Don't spend hours awake in bed, counting sheep. Our products create the dark, quiet, comfortable environment you need for quality sleep -- according to the National Sleep Foundation. Sleep better the smart, healthy way -- without pills or expensive mattresses. We also carry products that help you wake up more easily. Why is sleep important?

Why Is Sleep Important?
Sleep is one of man's most fundamental needs. Consider the famous "hierarchy of needs" (to the right), developed by the renowned American psychologist, Abraham Maslow. The lower the need is in the pyramid, the more powerful it is. Only when the lower needs are met can a person focus on the needs above it. The "physiological" needs (including sleep) are the most fundamental and instinctive because all other needs are "put on hold" until these needs are met. Sleep is as essential as oxygen, food and water. The chronic sleep deprivation to which many of us subject ourselves can have serious health consequences -- both physical and mental -- which in turn can affect the rest of our life, or our ability to meet our "higher needs" in Maslow's pyramid -- such as employment family, property and other "buildling blocks" of a happy, healthy life. Realizing that finding more time to sleep is seldom practical, our products help you get better sleep in the time that you can afford.

Sound Conditioners

Sound conditioners (or “white noise machines”) are a staple among sleep products. They were traditionally designed to create white noise – similar to TV static. The purpose was (and still is, in many cases) to mask background noises that interfere with sleep or that create distractions in an office environment. Newer, more advanced models digitally create white noise plus other sounds that help one sleep and/or create a spa-like or meditative atmosphere (e.g., rain, crickets, bamboo wind chimes, night train, heartbeat, “delta sleep signals,” and even lullabies).

Sound conditioners come in two basic designs, with Marpac (www.marpac.com) dominating the first and Sound Oasis (www.sound-oasis.com) the second (we are excluding the low-end market):

Electro-mechanical. Here, an electro-mechanical motor creates white noise by sucking air through narrow holes in the unit’s shell. These units are valued because of the “pure” or “natural” white noise they create. The most popular models are the Marpac 980 A Sleepmate and 580 A Sleepmate (also called the Sound Screen), which were first invented in the 1960’s. The Marpac 980 A Sleepmate is, in fact, the most popular sound conditioner overall in the market today.

Digital. Here, digital “sound cards” with infinite sound loops create the sound. The sound cards either installed permanently inside the unit’s circuitry (Marpac DS-600A, TSC-330, 440, 1288A, Sound Oasis S-850, SB-950, S-3000), or can be inserted and swapped from the outside (Sound Oasis S-650, S-550-03, S-560-02). A switch or button determines which digital recording is played. Marpac’s 1288A and Sound Oasis’ S-3000 allow additional “layering” or mixing of sounds for further customization. Sound Oasis tends to be more technologically advanced and provides a much broader selection of sounds, partly due to its patent-pending sound card technology. Many of the Sound Oasis sounds are scientifically designed by sleep experts to stimulate ideal sleep patterns.

 Which type of model is better for you? It depends on your preferences. 

•  Electro-mechanical vs. digital: the electro-mechanical models produce richer or “thicker” sound, but the units are not as flexible in terms of volume and sound character. The most popular seller in this category is the Marpac 980 A Sleepmate. The digital units are much more flexible, but some people do not like the digital nature of the sound or only want basic white noise. Sound Oasis addresses one drawback of most digital sound conditioners by making extra long soundtracks (25-60 seconds, versus the more common 5-6 second range). In this way, it’s virtually impossible to get distracted by hearing the same pattern repeat over and over (which may keep insomniacs from sleeping). Among digital sound conditioners, the Sound Oasis S-550-03 is the most popular, while the Sound Oasis S-3000 is the most advanced and versatile (it includes 3 speakers, an AM/FM radio, alarm clock, and up to 120 sounds using the sound mixing technology). Marpac’s most advanced model is the Marpac Marsona 1288A.

Besides the type of sound you are seeking, here are a few other features that may help you make up your mind among the growing number of sound conditioner choices:

• Bedside table space-savers: the Sound Oasis S-3000, S-650 and S-850 all incorporate alarm clock features, so you can say goodbye to your alarm clock. Biobrite (www.biobrite.com), a maker of sunrise alarm clocks, also has a unit which includes digital white noise (the “alarm clock” comes in the form of a sunrise simulator, a light bulb that gradually brightens to the point of waking you up).

• Travel-friendly models: Some models are built for portability and travel, such as the Marpac TSC-330 (small and lightweight) and the Sound Oasis S-850 Travel Sound Therapy System (compact, battery-operated and with a jet lag reduction sound). 

•  Models for infants or young children: The Marpac Lifesounds 440 has sounds specially designed for children (heartbeat, lullabies, womb sounds), as does the Sound Oasis Sleep Bear 950, which is actually a sound conditioner embedded inside a teddy bear. 

•  Popularity among consumers: If you want to take others’ words for it, then consider that the Marpac 980 A Sleepmate is the most popular electro-mechanical model, and the Sound Oasis S-550-03 is the most popular digital model. 

•  Latest model: Billed by the company as a “next generation sound conditioner,” the attractively designed Sound Oasis S-650 is the newest model covered in this article. Features include patented sound card technology, patented Sleep Enhancement® technology that slows down sound playback to lull users to sleep, and many other features. 

•  Price: The least expensive model is the Marpac 580 A Sleepmate offered by many retailers for as low as $40.95. Next are the Marpac 980 A Sleepmate and Sound Oasis S-550-03, both found for $49.95, sometimes with free shipping. At the high end, the Sound Oasis S-3000 is found for $149.95. All other models covered in this article are priced in between. All models can be purchased with free shipping and sometimes with a free gift included.

If you are a light sleeper, a shift worker, or simply live in a noisy environment, then sound conditioners area great way to improve your sleep. They are relatively inexpensive, work immediately, last for years, and don’t involve any known health risks.

Below is a comparison table