Sleepbuds, perchance to dream
Bose’s excellent new sleeping device is not to be snored at
There is nothing like a great night’s sleep. However, traffic, neighbours or even a snoring spouse can all spoil what should be the most relaxing part of the day.
Bose, well known for making audio products, have come up with a gadget that may help you wrestle back control from unwanted noise and interruptions.
The Sleepbuds look like headphones, but they don’t play music or acoustic noise. They are preloaded with soothing masking sounds designed to neutralise nighttime noises to help you get to – and stay – asleep.
In the box are the very stylish looking Sleepbuds and a charging and storage case. There’s also a wall charger, a USB cable and three pairs of tips. These StayHear+ tips are in three sizes and ensure you get a great fit. There’s also a useful drawstring travel pouch to carry the Sleepbuds in for long-haul flights or overnight stays.
Each Sleepbud weighs just over two grams, so you’ll barely notice them as you drift off. The charging case is sturdy and will charge them fully in eight hours. With a full charge, you’ll get up to 16 hours of use, so ample for a night’s sleep. Cleverly, the case is magnetic, ensuring the sleepbuds stay in place as they charge. After I charged up the buds, I downloaded the Bose Sleep app which is available for iOS or Android. The app uses Bluetooth to connect your phone and Sleepbuds and it’s where you select the sounds to play. The app allows you to name your buds, but also to set wake-up alarms that will be played through the earpiece. I took the time to watch a Bose video on getting a perfect fit which was worthwhile. With the Sleepbuds in, I decided on a sound to listen to. At the moment, there are ten masking sounds available. These range from waterfalls to rustling leaves and even ambient aeroplane cabin noise. I settled on a campfire – a crackling noise with chirpy crickets. After trying them for a week I think they helped me nod off more quickly almost every night. The masking sounds are effective, and even the odd ones, like the whir of an electric fan seemed to help. I tend not to wake often in the night, so I set the sleep timer to stop the sound playing all night. However, if you were in a noisy environment or on a flight, the option is there for all night playing.
There could be more sounds available, ten doesn’t provide a tremendous selection, but I suspect Bose will add them regularly and update the app with new features.
If you are affected by a snoring spouse, traffic noise, or keep unusual hours these could be for you. They are stylish, well made and they do seem to help.
While €270 isn’t cheap, a good night’s sleep is often priceless.
IF YOU’RE AFFECTED BY NOISE, THESE COULD BE FOR YOU...