Let’s start off with one of their most expensive sound machines to date. Is it worth it? Is it the best white noise machine or just a lot of hype or somewhere in between? Let’s find out!

HoMedics Sound Spa Platinum Sound Machine
With CD and Atomic Clock Radio
Price: $75 US
Sound: 12 Built In Sounds
Other Features: Clock
Other Features: Radio
Other Features: Image Projector
Other Features: CD Player

Let’s just start this review off right: don’t buy this unit if what you’re looking for is a white noise machine or white noise generator device. You don’t need a clock, radio, cd player, or – best of all – an image projected onto your ceiling (do you?!) to get a peaceful nights rest via white noise.

The thing is though, if you do want all those other features – which sound actually really cool, by the way – the truth is many customers have had problems with these cool features, especially the image projector. It breaks easily and also has some brightness issues i.e. the screen just emits too much light at night for some people, even when the setting is set for it to be dim. Sheesh!

It’s too bad, because this could be one of the best white noise machine + combo clock/CD player/image projectors around. I would love to use mine more if it were a more solid product. But my bedroom window already lets in enough light…

In summary, sorry HoMedics – but folks, you probably will want to avoid the Sound SPA Platinum Sound Machine from HoMedics.

The good news is that I think you’ll be interested in the next white noise sound machine below.

Homedics SS-4000 Sound Spa Classic Deluxe
With Clock Radio, Sound Machine, and Time Projection
Price: $40 US
Sounds: 6 Different Sounds (ocean, waterfall, summer night, rain forest, and rain)
Other Features: AM/FM Radio, Digital Clock, Time Projector (not to be confused with a time machine

This seems to me to be a better version of the Platinum version reviewed above, which is ironic since it costs almost half the price. Not sure what happened there behind the scenes but either way, this is one of those white noise machines with a cool few bells and whistles AKA features that actually work right.

Obviously, you’ve got your white noise device built in here, allowing you to choose from 6 different sounds. That’s nice enough (although again, why not give us a few more sounds than just these 6? Variety is the spice of life.)

Beyond this the unit has a sharp digital clock on it, and an alarm clock too which allows you to wake up to either soothing sounds, the radio, or the classic alarm clock. The extra feature here is the cool time projector, which shoots an image of the time in a nice soothing blue light vertically from the unit onto the ceiling.

If the product above this one sounded like it should be the most awesome Homedics product, the truth is, this is the one you want! Half the price, good features, good sounds – Homedics hit a slam dunk with this one. Awesome!

HoMedics SS-2000 Sound Spa Relaxation Sound Machine
Cost: $25 US
Sounds: 6 Different Sounds (ocean, summer night, rain, rain forest, waterfall, and heartbeat)
Power: Battery or Adaptor
Other Features: Auto Off Timer

The Homedics SS-2000 Sound Spa Relaxation Sound Machine is a very nice looking white noise generator, with a clever circular, silver design that easily sits next to your bed. At only $25 (and sometimes even cheaper, selling for $20 at Amazon for example), this is an entry level sound machine you can get your hands on and try out without risking too much.

Because it can be battery powered, this leaves the option of using it as a travel sleep aid. (However, without headphones, this means only in the hotel room i.e. not the airplane.)

The 6 sounds offered will keep you busy but personally, I prefer more options than just this. Would it really cost so much more to have a dozen sounds total?

The problem with this unit is that it’s not very solidly built. For such a cheap price, I can’t say I’m too shocked! Some people have reported problems with their Homedics SS-2000 sound machine breaking within a few months of purchase.

Homedics SS-3000 Soundspa Lullaby
Cost: $35 US
Sound: 3 Different Sounds (heartbeat, rainforest, and ocean)
Lullabies: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Rock A Bye Baby, and Brahms Cradle Song
Other Features: Auto Off Timer
Other Features: Image Projector (!)

The Homedics SS-33000 SoundSpa is one of those “baby white noise machine” devices that parents can use to help their baby fall asleep. Unlike the SS-2000 (reviewed above), the Homedics SS-3000 doesn’t suffer from being a cheap unit that sometimes break. It’s actually quite solid, and I suppose the increase in the price reflects this!

What’s really interesting about this Homedics white noise machine is that while it only offers 3 sounds, it’s got some really neat features for helping babies fall asleep. I’m talking about the lullaby music it can make and the image generator. The image projector shoots out pictures from the top of the unit. This is a pretty awesome feature and might make you want to use this for yourself and not just the baby!

By the way, if you’ve used these products above from Homedics, please kindly add a comment with your experience. Was the unit good? Should others buy it? Did it help you or your baby sleep better? It’s this type of real world input we’re looking for so don’t be shy – let us know your experiences with Homedics sound machines.

We’ll follow up this article shortly with a second article detailing additional white noise machine reviews from the Homedics sound machine product line.

However, humans – well, we’re a creative bunch aren’t we? When it comes to white noise sound, this means we’re ready to out different applications for it and see what works. Here are 5 other reasons, beyond the main reason addressed in the opening paragraph – that people use white sound sound machines.

1. The White Noise Machine Office Hack
Offices are loud places. Sometimes, all that extra sound can put a damper on focusing on the task at hand. One manner of addressing this problem is to use an office white noise machine, which is another way of saying you just buy a normal white noise machine for the office!

