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As seen on "The Today Show" and "The View".

The Marpac 980 A SleepMate...The "Original" sound machine, developed and patented over 40 years ago. This sound machine (or sound conditioner, white noise machine, sleep machine, etc.) combines compact size and economical price with dependable service. This is the Marpac 980 A SleepMate, which adds enhancements to the Marpac 980 SleepMate, including a slight improvement in the sound quality. The Marpac 980 A SleepMate has high and low settings offering a greater range of tone and volume than the single-speed setting of the 580 A SleepMate.

Marpac 980 A SleepMate sound machines are not entertainment systems, toys or gimmicks. They are recommended by doctors for their patients, by mothers for their children, by professional people for their offices, by restless sleepers and - most enthusiastically - by current users throughout the world. There is a Marpac sound conditioner to meet virtually every need and budget. All models are proudly made in the USA.

Marpac 980 A SleepMate testimonials:

-- "This makes me sleep like a baby in a very noisy neighborhood! Thanks!" P.G., Boulder, CO

-- "Every place we spend the night, we take our sleep machine - love it." L.G., Power Springs, GA

-- "Should be standard equipment in every motel and apartment! A real Godsend." S.E., Durham, NC

-- "Your Sound Conditioner made life good again - apartment living is impossible without one." K.G., Norfolk, NE

About the Marpac 980 A SleepMate®

Over 40 years ago, Marpac's founder developed the original Sound Screen® (SleepMate®) sound conditioner because he was having trouble sleeping. It worked so well, he made it available to his friends and family and ultimately the world. Today, the Marpac 980 A SleepMate® is still the most economical, most popular sound conditioner on the market.

Marpac combines American ingenuity and craftsmanship to create a lightweight, yet durable appliance capable of many years of reliable service. These sound conditioners create a consistent, smooth sound of rushing air. The tone and volume of the sound are controlled by simply rotating the "cap" and "collar" of the housing. This "white noise" sound effectively masks unwanted noises and creates a sense of calm, making it easier to concentrate, relax and/or sleep.

These sound conditioners are recommended for restless sleepers, shift workers, infants, children, students, apartment dwellers, office workers (for confidentiality) and many others. The Marpac 980 A SleepMate® is built in a durable plastic housing suitable for travel or use in the home or office.

For an optimal sleep environment, we also recommend hotel grade Blackout Drapery Liners, a Bucky sleep mask, Sleep CD's and Flents ear plugs.

Marpac 980 A Sleepmate Features:

o Electro-Mechanical Durability

o Excellent Sound Quality

o Patented Housing Design

o This product is available with either the Sound Screen® or the Sleep Mate® brand name.

o Lightweight

o Economical

o Single Speed or Dual Speed Available

o One Year Limited Warranty

o Made in the U.S.A.

Marpac 980A SleepMate Physical and Electrical Specifications:

Model 980A (Dual Speed)

o SIZE: 5 3/4" base diameter: 3 1/4" high

o WEIGHT: 1.6 pounds

o MATERIAL: ABS Plastic

o COLOR: Fog White

o ELECTRICAL: Normal Household Current

o POWER CORD: 8 feet long

o STANDARDS: UL Listed-U.S. & Canada

Marpac 980A Sound Conditioner Testimonials

"I have owned one 15 years and SleepMate is the "Champion" of all sound machines." M.P., Lafeyette, LA

"Been using a SleepMate since the early 1970's (maybe even late 1960's), Love them." K.B., Woodacre, CA

"Great and highly recommend to friends with new babies." G.E., Macon, GA

"Lifesaver! Have a 1 year old and 2 1/2 year old. Really helps when one is sleeping and one is not." R.M., Oak Harbor, WA

"I have had a Marpac SleepMate since I was born. After 24 years, it is still in ecellent condition. I recently moved out of my parents' house so now I need one of my own. Thank you for a wonderful night's sleep!" K.M., Garden City, NY

"This is my third SleepMate, I used for my children, grandchildren, and now use for myself - A Great Sleep Aid!" J.W., Danville, VA

"We're self-employed and one of our businesses is a Day Care. We use SleepMate during naptime." J.K., Oklahoma City, OK

"I have saved many marriages from separate bedrooms by suggesting SleepMate for wives with snoring husbands." M.N., Birmingham, AL

"You've probably added 5 years to my life!" H.B., Brooklyn, NY

"Worth every penny! It works." C.W., Estacada, OR

"This makes me sleep like a baby in a very noisy neighborhood! Thanks!" P.G., Boulder, CO

"I think this product is the best product ever invented!" M.P., Kokomo, IN

"Every place we spend the night, we take our sleep machine - love it." L.G., Power Springs, GA

"I love this thing - it really works!" W.C., Bridgeport, OH

"Extremely effective device! Shift work becomes a breeze!" B.S., Elizabethton, TN

"Should be standard equipment in every motel and apartment! A real Godsend." S.E., Durham, NC

"Your Sound Conditioner made life good again - aprtment living is impossible without one." K.G., Norfolk, NE

"Thank you for your fine products. They are a great help to me in my daily life. Please don't ever stop making them!" M.O., Springfield, PA

"Family has numerous Marpac sound machines - excellent quality." R.S., Glen Allen, CA

"Your products are the best - lightweight, small, & portable. Great for home or travel." S.Y., Tulsa, OK

"Used it at night for the first time and it blocked out a party next door." I.B., Sarasota, FL

"Worth its weight in GOLD!" A.M., Gary, IN

"The best machine ever - absolute necessity for adequate rest. We are a flight crew & these are a blessing." L.J., Henderson, NV

"I bought my first sound conditioner 15 years ago. It gave me outstanding service sleeping in a dorm with snoring firemen. I left it on the bumper of a fire truck & lost it while driving around." H.B., Ben Wheeler, TX

Sound Conditioners

Sound conditioners (or "sound machines" 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 580A 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.