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Best Energy-Efficient White Noise Machines

By EarthTechling

White noise machines produce white noise and relaxing sounds to either drown out the unwanted sounds around you or create a relaxing sound for you to focus on while you relax into blissful slumber. One thing you do not want to worry about while you’re falling asleep is whether your white noise machine is wasting energy. That’s why we’ve done some research and compiled a list of white noise machines that are both helpful and energy-efficient, so you can rest well and protect the planet at the same time.

Top 5 Best Energy-Efficient White Noise Machines of 2021

Reviews of the Best Energy-Efficient White Noise Machines

Fitfirst Noise Machine

Fitfirst Noise Machine

Quick Look: Has 30 sound options and 32 volume options. Comes with standard headphone jack, 30 and 60-minute timer, and memory feature for settings. Check Price at Amazon

Whether you are looking for white noise to block out the sounds of your neighborhood or you just want some nature sounds for meditation, the Fitfirst Noise Machine can provide what you need. With a whopping 30 sounds to choose from, plus 32 volume settings, you’ll be able to find the perfect sound setting for every situation.

This machine comes with six categories of sounds including white noise, fan, ocean waves, thunderstorm, baby heartbeat, and nature. You can run these sounds continuously, or you can use the 30 or 60-minute timer to automatically turn off the machine when it is no longer needed. The memory setting will save your previous settings to automatically play again the next time you switch on your Fitfirst noise machine.

Need to block out distracting sounds in the office? This unit is great for office use. You can either play the sounds through the high-quality speaker to fill the whole office with relaxing white noise or you can keep it to yourself by using the headphone jack.

Learn More and Buy Now at Amazon
Slaouwo Portable Noise Machine

Slaouwo Portable Noise Machine

Quick Look: Compact and portable. Rechargable. Has 26 sound options. 30 and 60-minute timer. Comes with standard headphone jack and sturdy carrying hook. Check Price at Amazon

If you’re interested in trying out a noise machine, but do not want to break the bank, then check out the Slaouwo Portable Noise Machine. This compact model is reasonably priced and comes with a wide variety of sounds that you can listen to as you drift off to sleep.

This noise machine includes not only white noise, but many nature sounds as well such as rain falling, waves crashing, and even the sound of space. You can play the sounds continuously or you can use the built-in timer to play sounds for 30 or 60 minutes.

This unit is very compact making it perfect for traveling, carrying to the office every day, or even taking in the car to help calm a restless infant or toddler. It has a rechargeable battery that will 8 to 10 hours on a single charge.

Learn More and Buy Now at Amazon
LactroFan High Fidelity Noise Machine

LactroFan High Fidelity Noise Machine

Quick Look: High fidelity sound. 10 white noise settings and 10 fan sound settings. Lightweight, compact, and only uses 2.5V of power. Check Price at Amazon

Each person has their own preference when it comes to background noise which is why the LactroFan High Fidelity Noise Machine comes with 10 different ambient sound settings including white, pink, and brown noise. This ensures that whether you need pink noise for the office or white noise for sleeping, you’ll be able to choose which sound works best for you.

Speaking of what works best for you, maybe you would prefer the sound of a fan over that of flat white noise? With the Lactrofan, you can fall asleep to the sound of whichever type of fan you prefer. From an industrial fan to an oscillating fan and anything in between, you can have the sound without having to waste electricity running a fan when you don’t need the air circulation.

The Lactrofan is completely digital. That means that it uses very little energy and has no moving parts. All the noises are digital and loop seamlessly without any jarring repeat sounds. It also comes with precision volume adjustment so you can have full control over your white experience.

Learn More and Buy Now at Amazon
Letsfit White Noise Machine

Letsfit White Noise Machine

Quick Look: Has 14 sound options and precision volume control. Comes with multiple timer settings and memory functions. Includes nightlight. Check Price at Amazon

If you’re looking for a sound machine that will work for the whole family, check out the Letsfit White Noise Machine. This sound machine comes with 14 sound options including white noise, nature sounds, and even lullabies. This is a great option for the nursery because it also includes a soft nightlight.

You can set your Letsfit sound machine to play for 15, 30, 60, 90, or 120 minutes, depending on the length of time you need. If you prefer to have the relaxing sounds playing all night, you can do that too. The machine will save your previous settings for convenient replay without having to reset any of your sound or volume choices.

This unit is also a great choice for office or study use. It can provide brown, pink, or white noise to provide conversation privacy or block out distracting office noises. It can also provide some less conventional sounds such as the sound of a close dryer or crickets.

Learn More and Buy Now at Amazon
Raynic Nightlight and Noise Machine

Raynic Nightlight and Noise Machine

Quick Look: Has 20 sound options and nightlight projector. Compact and portable. Comes with timer and memory functions and a standard headphone jack. Check Price at Amazon

Adults aren’t the only ones who can benefit from white noise. Many parents use noise machines to help their babies relax and sleep soundly. With the Raynic Nightlight and Noise Machine, you can provide relaxing white noise, nature sounds, or lullabies for your little one with just the press of a button.

You can choose between playing the relaxing sounds all night or setting a timer to shut off after 15, 30, or 60 minutes. You can also adjust the volume to your child’s preference. This unit works with an AC adapter or it can be powered with AA batteries if you need a more portable option.

The nightlight projector will project nature images on the wall, helping to create a truly relaxing environment for your child. Looking for a way to make car rides more relaxing? Bring along your Raynic sound machine. You can play the sounds through the speaker on the machine or allow your child to enjoy the sounds by themselves through the use of headphones.

