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Best Headphones for Sleeping

Updated: Jul 29, 2022 3:58 pm

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Research has shown that listening to relaxing music in bed can help people fall asleep faster and enjoy more restful sleep. Unfortunately, most headphones and earbuds were not designed for use in bed. They tend to be very uncomfortable at best and downright impossible to wear at worst. Not only is a discomfort a common occurrence, but there also exists the possibility of the headphones breaking.

What should you pay attention to when selecting the best headphones for sleeping, you ask? Well, you are in luck. This article will guide you through the world of sleeping headphones and help you understand just what makes one pair of headphones suitable for sleeping and other not so much.

AcousticSheep SleepPhones Bluetooth Headphones

AcousticSheep calls this product “the pajamas for your ears.” Simply put, the SleepPhones are headphones designed as a sleek and soft headband to be worn at night and while you fall to sleep. The concept is very simple, but we all known that it’s the execution that ultimately matters. Let’s see how these headphones perform when we put them to test.

The SpeelPhones Wireless are the perfect example how innovative thinking can have led to extremely useful innovation and the creation of bed-friendly headphones with no cord. The SleepPhones come with a soft headband that wraps around your head and keeps the built-in speakers in place through the night. It’s made out of 88% recycled material from plastic bottles and the company behind this product even powers 100% of their HQ solely by using…

Bedphones Gen 3

Many people like to wear headphones in the bed and even fall asleep with them. For others, listening to soothing music late at night represents a very effective way how to combat problems with sleeping. Unfortunately, not many headphones are suitable for such use. They are often either too bulky or too uncomfortable for extended use in bed. The Bedphones Gen. 3 On-Ear Sleep Headphones are here to solve this very problem.

Bedphones are built with a single goal in mind – to create the most comfortable pair of headphones for use in bed. The manufacturer has partially managed to achieve this goal. These headphones are very comfortable if you happen to have the right size and shape of your ears. A few of us who did the testing had…

AcousticSheep SleepPhones Classic

The AcousticSheep SleepPhones Classic are an innovative approach on how to make comfortable sleep headphones. Traditionally, headphones for sleeping are very dependent on head size and shape. This can easily result in many issues with comfort and sound quality. The SleepPhones use headband-like construction to completely eliminate this issue and provide a great fit for virtually everyone.

The AcousticSheep SleepPhones Classic Sleep Headphones are very similar to other models in the series. They use a regular 3.5mm audio jack to connect to your audio source of choice, and, as such, don’t require any batteries at all. Additionally, the Classic version will work with any audio device that outputs sound using 3.5mm audio connector. The Wireless version requires Bluetooth-enabled smartphone or tablet. The downside is the fact that the cable can tangle during the night. You have to make sure that your smartphone isn’t just…

Oittm Smart Headrest

Would you like to know how the future of sleeping looks like? Then read this review of the Oittm Smart Headrest, which is an amazing pillow mat that can play music and monitor the quality of your sleep.

No, the Oittm Smart Headrest doesn’t even remotely resemble headphones of any kind, and it also doesn’t look like any speakers we’ve ever seen. Yet, this innovative product will be right up the alley of most gearheads and audio aficionados.

The Oittm Smart Headrest is intended to go inside your pillowcase and on top of your pillow. It hides a pair of stereo speakers, which can play your favorite music or binaural beats that lower your brain rate to help you relax and fall asleep. Embedded inside the Oittm Smart Headrest is also an advanced sleep monitoring sensor that collects…

CozyPhones Sleep Headphones

The CozyPhones sleep headphones can help you enjoy a full night of restful sleep as well as provide you with your personal soundtrack while exercising or just relaxing after a hard day at work. All headphones and most earphones are too bulky and uncomfortable to be used as a sleeping aid. When you roll on your side during sleep, they dig deep into your head and cause pain. The CozyPhones are very different, and this review will tell you how.

The first thing most people notice is that the CozyPhones headphones actually don’t look like headphones at all. That’s because the drivers are not fitted inside a plastic or metal housing, but inside an ultra-comfortable Lycra headband. If you don’t know, Lycra is an elastic polyurethane fabric used especially for close-fitting sports clothing. Compared to fleece or wool, Lycra products are very.

