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Noise can often be one of the main reasons why you may be losing sleep - whether you have to spend time in a noisy hospital[1], or are on a long journey, or even sleeping in your own bed, noisiness can be a real issue. One way of solving this issue, however, is by purchasing and using the best noise-canceling headphones for sleeping.
There are actually two big groups of products you’ll find in this category - the best headphones for sleeping, and the best earplugs. There’s a significant difference between the two - we’ll talk all about it in the article ahead. Furthermore, if you'd like to complement your new noise-canceling headphones with some proper sleep-oriented sounds, make sure to check out our sleep noise tool, too.
Our list is going to look something like this:
- Bose QuietComfort 35 II
- Shure SE215-K
- Lavince Bluetooth headphones
- AcousticSheep SleepPhones
- CozyPhones
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Noise-Canceling Headphones for Sleeping: Are they Worth it?
Naturally, the very first question that should be answered before diving into the list of the noise-canceling headphones for sleeping is whether or not these headphones actually do work, and are they worth your attention and money?
Well, granted that this article exists, I’d say the answer is rather clear.
In all seriousness, though, sleeping headphones are actually a very popular product - that’s not without good reason, either. These products actually serve a double purpose - they can both cancel out a portion of outside-located noise, and also work as actual headphones that play sounds or music.
Admittedly, the majority of people who are looking to find noise-canceling headphones for sleeping are likely looking for products that would do exactly that - play music or different types of sleep quality-enhancing sounds. This is where sleeping headphones differ from earplugs - yet another very popular item for sleep improvement.
In the same way how earplugs can be used both for sleeping and for other activities that involve a lot of noise (i.e. construction work), the best sleeping headphones are likely also going to be beneficial for a wide variety of situations, too. If you were to keep the usual design of these products in mind (them being slim and contouring), you can probably imagine the different areas in which they could be used.
Now, while noise-canceling headphones for sleeping are, indeed, a great product to invest in, so are earplugs, too. You might find yourself in a bit of a pickle - do I really need the “best sleeping headphones”? Should I perhaps just get a few earplugs and be done with it? Well, I’m here to help you answer that question.
Headphones VS Earplugs: Which are Better?
In order to decide whether you need the best noise-canceling headphones for sleeping, or simply a few decent earplugs, you’re going to have to ask yourself a few questions. The answers to these questions should help you make up your mind rather easily.
Sound VS Silence
The absolute main reason why most people go for noise-canceling headphones for sleeping instead of simple earplugs is the fact that they want to listen to some music or other sounds that would help them fall asleep.
This is a feature that you won’t really be able to enjoy with earplugs. Well, at least most of them.
If you feel that noise cancelation simply isn’t enough, and you can’t really fall asleep without your favorite tunes or white noise playing silently in the background, then you should definitely consider purchasing noise-canceling headphones for sleeping.
That said, if such headphones were only a first spontaneous thought that popped into your head, and any type of noise is bound to keep you awake indefinitely, then simple foam- or wax-based earplugs should be the way to go.
Comfort
This is an interesting one.
The majority of earplugs are designed to fit comfortably inside your ear. The same is true with the best sleeping headphones - most of them are made in a way that ensures they aren’t going to fall off your head in the middle of the night, and are not going to feel intrusive, either.
That being said, you might be someone who absolutely hates to have something either in your ears or on top of them. While these things might not be too noticeable when you’re out and about, when you’re concentrated and focused on trying to fall asleep, even the tiniest of things might start to get on your nerves.
Price
Lastly, you should really take the time to consider the fact that the best noise-canceling headphones for sleeping are going to have a very different price tag attached to them than the top-tier earplugs would.
Now, this might seem like a no-brainer - and it kind of is. If, however, you’re struggling with sleep, in general, and are simply experimenting with different sleep-oriented products with hopes that one of them is going to solve all of your issues, investing a large sum of money in headphones might not be the best thing to do.
If, however, you’re certain that the best sleeping headphones are surely going to help you solve your sleep issues (perhaps you’ve used such headphones before?), you should definitely go for it. Worst case scenario, you’re going to end up with a pair of headphones that you can use in any type of daily activity!
Now that we’ve got all of that out of the way, let us move on and take a look at the list of the best noise-canceling headphones for sleeping that are currently dominating the market.