night wear was only possible with this budget option.
As with all of the other inexpensive options, the Moita headband can be bought in just one size, which is both large and stretchy. A big head may not have a headache from it, but a smaller head may find it overwhelming. Your headband may need to be sewn more tightly depending on how large it is. The hand-washable headband that comes with this device is hand-washable and has removable Bluetooth modules.
We were able to squeeze out a little more battery life than the 10 hours claimed by Moita. It lasted just shy of 12 hours with the volume at 60% before the device began chanting “battery low.” Due to the Moita set’s call functions, it will also drain the battery faster if you take phone calls at higher volume levels. Different people will have different experiences.
It has a limited range of bass and low sound quality in the Moita headphones, which make them suitable for bedtime listening. However, neither movies nor hip-hop music contain any painful or irritating explosions, though they may lack the oomph they have onscreen. We didn’t expect most people to notice a slight lag with video because you can use the Bluetooth module to control play, pause, and track skipping. When Moita was paired with the sounds that tinnitus sufferers preferred, they had no issues.
- Potential dealbreakers in a product. The drawbacks of this pair are numerous. The headband may be able to be made smaller by some crafters, but sewing it isn’t easy. People with warm bodies may find that the fabric acts as a sort of heat trap at night because of its wide ring. In addition, to those who suffer from skin problems at night, or wear hair covers, wear hair bonnets, wearing CPAP masks or headgear while sleeping may be inappropriate.
When putting Moita headband together after being washed, it is difficult to put the electronics back together because the electronics can easily fall apart. The speaker driver is not shown in the left and right places when you reinstall the drivers. It is recommended that you mark the drivers “L” and “R” with a Sharpie when you remove everything for the first time.
On the Moita set, there is a microphone built into both SleepPhones II and Sleepbuds II, however the sound quality isn’t as good as it is on the Moita set. Using this pair for important calls is not recommended.
Located in the center of the headband is a Bluetooth module with a built-in light which blinks continuously throughout the night. A tester compared it to Rudolph’s nose due to its blue flashing light. It is possible that the electrical tape covered the light effectively and we weren’t bothered by them anymore.
Moita is also a direct seller on Amazon, which is another factor to consider. Neither a website nor contact information are available, and no warranty is provided. If you have a problem with the product after the return period has passed, you must return it to the place of purchase. It may not bother some consumers, but before ordering, it’s worth considering this drawback.
It is not possible for us to guarantee that the products that Moita will offer consistently tomorrow will match the ones you are able to purchase from Moita tomorrow. In some cases, budget headphones are so inexpensive because they use components purchased in bulk that are already available. In a subsequent batch, parts from different sources can be selected to keep the price low. It’s advisable to save the box and examine the headphones thoroughly before the return period expires if you want to purchase the Moita headphones right now.
What We can Anticipate
With the newly-announced Nightbuds, Kokon has revealed an in-ear sleep coach and monitoring headphone with a phone microphone. Kokoon says their Nightbuds pair will be sold soon after their crowdfunding campaign ends.
OneMore recently introduced ComfoBuds Z, a true wireless earbud that is lightweight, flat, and comfortable for sleeping. Bluetooth-enabled devices can stream audio through these headphones, while sleep sounds are also included. According to the manufacturer, the ComfoBuds Z reduces ambient noise by 23 dB thanks to the SungFit. I will update you on the results of rigorous napping with these hybrid earbuds.
The Competition
The reason we typically don’t test smaller, unknown brands’ products on Amazon came out during testing for this guide. When we opened the budget headphones we bought, each pair was interesting. While the headbands in the photos matched the brand names on the sides of the boxes, a lot of the headphones on Amazon were not the same as the ones on boxes or on listings. Everplus and Musicozy headphones were packaged in a container labeled “Enjoying.” Moita had no company information on its packaging, only the term “Bluetooth Headband” printed on it. Despite the fact that we ordered them from ToPoint, our headphones arrived from Musicozy. There will be no way to get in touch with the company in case of a problem. It might not seem significant at first.
A striking aspect of our evaluations was that most of the sleep headbands under $30 we tested contained virtually the same inner components. Since you’re likely to like another one if you like the design of one.
Effortless SleepPhones by AcousticSheep. With this pair, wireless charging is included, and it performs almost identically to wireless. As a result, it can be difficult to ensure that the SleepPhones Effortless are properly aligned on the charging pad, and the battery lasts only for 10 instead of 12 hours as with the Wireless edition. Therefore, we don’t recommend investing more in this feature.
Headphones from EverPlus. Because the headband is small, the budget pair was worried about fitting large heads. It was tough to lie on for a long period of time because the speakers were hard to lay on and uncomfortable. The headphones also lacked bass notes. We are not sure whether there is a customer service line for you to contact since there was no brand name on the packaging and the label simply said “Enjoying.”.
“Kokoon Relax 2nd Edition.”. Meditations and audio files are provided in the included app. However, overall the experience tends to be a little lacking with over-ear headphones. Even though the Kokoon over-ear design features flat earcups and padded earcups, it’s not designed for stomach or side sleepers. A headphone and a pillow that fit these heads did not excite us when we learned the headphones would cost an additional $350. There are electrodes embedded in the earcups, which are intended to monitor sleep quality and detect brain activity. Several of our testers experienced ear aches after using these nubbins for an hour. We also couldn’t take notes with the app—it told us we were in a deep sleep while we were taking notes. We were disappointed to find out that the main feature setting this pair apart didn’t even work properly despite Kokon being aware of the problem and fixing it quickly in the app. The overall design is also uncomfortable. Had we tested the Relax Second Edition a second time, we would have waited until the tracking was fixed, though even that won’t keep us wearing the headphones all night.
Sleep Headphones by Musicozy. The Musicozy headphones were manufactured by EverPlus, but they shared the same internal components as the Enjoying headphones, including uncomfortably hard drivers, low bass, and a blinking light. People with bigger heads will not like the fit of the headband; it was on the snug side for us.
Sleep Headphone from ToPoint. Besides the same blinking light on the headband as the budget options we saw, this speaker had no bass and was sold by ToPoint under the name “Musicozy.” This speaker also had the same annoying blinking light as the budget options we encountered. When the battery is low on this pair, a very loud beep is also emitted. There was a noticeable difference in comfort between the smaller and larger headbands, when we tested the smaller headbands.
Vogek Sleep Headphone. All three elements of the listing, including the headphones, had matching labels. This gave us a lot of hope. Vogek has resources to assist customers in addition to a website. The headphones are not listed on Vogek’s website, and we could not find any warranty beyond Amazon’s 30-day return policy. The headband size was the middle size among our budget options. In addition to blinking lights and hard speakers, this pair also faced some issues.