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Is this you? You close your eyes, just about to drift off into a peaceful sleep when suddenly, a loud thunderclap jolts you awake. There goes your precious sleep time. It can be incredibly frustrating. Fortunately, you can use a sleep aid such as sleep headphones to drown out external noise.
In this article, we’ll explore the top 5 sleep headphones that can help you achieve a better night’s rest. Keep reading to discover your solution to sleepless nights.
What Are Sleep Headphones?
Sleep headphones are specialized solutions designed to help people to fall asleep quicker and to avoid external noise disturbances at night. Unlike traditional headphones, it is made to be lightweight and comfortable for you to sleep with [1].
Types of Sleep Headphones
- Earbuds: great for side sleepers and those who prefer a compact design
- Headband style sleep headphones: perfect for back sleepers and those who want a secure fit
- Over-ear headphones: ideal for those who want maximum comfort and noise isolation
How Sleep Headphones Can Help You Fall Asleep
Sleep headphones can help you to fall asleep in a few ways:
- Blocks out external noises: Most brands of sleep headphones would come with an active noise cancellation technology to cancel noise for a better sleep experience.
- Creates a relaxing atmosphere: With sleep headphones, you can listen to sleep sounds such as white noise, nature sounds and more to help you sleep better.
- Improves sleep quality: Overall, it helps to reduce stress and anxiety so that you can sleep soundly and wake up feeling refreshed.
Top Picks for Sleep Headphones
Here we have our top selections for the best sleep headphones of 2024.
Do note that we had chosen these products based on personal opinions and a few different key factors such as product features, price and user ratings. This review is not sponsored.
1. Soundcore by Anker Sleep A10 Headphones
The Soundcore by Anker Sleep A10 Headphones is one of the best sleep headphones that we could think of. Its slim and lightweight feature is such that you won’t be able to feel it throughout the night, helping you to sleep comfortably. It also comes with a passive noise-blocking feature, supported by the use of background music and its sealed ear tips and ear wings design.
Most users had also given positive reviews about this product, mainly its comfort, rich audio quality and customizable background sounds.
Rating: 4.52/5 Stars
Features:
- Comfortable design, suitable for all sleeping positions (even side sleepers)
- 4-point noise masking system to cover noise for sleep
- Unlimited audio via bluetooth and the Soundcore app
- Customized for sleep sounds
- Sleep monitoring and personal alarm clock
Price: $129.99
2. Philips Sleep Headphones N7808
The Phillips Sleep Headphones N7808 is the latest pair of sleeping headphones designed to help users fall asleep faster and get an undisturbed rest each night. It comes with thin sleep buds with 5 sizes of soft silicone tips to choose from. It is made to accommodate side sleepers. Besides that, it is made to block out intrusive sounds and it is compatible with the Kokoon app for a mix of soundscapes and more.
92% of users have recommended this product, adding that it is comfortable and perfect for side sleepers. One user also claims that it has been an excellent solution to sleep disorders such as insomnia.
Rating: 4.4/5 Stars
Features:
- Soft, thin sleep buds
- Sleep monitoring with biosensors
- Intelligent noise masking to mask external disturbances
- Compatible with the Kokoon app
- AI-powered sleep insights with the use of the Kokoon App
Price: $184
3. Ozlo SleepBuds
The Ozlo SleepBuds is yet another product that makes it to our top list. This sleep earbuds provide users with a 10-hour long of all-night noise masking or streaming to help them get a good night’s rest. The sleep buds allows you to stream any kinds of audios from podcasts, audiobooks to music and meditations. You can pair it with your apps like ShutEye® with a collection of soothing sleep sounds.
