BROOKSTONE NOISE MACHINE PORTABLE

A central circular button cycles through each category, while another button, labeled “selection,” controls which track is playing within that category.

The device’s controls are laid over a flat surface on the side. Alternatively, you can insert 4 AA batteries beneath a bottom panel. All you have to do is plug the included power cable into the bottom of the Mini, then plug that into the wall. Like most of the sound machines we tested, it’s a cinch to set up. The Sound+Sleep Mini, as the name may suggest, is a compact device, with an asymmetrical teardrop shape and a flat top upon which the speaker resides. The sound it puts out has more depth, and is produced with a much higher level of clarity, whereas the Sound+Sleep Mini is less crisp overall. Still, the Hatch Restore, which is nearly double the price, bested the Sound+Sleep Mini in this regard. It handled the tracks better than most of the others we tested, and there wasn’t a tinny quality to the sound, even when the pitches rose. The Mini is more than capable of reaching high and low notes, which greatly helped our immersion once we closed our eyes and listened to each track. So if you have a noisy roommate, it could help, but with loud neighbors, you may have to change the volume yourself. We only noticed a significant volume change when the sounds originated in the same room as the machine. We tested this by clapping near the machine, then farther away and finally while having people converse loudly in the next room. The device also features an adaptive sound mode, wherein a built-in microphone detects environmental sounds and increases the volume in an attempt to cover them up. Thanks to its comparatively wider volume gradient, we were easily able to pick out a precise volume that we preferred. The Sound+Sleep Mini features an upfiring speaker on the top, so it’s directionally pushing the sound upward. It’s not necessarily room-filling, but it does pack a punch on the audio scale and can sound bigger than it appears - helping to better mask ambient noises that could disturb sleep. You can thank the high-fidelity 2.5-inch speakers for the latter. And few devices offered as many gradations between whisper quiet and booming loud as the Mini. Of course, if you can’t set the volume just right, you’ll be adjusting it all night. With the Sound+Sleep Mini, we never recognized those repeats. Sometimes hearing that tiny glitch when a soundscape has restarted made it more difficult for us to relax.

BROOKSTONE NOISE MACHINE PORTABLE

Speaking of mundanity, some sound machines, such as the SoundSpa Portable and the Hatch Restore, have somewhat short soundtracks where you can recognize where the loop restarts.

With such an array of sounds - more than any other we tested - it prevented the mundanity that we experienced hearing the same sounds over and over with most of the other machines. All of the soundscapes under the “Crowd” category reminded us of when we could go out to a café with a laptop. Crickets with light rain filled the space with a medley of natural sounds, transporting us to a relaxing night outdoors (without any of the actual bugs and rain). It would be a lot to list out 48 individual sounds, but here are a few highlights: Fireplace inspired the same warm, cozy vibe you get from a nearby crackling fireplace. If you’re looking for a plethora of sounds to soothe you into sleep, the Sound+Sleep Mini will fit the bill with more than 48 tracks across 12 categories that range from the standard (white and pink noise) to the environmental (rain or ocean). After several months, four stood above the rest: We tested 12 top-rated white noise machines (and four white noise apps), aiming for solutions with a variety of sound options and great volume control for heavy and light sleepers alike. “White noise machine” is a blanket term that consists of basic machines that do the bare minimum (that is, emit white noise at varying volumes) to high-end pieces of tech that feature lights, automations and more. Constant white noise, like the kind produced by a white noise machine, has been shown to improve sleep quality because it helps mask sudden bursts of noise that may help some people more easily fall and stay asleep.

White noise machines that emit just that - consistent noise - fall squarely in the “better” category. Noise can affect sleep for better or worse. We’ll be featuring new products and exclusive deals all week, so check in every morning to see what’s new and be sure to subscribe to the CNN Underscored newsletter to see it all. This article is a part of CNN Underscored’s Guide to Sleep, a weeklong focus on everything you need to sleep better. Your CNN account Log in to your CNN account

Brookstone noise machine