I can not sleep in complete silence. I need the hum of a fan or the crackle of a fire. Too much noise and I can’t shut my brain off, but too little and every toss, turn or sniff is amplified. Whether you feel the same way or not, you’re probably still not getting enough sleep, and if you’re like most people, it’s not for lack of trying. Help is available. A good sound machine (also called a white noise machine or sleep machine) is just one tool in your arsenal of gadgets that can help you get the recommended z-number.
WIRED’s gear reviewers filled their homes with sound machines for everything from muting Witcher battles in the living room as the kids nap to lull us to sleep as night owl partners sneak off to bed. These are our favorite shut-eye machines.
Check out our many other buying guides for a good night’s rest, such as the best mattresses and the best sunrise alarm clocks.
Updated March 2023: We’ve added the Baby Brezza Portable and the Hatch Restore 2. We’ve also added the Allway Aqua 10 Bluetooth Speaker and Humidifier to our honorable mentions.
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