(checked 2026-10-10)White listing (9,578 ratings), shared with the charcoal color.
Wirecutter's top pick since 2016: 22 white, pink, brown and fan noises generated live, so they never loop, with a wide volume range. The catches are that its two ocean sounds sound artificial, it has no night-light or display showing which sound is on, and Amazon owners are mixed on speaker quality and durability.
Top complaints
- Mixed speaker quality and durability
Amazon's summary says sound quality gets mixed feedback, with some noting the speaker quality isn't good, and durability is mixed, with some units stopping after six months.
- Nature sounds sound artificial
Wirecutter found its two electronically generated surf and ocean options unconvincing, more a soft 'shhh' than real water; it's not the machine for brooks, rain or waves.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT) - No indicator of which sound is on
Wirecutter wished it had a labeled dial like the Sound+Sleep SE so you can see which of the 22 sounds you've switched to.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT)
What owners love
- Best color-based noise Wirecutter tested
Crisp, clear and full white, pink and brown noise that masked nuisance sounds better than similarly priced machines; Amazon owners say it masks snoring.
- Never loops
Sounds are generated live by mathematical models, so they never repeat, unlike machines that play looped recordings (Wirecutter).
Source: Wirecutter (NYT) - Easy controls and wide volume range
Sloped top with buttons that are easy to find in the dark, separate color and fan buttons, a timer up to 8 hours, a headphone jack, and volume from a near-silent hum to 90 dB in subtle steps (Wirecutter).
Source: Wirecutter (NYT)
- You want realistic rain or ocean recordings
- You want a night-light
- You want to see which sound is playing
- Masking snoring, dogs and street noise
- People who hear loops in recorded sounds
- Travel (small and light)
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Wirecutter (NYT): Top pick for noise masking (updated 2026-08-20): best color-based sounds tested and never loops; nature sounds are artificial and there's no night-light.