Learn More and Buy Now at Amazon

How We Chose The Best Eco-Friendly White Noise Machines

While searching for the best eco-friendly white noise machine we found that there were many great brands and models to choose from. We chose to focus on models that were energy efficient, offered quality features, and were easy to operate.

Energy Efficient

Most of the models we looked at used minimal electricity and were designed to last for years, so they all had relatively small carbon footprints. We did find a few that went a bit farther such as those that were rechargeable or made out of eco-friendly materials.

You may have noticed that all the sound machines we chose were digital as opposed to the classic fan design. Although the fan models do offer quality white noise, they also use significantly more electricity. The internal motor that drives the fan can use up to four times more electricity than a sound machine that plays digital recordings, so we chose to stick with digital.

Extra Features

We know that everyone is different and will need different amounts of white noise at different times. That is why we chose white noise machines that could provide a variety of sound options at different volumes. Although some people may want to set their white noise machine to one setting and never change it, others may want to change the settings every day, so we tried to find models that would work for everyone.

Ease of Use

Any product that is supposed to help you relax should be easy to set up and even easier to use. That is why we chose white noise machines that were straightforward and simple to operate from start to finish.

What You Need To Know About White Noise Machines

Now that you have seen our picks, let’s take a minute to discuss what white noise is, why it helps you sleep, and why a noise machine may be better for you than using a white noise app.

What Is White Noise?

Scientists describe white noise as a sound that has a flat spectral density, meaning that it has the same intensity throughout the entire audible frequency range.

For those of us who are not scientists, this means that white noise is any random noise that contains all audible frequencies, or all the levels of sound that we can hear. That may not sound like a good thing, but since white noise contains every frequency, it will usually drown out all the random environmental sounds that may disturb you. If you’ve never heard true white noise, it sounds a bit like television static or the ocean without crashing waves.

One of the sounds that many people associate with white noise is the sound of a fan blowing. The whooshing sound that fans make is very relaxing for many people, especially babies. Scientifically speaking, the sound a fan makes is not true white noise, but it is close enough that it serves the same purpose. It evens out the noise around you, making those random nighttime sounds less disruptive.

Fan sounds aren’t the only noises to be commonly mislabeled as white noise. The term ‘White Noise’ has come to mean any ambient noise that can block out unwanted sounds and help you relax which is why so many white noise machines include nature sounds such as rainstorms or ocean waves.

Colorful Noise

You may have noticed that some of our picks offer pink and brown noise as well as white. Who knew sound came in so many colors? Well, scientists, that’s who! They use colors to describe different variants of sound.

Brown, pink, and white noise all contain every frequency. Where white noise has equal intensity over all frequencies, pink and brown noise have slightly more energy in the lower frequencies. This means that pink and brown noise sound deeper and smoother than white noise. Where white noise is more like static or the ocean, pink and brown noise sound more like thunder or a large waterfall. Brown noise has slightly deeper tones than pink noise.

White Noise Apps

You may be wondering why you should invest in an ambient noise machine instead of simply using a white noise app. Although we can’t say which would work the best for you, there are a few benefits to using a machine over an app.

Less Screen Time: Many sleep experts say that one of the leading causes of insomnia is too much screen time. Some even go as far as saying you shouldn’t use your phone in bed at all. If you have to use your phone to turn on your white noise, you may be tempted to play on your phone instead of sleep.

Sound Quality: Although many smartphones have good speakers, the speakers on a sound machine are designed specifically for white noise and will be able to produce a cleaner sound.

Phone Settings: Some users find that it is a lot easier to have their sound machine ready to go at bedtime instead of having to fuss with their phone settings every night.

How to Choose The Best White Noise Machine For You

Now we get to the personal stuff. How are you sleeping? Here are a few things that you can look into that will help you find the best sound machine for you.

Choose Your Sounds

Start by determining what type of white noise works best for you. You may already have an idea of what you like. Consider the sounds you find most relaxing, such as the sound of your fan or the sound of rain falling. If you’re still not sure what will work best, you can find many samples of white noise online. Listen to a few different ones and see which one makes you feel the most relaxed.

Choose Your Style

Time to choose a machine style. If you travel a lot you may want to choose one that is compact and has a rechargeable battery. A portable version would also be helpful if you want to use your sound machine in multiple rooms for things like studying or meditation. If portability is not an issue, there are many stationary styles to choose. Many white noise machines are quite decorative, so you can even match your decor.

Choose Your Features

Although most noise machines are fairly simplistic, you will find that some have more functions than others. A few extras to consider would include:

  • Nightlights
  • Automatic Shutoff Timers
  • Headphone Jacks
  • Memory Features

Not everyone would need these features but they can be handy, so they are worth considering before making your final purchase.

Bottom Line

According to the CDC, one-third of American adults do not get enough sleep. For many people, the main issue is that they have trouble falling asleep in the first place. White noise could help. Although there is no guarantee that it will solve all your sleep issues, it is certainly worth a try. White noise machines are a fairly inexpensive and environmentally friendly option that could help you a lot. Not only can they help you sleep, but they can help you find relaxation and gain focus.

It’s hard to go wrong with any of our top energy-efficient white noise machine options, but we recommend Fitfirst Noise Machine for its ease of use and energy-efficiency. Compare all of your options before making a final decision, though, to make sure that you’re choosing the right model for your circumstances.

Top 5 Best Energy-Efficient White Noise Machines of 2021