Best White Noise Machines for Offices 2020 – Masking Sound At Work
Do you need to drown out the annoying conversations around your cube at work? Using background noise at work can not only block out your coworkers, but it can also help lower stress and focus more. To get the best results, you need to have the right white noise machine for an office. Here are a few tips and reviews to help you find the best machine for your needs.
White noise is basically a way to describe a range of sounds that are all made up of equal volume. It is used in different areas of science, but it is really only used by the average person as a large mix of sound frequencies that lets you block out noises you don’t want to hear. While it is often misunderstood or confused, white noise can be a great tool to use in several ways.
Since white noise is produced by audio frequencies over a human’s entire range of hearing, it is able to cover up sounds you find distracting or cause problems while you sleep or work. Things like streets noises, music, people talking, dogs barking and other outdoor sounds are made in a range of limited audio frequencies. In comparison, white noise is created over a whole range of audio that your brain and ears can interpret.
Brown, pink, and white noise are often confused with each other since they all have frequencies that are the same. However, they differ in that they have different balances in between the sound volumes at either end of the spectrum.
With many uses, white noise is particularly important when focus and privacy are needed. Like when you have a client meeting and need to speak privately in a quiet room about confidential information or sensitive personal matters.
Benefits of White Noise
- An unobtrusive way to keep your business and personal conversations private, white noise machines also help prevent you from being distracted when you are at work. They also help people concentrate with their constant and gentle fan or nature sounds.
- Lots of people lose productivity and feel more stressed when they are doing different activities and are outside. Our brains are designed to work so that outside noises will distract you from what you are doing. When you have a lot of people around you coughing, eating, and talking, it can be hard to concentrate. They can also eliminate background noises your find distracting and put you in a low-stress mood.
- While they are great to use at work for concentration and attention problems, they are also good for travel and use at home. You can easily pack one in a travel bag or backpack.
- Many people use a small fan for the same reason, but white noise machines are able to give you a wide range of sounds that help you relax while also being energy-efficient.
Considerations for White Noise Machine for the Office
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you search for a white noise machine:
- How large is the white noise machine, and will it fit on your desk?
- Is it too large for your backpack or work bag?
- How many volume settings are there?
- Does the machine only feature white noise, or does it come with other sounds? How many total sounds does it feature?
- Is the machine able to mask sound loops? Are there periods of silence or static after one loop and before the next?
- Does it come with a programmable timer that allows you to control when the white noise stops?
- Does it come with a headphone jack?
- Does it run on USB, AC, or batteries?
Features to Look for in a White Noise Machine for the Office
Volume – Typically, you will find that every white noise machine has adjustable volume settings.
Size – Normally compact, a white noise machine generally doesn’t measure more than ten inches high and wide.
Sound options – Besides normal white noise, you will find other sound options on some white noise machines that include ambient and natural sounds.
Looping – If you want less distraction, look for a white noise machine that can mask the loop sound that is created by a continuous listening experience.
Timer – It is handy to have a white noise machine that you can program to stop working after a set amount of time.
Headphone accessibility – Built-in headphones are especially good in office environments and is perfect if you need private listening.
Power – Many white noise machines use batteries to operate and others use an AC outlet. Some of the more modern designs will use a USB cord to power them.
Best White Noise Machines for Work Reviews
1. SOUND OASIS S-550-05
- 6 professional quality authentic nature sounds: Ocean Surf, Stream, Rain, White Noise, Summer Night and Wind.
- Sleep better and relax easier by creating a healthy sound environment
Featuring six sounds to choose from, the Sound Oasis S-550-05 is a sound therapy system with a six-inch square front. With six buttons at the button, you can easily choose your preferred sound from wind, summer night, white noise, streams, or ocean sounds. Equipped with volume and timer controls, this is an easy machine to custom to your preferences.
This affordable sound machine also has a sound card that you can switch out with a new one. With this machine, you can play records with loops that you won’t even notice. This versatile device pretty much lets you use whatever sound you want.
On the right-hand side of the Sound Oasis are two wheels that include the volume and the timer settings. With the timer, you can choose 90, 60, or 30 minutes, or even continuous play. Using either AC charging or four AA batteries, this is a handy machine to use at the office by either hanging it on the wall or with headphones. home or to travel with. Plus, you can hang it on the wall
Pros
- You can choose pretty much any sound you want
- It can be hung on a wall
- You can plug your headphones into it if you coworkers object to it
Cons
- It always reverts to a non-sound card sound when you turn it on
- The sound is a bit tinny
2. X-SENSE WHITE NOISE MACHINE
- 30 SOOTHING SOUNDS: Includes 6 types of white noise, 6 fan sounds, 10 nature sounds and 8 ambient sounds; different playback options to meet different needs for babies, kids and adults
- SUPERIOR SOUND QUALITY: Non-looping, high-quality sound recordings; 30 volume levels so you can find the right level for effectively blocking out distracting noises
Compact and convenient, the X-Sense white noise machine is over three-inches wide and tall. You will find the controls on the top of the unit while the front is made up of the speaker. Small and inconspicuous, this machine is perfect for use in the office.
