Do Bose Sleepbuds Block Out Snoring? (Explained)

Being unable to get some sleep due to background noise is an issue for many people, especially light sleepers. Some people are so loud that even white noise machines won’t block the snoring.

Because of this noise problem, Bose decided to make this product.

It costs more than your regular earbuds, so is it good as advertised?

Bose Sleepbuds and their Noise-Canceling Qualities:

The Bose Sleepbuds were designed to help you reduce unwanted noise while you sleep. It uses passive noise-canceling to block out any noise that may disturb you. The Bose Sleepbuds also has an app that features around 50 sounds to help you drown out the noise, combined with passive noise canceling.

Are the Sleepbuds II Better at Blocking Snoring?

The Sleepbuds II does a great job of blocking snoring and other noise in your environment, but there may be some noise that it can suppress but not block entirely. 

You can expect that the Sleepbuds II may block honking cars on the street or people talking loudly near your window. The Sleepbuds II feature passive noise canceling, which already does an excellent job in blocking out noise.

On top of that, the Bose Sleep app also assists you in tuning out outside noise by letting you play different relaxing sounds. 

This app features two categories that help you relax. The Naturescapes sounds feature earthly sounds, such as rain and other calming sounds that you hear from nature.

There’s also a Tranquilities sound selection featuring soothing music selections for those who prefer sleeping with music.

These sounds from Bose are preloaded on the Sleepbuds II, and if you need more sounds, you can then check the app.

Can You Use the Sleepbuds II for other Listening Purposes?

Unfortunately, you can’t use the Sleepbuds II for other listening purposes, such as podcasts or music.

It can alert you of any incoming phone calls, but you cannot use it to take any calls. 

Are the Bose Sleepbuds II Worth the Money?

The Sleepbuds II costs around $250 per pair, which can be steep, considering what it can and cannot do. 

For one, the Sleepbuds II provides superb passive sound isolation, thanks to its design. It stays in place when you sleep, so you don’t miss out on alarms or essential calls. 

The Sleepbuds II allows you to divert your phone’s alarm and call alerts to the earbuds. If you’re waiting for an urgent call or need to wake up at a particular time without disturbing people in the room, the Sleepbuds II will come in handy for this purpose. 

While call alerts are diverted to your headphones, unfortunately, you cannot use them for calls. That means having to take off your earbuds before answering the call. 

And while the Sleepbuds II is known for good sound isolation, it can only go as far as playback sounds and relaxing music from the Bose Sleep app and alerting you. If you curate a Spotify playlist to help you with this, unfortunately, the Sleepbuds II doesn’t work with other apps.

Is it Worth the Money?

Many have said that the Sleepbuds II helped them get back eight hours of sleep.

The Sleepbuds II is worth the money you will shell out for anyone who has difficulty sleeping at night. 

However, if getting to sleep isn’t a common issue for you, then it might not be worth it. 

Is it Recommended to Use Earbuds to Block out Snoring?

Earbuds are a good option for blocking noise, but it’s best to use true wireless earbuds to avoid accidental strangling. 

Remember, not all earbuds are made equal. In the same manner, all ears are unique. 

To get an effective noise cancelation to block snoring, you must get earbuds with a good fit. Every earbud you buy on the market comes with at least three (3) silicon ear tips of different sizes. 

Choose a pair of ear tips that fits you best without hurting or your earbuds falling due to the improper fit. You want to block noise from entering your ears, so you should first block sound from entry. 

Earbuds often have passive noise cancelation due to their tiny size when compared to headphones. That’s why you need to block sound, whether snoring or chatting with people, right at the entry point. 

If blocking entry points for noise still doesn’t work, try adding white noise or any other relaxing sound to help you eliminate noise. 

Are Earbuds More Effective than Earplugs?

Unfortunately, earbuds are not as effective as earplugs when blocking out noise. 

One reason to note why earplugs are better is the material. Earbuds only have a thin layer of silicon, while earplugs use thicker rubber foam or layers of silicon. 

Are Headphones Better at Blocking Snoring?

Headphones, particularly over-ear and closed-back headphones, do a better job in blocking snoring. 

The ear cups of these headphones provide near-total isolation of the ears by cupping the ear inside the headphones.

This design allows for more isolation of noise. 

When active noise cancelation is also incorporated into the design of the headphones, they do a better job in reducing snoring and other noise by picking up the noise and playing out of phase to eliminate any external sounds. 

