If you work in an office setup, you know how frustrating the job can get. From meeting deadlines, attending office meeting, reporting to your superiors, to guiding your juniors, it never gets easier.
Besides, office setups are often characterized with excessive noise. Noise has been proven as a leading cause in stress, employee frustration and dissatisfaction.
According to a study published the American Institute of Stress, 80% of US workers are victims of work related stress, with 25% affirming that their jobs are the main stressors in their lives. Even worse, 76% of American workers report that work related stress significantly affects their personal relationship.
Further research shows the use of a white noise machine in an office setup helps with the following benefits.
- Reduces conversational distractions by up to 51%
- 48% increase in workers focus on their tasks
- 27% decrease in physics stress symptoms
- 10% performance increase
What Is the Best White Noise Machine for Office?
The best white noise machine for office is the Marpac Dohm White Noise Machine. It comes with a fan-based natural noise that creates soothing sounds that do not disturb the moving air.
With the two-speed setting, you can customize the background noise’s volume and tone to your liking. The machine has a solid construction and will look great even placed on top of your work table.
You get a whole year of the limited warranty and can always get a new unit if the one you buy comes with any manufacturer defect. This is among the most user-friendly white noise machines you will find on the market.
By simply flipping the switch, you can alternate between high and low volume. The rotating cap and collar allow you to search for the sound you want.
Whether you are looking to sleep better or want some calming addition to your work station, the Marpac Dohm will deliver these and more. If Marpac Dohm White Noise Machine above doesn’t sound like the real deal to you, below are some great white noise machine for office and home.
What to consider when buying an office white noise machine
White noise machines are not created equal. As such, you need to have a few features in mind when shopping to ensure that the unit you take home is suitable for your office.
Sound Quality
Since you will be taking the noise machine in your workspace, you have to ensure that the sounds produced are not irritating, both to you and those around you.
Fortunately, most white noise machines come with quality sounds, so those who hear it enjoy its calming effect.
The best noise machines are quite versatile. They come with different sounds, allowing you enough variety for work and soothing sounds to fall asleep to after a long day in the office.
If possible, check the type of sounds in the noise machine you plan to buy. A machine filled with lullabies may not work so great at the office, so be sure that the sounds provided are what you would like to hear in the background as you work.
Volume
You should be careful to choose a noise machine that is not loud, as this can be damaging to your ears. A machine that allows you to easily adjust the volume as best as you can quickly set it to the lowest volume when you have to use it for a prolonged duration.
Power source
This will make sense when you have to work away from your work station. A good noise machine should come with a battery option so you can still use it even when there is no power.
USB compatible noise machines also make more sense for the office. Even if you sit at the furthest desk from the socket, you can keep your machine charged by connecting it to your computer.
Size
A good noise machine should be compact. This way, you can easily tuck it at the edge of your desk and never have to worry that the machine will take too much of your workspace.
Carrying a compact noise machine is also easy. Even if you have just one piece for your work and home office, you can easily fit the machine in your bag and take it wherever you go.
Other Features
Modern white noise machines are quite advanced and come with many desirable features. If yours is an open office, chances are that some of your colleagues may not like the sound you choose.
If you can get a machine with an earphone port, you can ensure that you do not distract anyone in the office. You may also find some machines with a night light perfect if you have trouble falling asleep in the dark.
Such machines are designed to ensure that you have a restful night.
There are noise machines with a memory feature. All you have to do is switch it on, and it will automatically start playing the previous sound.
1. Big Red Rooster Sound Machine
The Big Red Rooter machine comes with six soothing sounds: brook, rain, summer night, thunder, ocean, and white noise.
It is a great choice to lure you to sleep faster so you can wake up feeling refreshed.
This unit will also work well if you want something to block all that background noise in the office.
Since this unit comes with a battery option, you can take it with you wherever you go.
The other option is to plug the noise machine to a power source and use it for as long as you want.
This white noise machine also comes with an auto-off timer that you can use to set it at 15,30 and 60-minute intervals.
You can also choose to leave it running all day and night, especially if it is plugged into a power source.
2. Douni White Noise Machine
This Douni sleep machine comes with 24 soothing sounds that will leave you relaxed.
The sounds are divided into three categories: white noise, classical nature sounds, and fun sounds.
This unit will work great to block background noise, so you concentrate on your work.
It also comes in an aesthetically pleasing and portable design that is sure to blend well with your office furniture or décor.
Aside from this machine helping you concentrate better, it is also a great addition to your bedroom if you are looking forward to restful sleep.
You can choose to fall asleep to the sound of crickets, campfire, or even your favourite lullaby.
The Douni white machine is designed to support 35.mm earphones.
This way, it is possible to privately listen to the sounds without disrupting others.
3. Vanzon white noise machine
This Vanzon machine features 36 high-fidelity sounds. These include 18 relaxing nature sounds, 11 fan sounds, and seven white noise. The wide range of sounds makes this a versatile piece that will work great in an office and in a baby room.