As it is still a Kickstarter campaign, there are limited user reviews on the product and its function. However, it seems rather promising at the moment.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Features:
- Tiny, in-ear design with soft silicone tips
- Mask external noise with all-night noise masking
- Fully private, in-ear alarm
- Bluetooth to stream audio wirelessly
Price: $259-$600
4. SnoozeBand: Bluetooth Sleep Headphones
The SnoozeBand is a Bluetooth sleep headband that is designed to help you drift off to bed easily. It doubles as a headphones with ultra-thin and soft speakers for a comfortable, immersive audio experience. Like other sleep headphones, it is suitable for side sleepers to use as it doesn’t press against any pressure points. Just like the Ozlo SleepBuds, you can also connect the SnoozeBand with your favorite audio apps.
Overall, this product is great for helping you to reduce stress and anxiety, improving your sleep quality.
Rating: 4.7/5 Stars
Features:
- Ultra-thin, 4mm speakers
- Breathable and soft fabric
- Up to 10-12 hours playtime
- Integrated microphone
- One-size-fits all
Price: $70
5. AcousticSheep SleepPhones Wireless
This AcousticSheep Sleepphone Wireless sleep headphones are traditional headphones designed to be bed-friendly. With it being cordless, you don’t have to worry about your sleep position. It comes with removable flat speakers inside to provide an ultimate sound experience without disturbing your bed partner. It’s soft and comfortable, making it an ideal choice for sleep, travel and leisure time.
User reviews are rather mixed this time, with some saying that it is perfect to use while others faced issues with the battery life.
Rating: 3.9/5 Stars
Features:
- Compatible with bluetooth devices
- Stream audio wirelessly
- Volume and play/pause controls built into the Bluetooth® module
- Removeable speakers
- Soft, breathable and hypoallergenic fabric headband
Price: $99.95
How We Chose These Headphones
When it came down to selecting the best sleep headphones for this list, we did some extensive research, considering factors such as:
- Product features: A great set of sleep headphones must have key features such as noise cancellation and a long-lasting battery life. We also looked at whether it suits all sleep positions.
- Price point: Price was another factor that played a huge role in our decision process. We looked for products that were either reasonably priced or affordable for most users.
- Ratings: Ratings is undeniably important as it is given by users. It would determine whether the product really works or is just a gimmick. Products with higher ratings are likely to be featured.
- User reviews: We also considered user reviews and what customers have to say about the headphones.
What to Consider When Choosing Sleep Headphones
When choosing sleep headphones, you should consider your personal preferences and needs. Some of the things that are worth considering are:
- Your preferred type of sleep headphones: There are three common types of headphones to choose from. You can either opt for earbuds, a headband, or over-ear headphones.
- Type of audio: If you prefer to listen to audio such as soothing sounds or meditations, you should choose a headphone that can do that.
- Level of noise masking: Consider the amount of noise masking that you need to sleep comfortably (e.g. active noise cancellation, passive noise cancellation, ambient noise, etc.)
- Battery life: You should consider looking for headphones with long battery life that can last throughout the night.
- Consider the comfort: Choose headphones that are made with soft and comfortable materials.
Is It Ok to Sleep with Headphones In?
When it comes to using headphones for sleep at night, some people may have concerns that using them for long hours could lead to hearing loss or damage to the outer or inner ear.
Generally speaking, it is ok to sleep with headphones in, provided that you are using the right headphones for sleeping and taking the necessary safety measures.
Some safety measures include [2]:
- Keeping volume level at a minimum
- Avoid using the noise-cancellation feature in case of emergency
- Avoid wired headphones
- Avoid using earbuds to prevent wax buildup and bacterial infections
See also: Sleep With Headphones: Is It Safe To Do It Every Night?
Conclusion
So there you have it, a list of some of the best sleep headphones of 2024 for you to consider trying. At the same time, you should also consider your own personal needs and preferences when picking the best headphones for you. Try out different sleep headphones to find one that works best for you.
Alternatively, you can choose to skip this and opt for other solutions to help you sleep better at night. Check our ShutEye®, a patented sleep-tracking solution to provide you with reliable sleep insights and soothing sleep sounds.
