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Overview
The AcousticSheep SleepPhones are very comfortable headphones to use in bed. I’ve been able to lie on my side or front with no problem for many hours when using them.
The maximum volume, bass, and overall audio quality doesn’t match high-end traditional headphones. This is to be expected considering the speakers are flat, padded, and encased in fabric. However, I find I can comfortably enjoy podcasts and relaxing music, which is all I want when falling asleep.
Pros
- Comfortable in all sleep positions.
- Bluetooth connection.
- Headband controls for power, volume, track, play, and stop.
- Soft and breathable fabric.
- 12+ battery life.
- Good noise isolation.
- Machine washable exterior fabric.
Cons
- No active noise cancellation.
- Need to adjust the speaker position sometimes.
- Pricey for the headband style ($99 to $149).
If you’d like to try them, you can get a 10% discount on the official SleepPhones website with my promo code NSN10
Full review
Please note that this article is not a word for word transcript of my video above. I’ve organised it to be easier to find the information you might be most interested in. I’ve also added some extra points I’ve discovered since filming.
Tackling the problem of making headphones comfortable to use in bed
In my experience, even the most expensive headphones aren’t always comfortable to use in bed. This is particularly evident with headphones that are larger because they have active noise cancellation, larger speakers, and other tech inside the shell.
So it makes sense for companies to try and make soft, padded headphones that can be worn for hours in bed, and that side sleepers won’t complain about in the morning.
Strangely, there aren’t as many headphones made specifically for sleep as you’d think there would be by now. And there definitely aren’t as many good ones as I wish there were.
Interestingly, the company AcousticSheep was the brainchild of a physician, Dr. Wei-Shin Lai, who apparently struggled to sleep herself. So I was expecting the headphones to be designed with quality in mind, since the creator presumably planned on actually using them.
While I don’t think the SleepPhones will be right for everyone, for reasons I’ll explain later in this review, I personally liked them a lot.
In the photo below you can see the box my SleepPhones came in, the headband, and the charging cable:
The good points
1. Comfortable for sleeping in any position
Headphones designed specifically for sleep obviously need to be comfortable – ideally on your back, front or side. The AcousticSheep SleepPhones manage this by combining very flat speakers with just the right amount of padding.
Each speaker is sewn into a fabric patch, which is then slotted inside the headband. I’ve seen others that have flat speakers, but very little padding. So the additional padding here really makes a difference.
Sure, you can feel something between your ear and your pillow, but it’s padded enough, and flat enough, that it’s comfortable to fall asleep on your side.
And if you just lie on your back listening to music or using a device while relaxing, the soft headband design is very comfortable too.
In the photos below, you can see that the two speakers are flat and sewn into an inner padding section:
2. Good speaker quality
As often happens when I talk about headphones, the speakers appear in both the pros and cons!
In this case, the main positive is that the company has used decent speakers in terms of their overall quality. While they may not have incredible volume or bass, they are clear enough, which is the main thing for me personally.
I like to listen to podcasts at night or relaxing music. So I look out for key points like how clear male and female voices sound, if I can hear the full range of music, if bass distorts, and if you get an overall feeling of stereo sound.
For me, the SleepPhones speakers tick all those boxes. The sound quality is clean and full enough to enjoy in bed. And I felt no bass distortion when using my Samsung S10 to play heavy rock and electronic music, even on maximum volume.
3. Breathable fabric
When I first took them out of the box, I mistakenly guessed that the fabric is a micro-mesh. I’m still not sure where that idea came from! After doing some research, it turns out AcousticSheep call the fabric ‘Breeze’. It’s 95% polyester and 5% spandex.
It means the headband is stretchy, and I didn’t find it overheated in the night. I think it helps that they appear to have only included as much fabric as necessary rather than some other makes which have a lot more fabric.
Importantly, I found that the fabric didn’t leave any marks on my skin in the morning. Some headbands do leave marks, especially those with a control unit that sits right on top of your forehead.
