You’ve heard about white noise and are interested in trying it out. But how do you pick a white noise machine that will best suit your needs? Luckily, choosing a sound machine doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are a few things to consider when looking for the white noise that makes you hit the hay faster than you can start counting sheep.  What Is White Noise?   To put it simply, the “color” of a noise refers to the frequency and amplitude of its sound waves. White noise consists of all the frequencies that humans are capable of hearing played at the same amplitude. Your typical shushing sound (“shhh”), the hum of a fan, or crackling tv static are a few examples of white noise found in daily life.   “White noise” can be considered a catch-all phrase for the soothing sounds our products offer. In fact, we call it “white noise” because that’s the term that most of our customers use, but the sounds our Dohm products make are truly pink noise. In this article, we’ll be using the term “white noise” to include pink noise and other sleep sounds. To learn more about the difference between white noise, pink noise, and brown noise, take a look at this blog post.    Why Is White Noise Beneficial?  According to study conducted by Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, white noise was shown to significantly improve sleep based on both subjective and objective measurements. White noise masks disruptive noises that can disturb sleep or distract from important tasks, making it easier to rest or concentrate. White noise can also be helpful for new parents or caregivers when trying to get their children to sleep, especially in new or strange places.   Types of White Noise  There are two main types of white noise: digitally produced white noise, and mechanically produced white noise. The difference is often subtle, but some people prefer one over the other. Digitally Produced White Noise Digitally produced white noise uses sound files to recreate different sounds, such as thunderstorms or ocean rain. Most of our multi-sound machines feature a digital version of our fan-based, mechanical Dohm sounds. Digitally produced white noise is often the best way to go if you like a variety of white noise and nature sounds.  Mechanically Produced White Noise Our fan-based Dohm sound machines are examples of mechanical white noise. We also refer to mechanical sound machines as "natural" sound machines. Mechanical sound machines create a type of white noise that is comparable to the sound of a fan (or in the Dohm's case, is generated by an actual fan.) Some people find mechanically produced white noise to be more soothing than digitally produced sounds.  Types of Sound Machines  Yogasleep makes a variety of different sound machines that all offer the soothing, spectacularly beneficial sounds of white noise. Our products can be divided into two main categories: fan-based sound machines and multi-sound machines.  Fan-Based "Natural" Sound Machines The Dohm Classic has been our most popular and best-selling white noise machine since its invention in 1962, and many people swear by its naturally soothing sound. It features a real fan inside a plastic casing and provides that calming white noise sound without disruptive the movement of air.  Two of our other popular fan-based sound machines, the Dohm Natural and Dohm Uno, also produce white noise. The main difference between the 3 Dohms mentioned is that while the Dohm Classic and Dohm Natural let you customize your tone by rotating the cap and collar, the Dohm Uno is more straightforward, and produces one consistent tone.   Multi-Sound Machines Multi-sound machines offer more sounds than just strictly white noise. These sounds can include nature sounds like ocean waves, rain, or crickets, and sleep songs like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.   Some of our multi-sound machines, like the Dreamcenter,Duet, and Nod, include an ambient night light for extra ambiance. Our Travelcube, Rohm, and Hushh are small and compact, making them great for travel.   What to Look For  What should you look for when choosing the best white noise for you? Here are a few key features to take into consideration no matter where you’re getting your white noise from.    Portability  Put an end to tossing and turning in strange hotel rooms, or quiet baby on a long road trip with a portable white noise machine. If you’re looking for soothing sounds on the go, make sure your sound machine is battery-powered or USB-rechargeable, like our best-selling Hushh and Rohm.   Volume Control  The volume you set your sound machine to will often depend on the type of noise you’re trying to block out. You also want to make sure that your sound machine isn’t too loud, as that could hurt your (or your child’s) ears. For example, our Dohm products all have a volume range between 50 and 70 dB. This masks the majority of the quiet but annoying noises that disrupt our sleep, as well as some louder, more obnoxious tones. To make things even easier, most of our sound machines include a volume control feature. Customizability   Different people enjoy different tones, volumes, and types of white noise.  The Dohm Classic and Dohm Natural allow you to rotate the collar to find the perfect tone for you. Our multi-sound machines include multiple recorded sounds to help you create the perfect sleep soundtrack.   Clean Loop  When looking at electronic white noise, make sure the white noise recording loops smoothly. Check to make sure that you can’t hear when the recording stops and begins again, as this change in sound can disrupt your ZZZs, defeating the whole purpose. Our electronic white noise machines offer non-looping sounds, so you don’t have to worry about potentially disruptive looping.   Sleep Timer  If you want the option to set your white noise to turn off after a specific amount of time has passed, make sure to look for a device that includes a timer. The majority of our sound machines feature an integrated sleep timer.   Night Light  A sound machine that includes a night light is a perfect way to tidy up bedside clutter and take care of midnight changings or feedings without waking up your baby or partner. Yogasleep offers different styles of night light sound machines that make it easy to create a calming ambiance for snoozing.   Sound Options If you aren’t sure what white noise you prefer, consider a sound machine with multiple sound options. Our Duet White Noise Machine, for example, includes 30 non-looping sounds, so you’re sure to find one that lulls you into a deep slumber.   App-Enabled If you like all of your devices to be “smart,” make sure your sound machine is app-enabled. Our Dohm Connect is controlled by an app on your smartphone, letting you adjust the volume and set your sleep schedule from anywhere. It’s basically the most soothing alarm clock you’ve ever experienced.   Aesthetic  If looks are important to you, consider a sound machine that will work with your style. Our Dohm Classic features a simple design that blends unobtrusively into surroundings and comes in multiple color options that suit any décor. Our Dohm Natural features an intuitive Michael Graves design and is available in charcoal or in white with accents of blue, pink, green, or gray.  As you can see, there are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to finding your perfect snooze soundtrack. The “perfect” white noise is completely subjective, and what lulls you to sleep might be different from what helps others hit the hay. When it comes down to it, sometimes the best thing to do is just try one and see if you like it. Yogasleep offers a 101-night guarantee on all our sound machines — if you try it and it doesn’t tickle your fancy, you can send it back and get a full refund, no questions asked.   If you have any specific questions about our products, or still need help deciding on a white noise machine, please contact our Customer Experience Team. A live, knowledgeable person will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you might have.   SHOP NOW SHOP NOW SHOP NOW Follow us on Instagram @yogasleepusa