While headphones do a better job, it’s also not the best option for sleeping.

While you can use them during long flights, their bulky design isn’t exactly ideal when sleeping on a bed. 

Does Noise-Cancellation Work Against Snoring?

Noise cancelation is an excellent solution to block snoring and you get better results when using active noise canceling. 

Unlike passive noise canceling on earbuds, active noise cancelation picks up noise from your surroundings and plays it back out of phase to cancel any sounds. 

What Are the Best EARPLUGS to Block out Snoring?

If you’re looking for earplugs to help you get some sleep, here are some suggestions. 

1. Flents Quiet Please Earplugs:

The Flents Quiet Please Earplugs are disposable foam earplugs that many swear by for their effectiveness in preventing noise.

These earplugs feature sides on their cylindrical foam. They were designed to lie flat on the ear opening and are ideal for side sleepers.

These earplugs are known for being malleable and can adapt to many ear canal sizes, and while they provide good sound isolation, some people noted that they could sometimes put pressure on your ears.

2. Howard Leight Max-1 Foam Earplugs:

The Howard Leight Max-1 Foam Earplugs are suited for people with wide ear canals, thanks to their bell shape, allowing for better sound isolation.

These earplugs have a high noise reduction, as they were also designed for people who frequent loud environments, such as construction sites. If you have neighbors who love to party at night in their homes, these would be an excellent choice to get some shut-eye.

Unfortunately, these earplugs are for single-use, like others made of foam.

3. Mack’s Pillow Soft Silicone Putty Earplugs:

The Mack’s Pillow Soft Silicone Putty Earplugs are not the standard earplugs that shut ear canals.

These putty earplugs instead cover the outer opening of your ear and work best for people who find irritation when using the traditional foam earplugs.

As these earplugs cover the outer opening of your ears, you can expect muffling from constant background noises. It might shut snoring, but you’ll wake up from a sudden balloon pop.

These earplugs mold to the shape of one’s ear-opening, which makes them quite comfortable to have one.

You can also use these earplugs for other applications, such as during flights, and swimming, since the Putty Earplugs are made of water-resistant material.

4. Hearprotek Sleeping Earplugs:

The Hearprotek Sleeping Earplugs is an innovative and reusable pair of earplugs.

It uses air pockets between layers of silicone to improve soundproofing.

The silicone used for these earplugs is washable, so you can keep on using them until they wear out. Each pair of earplugs comes with a carrying case and an attachment for your bag for quick access.

You can use them for sleeping or when out on the field for work.

5. Ohropax Classic Wax Earplugs:

Ohropax Classic Wax Earplugs are moldable earplugs made of cotton and wax, which seal the outer ear opening.

While these earplugs are comfortable with their moldable state, some people tend to find these earcups sticky. If you use them for sleeping, it might pose a problem for those with longer hair.

One good thing to note about these earplugs is their reusability.

Over time, they make a sustainable solution, especially for those with smaller ear canals that need a better and tighter fit for earplugs.

6. Radians Custom Molded Earplugs:

Unlike other moldable earplugs, the Radians Customs are different.

These molded earplugs are permanent, which means you need to be careful when molding them. If you’re familiar with clay epoxy, the Radians work similarly, as they have two components and only harden when mixed.

It cures within 10 minutes, and like epoxy, you need to work fast in kneading the clay.

The result is an effective earplug that fits your ears and can be reused by washing.

7. Amazfit Zenbuds:

If anything can match the Bose Sleepbuds, it’s got to be the Amazfit Zenbuds.

While they do the same thing and have the same limitations, the Zenbuds also have added features.

First, the Zenbuds has added content in its library for meditation and comes with a breathing program that helps you improve your relaxation skills.

It also features a sensor inside the earbuds that detects if you’ve fallen asleep. Once you fall asleep, the Zenbuds shut down to save on battery life.

Aside from sleep sensors, the Zenbuds also help track your sleeping habits and even your heart rate.

The Zenbuds are also cheaper by around $100, depending on where you buy them.

Final Thoughts

Devices such as the Bose Sleepbuds II and the Amazfit Zenbuds are good tools to help you block out noise while trying to sleep.

If you find yourself having major trouble sleeping because of noise, then consider investing in these products.

If you think these devices are pricey, then consider other alternatives listed here.

Sources:

Bose Sleepbuds 2 review: How much is a good night’s rest worth?

The Best Headphones and Earbuds For Sleeping in 2021

The Best Earplugs for Sleeping