I think it helps that the SleepPhones were designed with the control and power module on the back of your head. It’s also very thin like the speakers, and bendy, so I could hardly feel it between my head and the pillow.
Note that you can also get a fleece version, which will be softer and warmer in the winter if you like that style.
4. Works wirelessly with Bluetooth
The SleepPhones work via Bluetooth, so they are compatible with many modern smartphones, tablets, and other devices.
I found it was simple to connect to my phone by holding the center button on the control module and linking it in my phone’s Bluetooth settings. Over the course of a week, I didn’t have a single connectivity problem, which is good news.
The main plus is that it means you don’t have a cable connecting from your headphones to your audio device on a nightstand. If you need to get out of bed, you don’t need to take the headphones off or unplug them, as you would do with a wired version.
They say it takes three hours to fully charge them and you’ll then get up to 10 hours usage. I found in two hours there was enough charge to last 7-8 hours. And if you only listen to them for a short while each night before taking them off to go to sleep, they will last for several days.
Update: the latest version, released since I made the video, now charges in two hours and lasts up to 12 hours.
Charging cable
Note that they come with a decent length USB to mico-USB charging cable. There’s no power adaptor though, so you need to provide a USB outlet.
You have to pull out the main module to charge them, which is slightly inconvenient. But it’s quick enough to be forgivable considering it means there are no exposed connection points on the external part of the headband.
5. Audio control unit in the headband
Below, you can see the control unit, which is used to change settings without using your audio device and to charge it:
The headband has a control module with three buttons. You can use it to change the volume, change tracks, and stop and play music on your audio device.
The module is flat and bendy so it can contour to your head while you lie in bed. It’s not fixed in place though, so I found you sometimes need a couple of seconds to locate the module in the dark and then find the right buttons as they are relatively small.
It’s a little fiddly, but it’s good that you can control some settings without needing to grab your device and turn the screen light on. Personally, I tend to just set my device how I like and then forget about it. But some people will appreciate having controls right there in the headband.
6. Machine washable headband
The headband can be washed in a machine, which is great if you use it regularly. You need to take the module and two speakers out, which takes a minute.
Putting them back again took me a couple of minutes as the opening to slot them back into the headband is quite tight, and you need to wriggle each piece along the headband into the position you want it.
The wire and connections seem robust enough. However, it makes me slightly nervous having to regularly tease the components in and out of place.
If you’re going to lie on them night after night, which naturally risks damaging them over time through normal wear and tear, I think it’s a good idea to be extra careful with the part you can control – removing the components.
Having said that, I’ve removed them and replaced them several times now and there’s no sign of damage yet. The headband itself has also survived several washes and looks fine, with no fraying of the stitching or shrinking.
Criticisms
1. No active noise cancellation
The AcousticSheep SleepPhones don’t have active noise cancellation. To be fair, I haven’t found any dedicated sleep headphones that do.
But if you’re used to high-end noise-canceling headphones, and you’re hoping to block out a snoring partner or noisy neighbors, you might wonder where all the sound blocking went.
The SleepPhones will definitely block out some noise because they put music right next to your ears, and the fabric will also help cut out a little. It just won’t be as effective as using noise-canceling headphones.
2. The speakers and module aren’t fixed in place
The headband is hollow, with two speakers and a control module inside, each connected by a short cable. There are no pockets sewn into the headband to keep them in place, which means they can move around.
On the plus side, you can adjust the speakers so they lie directly over your ears. But it also means that if you change position in the night a lot, they might move around inside the headband and occasionally need readjusting.
The control unit also sometimes moves about a bit, meaning that the buttons aren’t always going to be in exactly the same position on your headband when you try to find them with your eyes closed in the dark.
Personally, I didn’t really mind this as I can understand the usefulness in choosing where you want each component to sit. But I imagine some people would prefer them to be kept in position.