Additionally, the unit is fitted with a soft night light to adjust to your preferred brightness. With the convenient timer function, you can set the time the machine will go off.
The white noise option is designed to automatically restore the previous sound, timer, and volume, so you do not have to always set it manually every time you turn the machine on.
It helps that this white noise machine is compact and portable. If you use the power storage function, you can use the unit whenever you travel or work outside your office.
4. Yogasleep Rohm Sound Masking Machine
This Yogasleep machine is portable, USB rechargeable, and comes with a lanyard so you can hang it with ease. The unit is also effective in masking noise that may distract you as you work or sleep.
With three soothing sound options, you get to determine whether you want the deep, bright, or gentle white noise.
The volume is also adjustable and ranges from a quiet whisper to a robust sound. Aside from its effectiveness, this white sound machine stands out for its compact size.
It is just 3.5 inches in diameter and weighs a meagre 3.8 ounces. It is also one of the few options that can run all night on just one charge.
If working in a remote area without any power connection, this machine will still deliver over 12 hours of continuous service. The manufacturer gives one year of limited warranty and customer service.
5. SonTech White Noise Machine
This Sontech machine comes with ten soothing sound options.
You can choose from white, pink, brown, and gray noise depending on what you want to achieve.
The noise machine is perfect if you are looking to create a disturbance-free environment.
Thanks to its ability to block all undesirable noise, this machine will work great in your office, home, dorm, or anywhere else you would like some peace of mind.
The SonTech noise machine also comes with soothing sound perfect when you want to easily put the baby to sleep. Since the machine is portable, you can easily carry it from your workstation to your baby’s room.
You can power your unit through a USB adapter or 4 AA batteries. With the USB cable, you can also keep it charged through your computer/laptop.
6. HomeLabs Noise Machine
This HomeLabs creation looks simple, but the machine is quite effective when it comes to noise cancellation.
It comes with eight different sounds, so you have enough variety to choose from.
You can plug it to a power source via an AC adapter or use the inbuilt lithium battery if working away from a power source to power the noise machine.
Since the unit is compact, you can simply throw it in your bag when going to work and take it home with you at the end of the day.
Thanks to the memory function, this noise machine saves the last noise you used, so you will not need to set it afresh every time you start the machine.
You can also set the timer in 15-30- and 60-minutes intervals.
7. Homedics White Sound Machine
With over 30,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, this affordable sound machine is ideal for children’s bedrooms. Since it may be powered by 4 AA batteries, it does not have to be near an outlet; nevertheless, it can be plugged in.
The power cable features an USB, or you may use it with the provided USB wall converter and a regular outlet. The machine is capable of producing six distinct sounds, however some users have complained being distracted by looping in the recordings.
“If you have neurologic disorders in which patterns drive you crazy, acquire a more costly machine,” one reviewer says. “It takes around five minutes for my brain to locate the loop in the rain pattern, after which I always hear it.”
The Homedics sound machine is smaller in height but wider in diameter and comes in three colors and resembles a UFO, with a few of little lights on top.
8. Dekala Arkenstone
The Dekala Arkenstone sound machine is an ingenious gadget that will make your office days brighter. As a white noise generator, the Arkenstone is equipped with 11 sound programs and five natural sounds. A voice command eliminates the need to fiddle with buttons or dials in the dark.
In addition, the Arkenstone offers a silent alarm. A gradient light may be tuned to a spectrum of millions of hues. With the alarm feature, the colors replicate a natural dawn to wake you up with light instead of a loud alarm. The Arkenstone may also be used for guided breathing, since it can be set to change color at specified intervals to indicate when to inhale and exhale. To activate the snooze function simply flip the device over.
You may connect the Arkenstone to the smart hub in your house. Given the device’s cutting-edge design and extensive set of features, its price tag is rather affordable. You have 30 nights to evaluate the Arkenstone before deciding whether to return it for a refund or to keep it. If you select the second option, you will also receive a two-year warranty.
Final Thoughts
Above are some of the best white noise machine for office. These are handy devices to have in your office, bedroom, nursery or even in your basement.
I’ve compiled a buyer guide to help you figure out specific features that you’d want in a white noise machine. However, if you still not sure which device is right for you, then choose- Marpac Dohm White Noise Machine.
References:
- https:// www.statesystemsinc.com/blog/office-white-noise-machines-boost-employee-productivity/
- h ttps://www.stress.org/workplace-stress
Meet Mike O’Connor, (a DIY enthusiast), living in Cincinnati, a city ranked as the noisiest in the USA.
As a work from home dad, I have a first hand experience of how noise can truly affect your well being.
Soundproofing isn’t something that should be taken as a hobby, it should be a skill that every homeowner should be equipped with.
Most of the work documented on this blog comes from purely first hand experience, and the products recommended work as indicated.