How To Choose The Best Headphones For Sleeping

All headphones are divided into several categories based on their construction. Some types are much more suitable for sleeping than others, and it will quickly become obvious why as we introduce them one by one.

Over-the-ear headphones – this is the largest type of headphones that you will come across. Their earcups are big enough to fit the entire ear and provide listeners with maximum comfort and, in most cases, a fantastic sound quality. However, their large size makes them unsuitable for use in bed, as the only position that doesn’t cause discomfort is lying on the back. Despite these issues, there is, at least, one pair of over-the-ear headphones that could actually be great for sleeping. We are talking about the Kokoon EEG headphones. Currently available for pre-order on Kickstarter.com, these headphones were designed specifically for sleeping comfort. They feature a unique construction and smart technology that automatically adjusts music volume as you fall asleep.

On-ear headphones – are slightly smaller than over-the-ear headphones. They sit on ears rather than on the head itself. The smaller surface area means that the pressure cannot be effectively spread out. There is also an additional issue of stability. This type of headphone construction should be used only for regular daily use; there is simply no way how to comfortably wear on-ear headphones in the bed.

In-ear headphones (earbuds) – would be the first choice for the vast majority of people who are looking for a solid pair of sleeping headphones. In most cases, their lightweight, small construction makes use during sleeping a non-issue. It goes without saying that some models are more suited for this kind of use than others, but more on this later in this article. Probably the most popular model of in-ear headphones for sleeping are Bedphones. They are marketed as the thinnest headphones on earth, and our testing confirms their supreme comfort and durability.

Special sleeping headphones – the last category of headphones that you will come across during your selection is composed of headphones designed especially for sleeping. This includes innovative solutions such as the popular SleepPhones. These headphones look like an ordinary headband, but they actually hide several high-quality speakers that were designed for comfortable all-night wear. The only downside is that these custom-designed solutions are often more expensive than regular headphones. However, you also get something that is sure to perform up to highest standards and expectations.

Comfort

Comfort is the most important thing you want to pay attention to during your selection. Having the best sounding headphones without any way how to comfortably wear them during your sleep is pointless. The headphones you select should be small enough to allow you sleep on your side. You should also be able to keep them on for a very long time without feeling the need to re-adjust them for better comfort.

What many people forget about is the importance of good cable management. Headphones with thick cables have no place in the bed. They can tangle, wake you up from you sleep, and cause all kinds of problems. Additionally, cable microphonics matter as much as they do during regular use. The last thing you want to experience is hearing some annoying noise every time you move in your bed.

Sound Quality

For most people, sound quality won’t be the most important thing when choosing a pair of sleeping headphones. You are most likely to listen on much lower volumes than you would otherwise, and that will easily hide most sound imperfections that would become apparent when listening on higher volume levels.

The one thing that you definitely do want to pay attention to is the noise isolation and sound leakage. A good passive noise isolation can give you extra piece of mind if you have to sleep next to somebody who snores or if your neighbors are not the quietest ones. The headphones should, however, also be able to keep sound and music from leaking into your surroundings. The last thing you want to disturb your partner, who is sleeping next to you.

Wired or Wireless?

The choice between wired and wireless headphones depends largely on your audio source and budget. Wireless headphones are universally preferred for use in bed, but they can cost much more and won’t work with regular MP3 players without built-in Bluetooth functionality. In those cases, wired headphones are still a good alternative. Just make sure to hide as much of the cable as you can under your pillow to prevent tangling during your sleep.

Price

If you are buying sleeping headphones because you have troubles falling asleep, buy the best pair you can afford. Think about it as an investment into your health. A quality sleep is just as important as a regular exercise and your body will surely thank you. Cheaper models are more likely to break, be uncomfortable, and sound bad.

How to Sleep with Headphones

Unless you own a pair of headphones specially designed for use in bed, you will have to figure out how to sleep comfortably with your headphones on. In most cases, your best option will be to lie on your back.

It’s also important to realize the role your pillow plays in the overall comfort. If you pillow is too soft, your head will sink in, pushing your headphones out of their proper position. On the other hand, if your pillow is too hard, you can experience neck pain and all kinds of associated problems. Shop around and find what works for you and what doesn’t.


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