2. The White Noise Machine Baby Helper
Babies and sleep. Wow, what a subject. I honestly can’t imagine how hard it must be to deal with a baby or infant of which is having sleep problems. A baby white noise machine was invented just for these kids. These sound machines for babies are designed to sit near their bed or cradle and do the same thing they do for adults – generate white noise and help the baby fall asleep. Awesome. (PS. Check out our review of the HoMedics SoundSpa SS-3000 Lullaby sound machine for babies.

3. The Travel White Noise Machine
Sleeping in hotels, airports, and airplanes is obviously not good for the spirit. Even if you get the best hotel with the best bed, it’s still not your bed! Add it all up, and you’ve got a ripe scenario for sleep problems. Enter the travel white noise machine. These units are compact, battery powered, solid, and equipped with external speakers as well as headphones. Travelers love them. If you travel, you will to. Take a look at our Travel White Noise Machine article for more info on portable sound machines!

While the best sounds machines from companies like Conair, HoMedics, Marpac, Sound Oasis, and Brookstone, are going to continue to get the most use from people who use them at home, it’s clear to see that the use of white noise has other applications and can be used in different situations where external, annoying, distracting sound would be much better serviced if it were replaced by a soothing sound machine.

For people who frequently travel, sleep problems and insomnia can become a re-occurring issue. If this is a situation that sounds all too familiar to you, there’s a type of sleep device or sleep machine out there that may be extremely beneficial in aiding in your sleep. It’s nothing new, but it’s popularity and availability is new; I’m talking about using a travel white noise machine.

A travel white noise machine is designed to do two things. One, it’s primary function, which is that of emitting white noise. This white noise creates a sound barrier – perhaps even a kind of psychological barrier too – between your inner self and the rest of the world. When trying to fall asleep, a travel white noise machine will block out of external sounds and replace them with a consistent stream of white noise. This then allows the mind some space in which to rest and to fall asleep naturally. Secondly, a travel white noise machine is designed to be used for travelers and people “on the go”. This means the unit is compact and comes equipped with the options for both battery and outlet power. Many white noise machine of this type are also equipped with a headphone jack so that travelers can get complete privacy no matter where they are – such as sleeping on a plane.

If you are thinking of buying a travel white noise machine, here are some things to keep in mind about sound machines and white noise devices in general.

1. If you do travel frequently, invest in a sound machine that’s going to last. It’s possible that with all the traveler, a cheap white noise device will break in your luggage or at some point be dropped on accident.

2. Not all white noise devices have the option of using headphones with them. Because you are going to be on lots of airplane rides, to me, it is absolutely worth it to buy one with the option for headphones. Even if it costs $10 more, trust me – it’s going to be worth it the very first time you use it on a plane to block out all the nonsense happening around you and enter your own private world of sleep.

3. Look for a travel white noise machine that offers lots of different white noise settings. This means not just one type of sound. This shouldn’t be hard – most models offer about a dozen different settings of white noise and other sounds.

4. If you travel internationally, be sure to get a white noise machine that operates on battery power. Why? Because the power outlets and power standards are different between countries (such as the US and Europe), which means you can’t use the same power cable in both countries. Batteries to the rescue!

5. Consider buying a white noise machine app for your Ipod, Blackberry, Android, etc. phone. This could be a slick trick to getting a white noise generator device without buying yet another gadget to carry around with you traveling!

Travelers lead a hectic lifestyle. I am actually so used to using my own Conair white noise machine that when I’m traveling and don’t have it, the hotel room feels “naked” or just ridiculously open and quiet. When traveling out of the office for work, there’s enough stress already – having a travel white noise sound machine to welcome you with open arms into the wonderful world of a sleep is an affordable comfort that you’ll most likely very much appreciate.

This was a Conair White Noise Machine. It’s not the most solid white noise generator, and it’s priced affordably compared to many other white noise devices out there on the market. It does the job though, for sure. It’s to the point now where I use it every single night to obscure my mind into la-la land and go to sleep quicker.

I’ve gotten so into the habit of just using my favorite setting, Ocean Waves, I forget that the Conair White Noise Machine also comes equipped with other sounds, such as:

• Tropic Forest
• Thunderstorm
• Summer Night (another one of my favorites)
• White Noise
• Heartbeat (this one is creepy and kind of lame)
• Songbirds
• Waterfall
• Running Stream (another great one)
• Rainfall (another great one)

So is it safe to say I like my Conair White Noise Machine? Absolutely – BUT, it is not without its faults. There are a few things I wish they’d improve on. For instance, the sound function or volume control on the device is huge and easy to move, but that’s the problem – it’s so entirely easy to move, that many times I suddenly crank up the volume when I’m simply trying to turn it up just a little or even reaching over to turn it down. The other complaint is that while I adore the sound settings for Ocean Waves, Summer Night, Running Stream, and Rainfall, I must admit that some of the other sounds can occasionally sound “tinny”. Maybe cheap is a more descriptive word. What this amounts to is that while there are 10 sounds on here, you’ll probably only use half of them because a few just don’t sound all that great.

But for the price – the unit delivers quite well and does offer about some really great white noise sounds to help you sleep. Be careful though! If you’re anything like me – a person with a lot of sleep problems, eish! – you could get a Conair white noise machine and quickly get hooked on it when you realize how helpful it is in guiding you to sleep.

Edit: The Conair sound machine I’m talking about in this review is sold under the model of SU1. This is the same one sold at Target, Kohls, Walmart, and all the over place pretty much as an “entry level” white noise machine.