With an included timer, you can easily set your machine so that it turns off after four, two, or one hour. There are 30 levels to the volume giving you lots of options in case anyone at the office does not want to hear it. Equipped with a headphone jack, you can easily plugin so no one else can hear it.
This affordable device comes with 30 sounds, so you can easily find just the right sound for you. You can choose from white noise and fan sounds, plus ambient and nature sounds. It is also a good choice for those that don’t like listening to specific blends of frequencies, so you can simply change it.
With non-looping sounds, you can use this machine for up to ten continuous hours. Perfect for covering street noise or noise around the office, it works with either batteries or can be charged with a micro USB. It also comes with an adapter and matching cable.
Pros
- You can use headphones with it and charge it with a USB
- It has a lot of sounds to choose from including nature sounds
- The battery is rechargeable, which is nice if you can’t plug it in easily
Cons
- You can only set it for six hours max
- Some users have had problems with the charging port
3. MARPAC WHITE NOISE SOUND MACHINE
- THE ORIGINAL SOUND MACHINE: Beloved by millions since 1962, the Dohm Classic model features our fan-based natural white noise producing the soothing ambient sounds of moving air
- CUSTOMIZED SOUND EXPERIENCE: With two speed options for adjustable tone and volume, excellently masking background noise for better sleep for children, office privacy, and soothing sound-sensitive pets.Simply wipe the exterior with a damp cloth
A little more expensive, the Marpac White Noise Machine is compact at only three-inches tall, but it comes with a six-inch-wide base. Using two asymmetrical fans that rotate, the Dohm noise is produced at two different speeds. The unit has a casing that is acoustic, and it can be set at either low or high.
The tone is adjustable by rotating the upper part of the casing. Easy to use, it is important to make sure you like the signature Dohm noise before you buy it. It also only runs on AC power and is available in tan, gray, black, or white.
If you have a small space to work with, the Marpac is a great choice. Since it is a mechanical machine, the setting will not change and the sound quality stays consistent.
Pros
- It has a nice soothing sound
- It has a nice compact size that fits on your desk well
Cons
- It is isn’t loud enough and doesn’t completely cover up outside noise
- It is a little on the expensive side for what you get
4. LECTROFAN WHITE NOISE MACHINE
- BUY WITH CONFIDENCE. LectroFan Classic is designed in the USA and backed by a 1,000 day satisfaction guarantee.
- GUARANTEED NON-LOOPING Design provides Ten unique Fan Sounds and Ten unique White Noise variations, including Pink noise and Brown noise
Compact and perfect for your office, the LectroFan’s White Noise Machine is only two-inches tall and includes a four-inch base. This affordable unit comes with 20 sounds that include both fan and other sounds. This includes brown, pink, and white noise that all have frequencies that are the same, but they have different balances in between the sound volumes at either end of the spectrum.
On top of the unit is the speaker while you will find the control button on either side. It also comes with a volume button and a one-hour timer. You can charge it with either AC or a USB, so you can easily charge it with your computer. It is also digital so it won’t take up as much energy as a sound machine that uses mechanical fans.
Pros
- This is a super loud and really amazing machine
- It works well in a nursery creating rich sounds that fill the room
- This is an easy to use machine that has an elegant design
Cons
- The cord is thin and weak and the USB plug will break off over time
5. HOMEDICS DEEP SLEEP II
- 12 Soothing Sounds: Choose from 12 digitally recorded relaxing Sounds; There are 4 White Noise Sounds: Soothe, Mask, Relax, and Calm; Choose from 4 Water relaxation Sounds: Ocean, Brook, Thunderstorm, and Rain. Or scroll through 4 Nature Sounds: Summer Night, Campfire, Wind Chimes, and Everglades
- Sleep Therapy PROGRAM: Homedics uses a patent pending Sleep Therapy program that helps Sleep through the entire night; They combine relaxation Sounds, to help you fall aSleep, and White Noise tones that help you stay aSleep; Get a Full night of the Best Sleep you’ve ever gotten with this Sleep Therapy Machine
Measuring eight-inches tall, the HoMedics Deep Sleep II is a little larger than other machines in our review. However, it is still small enough to use on your desk and even leave in your cube. Under the grill, you will find two speakers that let you adjust the treble and bass.
While the machine was initially created to help you sleep, this white noise machine can also allow you to focus in a work environment. With both brightness and timer settings, you can customize the unit to work in a professional setting. It also gives you a choice of 12 sounds including four white noise and eight nature sounds.
You will find a small digital display under the grill that lets you know what sound you are playing, the volume, how much time you have left on the timer, and the brightness of the screen. All the control buttons can be found under the screen. The timer can be set to 90, 60, and 30 minutes, and it also includes a handy remote control.
Pros
- It comes with a large selection of sounds
- The unit has a reasonable footprint and a large volume range
- You can control the tone easily to your preferred setting
Cons
- The volume control only a couple of settings, so you can go from too soft to too loud in one step
- The remote control is very hard to use