Having said all that, I have found that with other headbands that have pockets, it’s much more fiddly to work the speakers back into their positions when you put them back in after washing. So there is that.
3. They aren’t budget headphones
At the time of writing, the wireless version costs $99.95 and the cordless classic version is $39.95.
So even though there are more expensive sleep headphones, like the DubsLabs for example, there are also considerably cheaper.
The SleepPhones look smart, with good stitching and excellent padding for the speakers in comparison to cheaper headphones like the Lavince.
But the price could still be an issue for some people, depending on your budget and how much you want to spend just on sleep headphones.
How they compare to other headphones
Below, you can see how the Sleepphones compare to some standard headphones and another budget headband.
In the video review, I demonstrate how five other headphones compare to use in bed. Here’s a summary of my thoughts:
Lavince
The Lavince are much cheaper and also louder, but the design isn’t so attractive and the padding isn’t as comfortable for side sleepers. Personally, I dislike the control module on the forehead.
Dubslabs
The DubsLabs Bedphones sound better generally in my opinion. But I didn’t find them so comfortable when sleeping on my side because of the stiff wire that goes over your ears.
AKG N20
My AKGs are comfortable, small in-ear headphones with better sound quality than the SleepPhones. But the SleepPhones are more comfortable on my side, and don’t fall out when I move.
Bose Quiet Comfort 20i
These have amazing sound quality and excellent noise cancelling. If you’re a back sleeper, I’d recommend them. But the earbuds are huge, so they are impractical for side sleepers.
Avantree
These are fairly standard large over-ear headphones with decent noise cancellation. They are okay if you sleep on your back and barely move. But really, no over-ear headphones are particularly comfortable to use in bed except for relaxation before you fall asleep.
Warranty
AcousticSheep has a one year limited warranty and will repair parts that aren’t damaged by misuse. They also have a returns policy, but it’s not clear if it’s a no questions asked policy if you don’t like the headphones, or if it’s only for problems like choosing the wrong size headband.
If you’re out of the warranty period, they do sell individual parts on their website so you can replace them for less than the price of buying another one.
Hopefully, it’s not the core module you’ll need to replace though, as that alone costs $79.95. In comparison, a new headband will cost $19.95 if you accidentally shrink it in the wash.
Specifications
Here are some key specifications and points from the SleepPhones website and instructions:
- Plug: Micro-USB plug
- Impedance: 32 Ω
- Frequency: 20-20 kHz
- Power: 300/500 mW
- Compliance: Eco-friendly RoHS compliant (lead-free)
- Fabric: 95% polyester, 5% spandex
- Warranty: one year limited
- Sizes: small, medium and large (sizing chart on their website)
Verdict
Whenever I see headphones described as being good for sleep, I always think of side sleepers first.
In theory, any headphones can be used while you lie on your back – even those with giant over-ear cups (as long as you don’t move your head much).
What headphones really need to do is allow you to either sleep on your side intentionally, or feel like you can fall asleep safely on your back without waking up later with your ears hurting because you rolled onto your side.
The AcousticSheep Sleepphones do allow you to relax in bed knowing that you can comfortably lie on your side, so in that respect, they tick the most important box for me. And to date, they are the best headphones I’ve found if you’re a side sleeper.
When it comes to all the other factors you’d expect from headphones, it’s less obvious how good they are. You can’t compare them with high-end Sony or Bose headphones when it comes to speaker quality, noise cancellation, bass, features and design for example. But they do still perform better than other fabric headphones I’ve used.
So overall, I think side sleepers and anyone who plans on falling asleep listening to music will make the best use of these. If you’re just relaxing in bed on your back and plan to remove your headphones before going to sleep, you might prefer to stick with traditional headphones though.
Where to buy
The Sleepphones are available on the company’s website – Sleepphones.com. If you use my promo code NSN10, you can get a discount of 10%.
You can also find them on Amazon.