How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a comfortable, corded headband that plays your own audio all night long and softens the room around you, choose SleepPhones AcousticSheep Classic; if you need maximum passive noise reduction that shuts out snoring, traffic and loud neighbors with a reusable silicone earplug, choose Exopine 55dB.
• SleepPhones AcousticSheep Classic — biggest strength: a machine-washable headband with ultra-thin flat speakers and built-in volume/play-pause controls, so you can lie on your side and fall asleep to music, podcasts or sleep sounds without earbuds digging in.
• SleepPhones AcousticSheep Classic — biggest trade-off: it is a wired 3.5 mm headphone with no active noise control — it softens ambient sound, but it will not cancel a snorer the way an earplug does.
• Exopine 55dB — biggest strength: up to 55dB of passive noise reduction from soft silicone earplugs, aimed squarely at side sleepers, snoring partners, flights and concerts.
• Exopine 55dB — biggest trade-off: it makes no sound at all. It blocks noise; it does not play music, podcasts or guided sleep audio.
• Who each is for: pick SleepPhones if you want to listen as you drift off; pick Exopine if you want to silence the room.
The SleepPhones Classic is, at heart, a pair of headphones disguised as a headband. Two ultra-thin flat speakers sit inside a soft fabric band that you pull over your ears. Because the speakers are flat rather than round, they don't press into your ear when you roll onto your side — which is the whole point. The 48-inch braided cord plugs into a standard 3.5 mm jack, so it works with a phone, tablet, MP3 player, radio, CD player, computer or a dedicated white-noise machine. Volume and play/pause controls live on the cord, so you can adjust things without hunting for your phone in the dark.
On noise, be realistic. The spec sheet lists noise control: None. SleepPhones are not an active-noise-cancelling product. What they do is physically cover the ear with a soft layer of fabric while delivering your audio right at the ear, which masks ambient sound — a partner's breathing, a distant road, a fan — far better than a bare speaker would. That's "blocking out ambient noise without earplugs," as the brand frames it, and it's a masking effect rather than true isolation.
In my opinion, SleepPhones suits the person who already falls asleep to something: an audiobook, a sleep playlist, a meditation track, a podcast. The brand notes the headphones were developed by a family physician to help patients fall asleep without drugs, and that downloadable sleep-sound tracks are part of the ecosystem. It also lands well for tinnitus sufferers and shift workers who want audio at the ear without an earbud jammed into the canal. Size and fabric matter: it comes in S, M and L, in Fleece or moisture-wicking Breeze fabric (this model is Nighttide Navy in Breeze, size Medium), all 95% polyester / 5% spandex. Medium fits most people, and it's machine washable. There's a limited one-year warranty.
Exopine 55dB: Who It's For
The Exopine 55dB is the opposite tool. It's a pair of reusable silicone earplugs rated for up to 55dB of noise reduction, and the brand claims they block out roughly 90% of noise. That's the number that matters here: this is a passive noise blocker built for the loud stuff — snoring partners, city traffic, neighbors, turbulent flights, concerts. If your goal is silence rather than sound, this is the category to be in.
Comfort is the design brief. The plugs use ultra-soft silicone with an ergonomic shape aimed at side sleepers and all-night wear, which is exactly where traditional foam plugs fail — they expand, press and fall out. Exopine claims 30% more comfort than ordinary plugs and cites that 91% of users report better sleep quality; treat those as manufacturer claims, not something I can verify, but the design intent — soft silicone, low profile, side-sleep friendly — is the right one for overnight use.
The interesting spec detail is the frequency filtering: the plugs are described as reducing loud, disruptive noise while preserving important sounds like alarms, baby cries, music and conversation. That's a meaningful distinction for parents, light sleepers and musicians who want protection without going fully deaf to the room. There's no electronics, no battery, no pairing — just insert and go.
Practicalities: they're washable and reusable, with the brand claiming performance holds up after 100 washes, and they ship with a carry case. The material is silicone with an ABS component, they're black, and they come as 1 pair. They're tiny — about 1.65 x 1.65 x 0.47 inches and just over an ounce — so they disappear into a bag or pocket.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for actually blocking loud noise → Exopine 55dB. Up to 55dB of reduction versus no noise control at all on the SleepPhones.
• Best for listening to music, podcasts or sleep audio in bed → SleepPhones AcousticSheep Classic. Flat speakers, cord controls, 3.5 mm jack.
• Best for side sleepers → both, for different reasons. SleepPhones because the flat speakers don't press into your ear; Exopine because the silicone is shaped for all-night side sleeping.
• Best for snoring partners and noisy apartments → Exopine 55dB. This is its core use case.
• Best for tinnitus masking and guided sleep tracks → SleepPhones AcousticSheep Classic. It delivers audio at the ear without an in-canal plug.
• Best for travel and concerts → Exopine 55dB. Compact, cased, reusable, no cord to tangle.
• Best for a washable, wearable design → SleepPhones AcousticSheep Classic. Machine-washable fabric band in three sizes and two fabrics.
• Best for zero charging and zero setup → Exopine 55dB. No battery, no pairing, no wire.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the Exopine 55dB. Here's my reasoning: the word "noise blocking" is the whole brief, and only one of these two products is actually built for it. SleepPhones are a lovely idea and I'd recommend them without hesitation to someone who needs audio in bed — but they list no noise control, and masking is not the same as reducing 55dB. If your sleep is being wrecked by sound, the earplugs solve that problem directly, cost less to own over time since they're reusable, and work anywhere. If, on the other hand, your wind-down ritual needs sound rather than silence, flip the pick and take the SleepPhones Classic.
how to block out noise with headphones
For headphone-style blocking, you either need active noise cancellation or a design that seals or covers the ear. SleepPhones Classic uses neither active cancellation nor a sealed tip — it covers the ear with fabric and masks sound with your own audio, and its spec sheet lists noise control as none. For real reduction, a passive earplug like the Exopine 55dB (rated up to 55dB) is the more direct answer.
are there noise cancelling headphones for sleeping
There are, but the two products here take different routes. SleepPhones Classic is a sleep headband headphone with no active noise cancellation — it's for comfort and audio, not isolation. Exopine 55dB is a silicone earplug rated for up to 55dB of passive noise reduction, designed for all-night and side-sleeping use. So yes, but decide whether you want to hear something or hear nothing.
is it safe to wear noise cancelling headphones while sleeping
The main practical concerns with overnight wear are pressure on the ear and whether you'll still hear an alarm. SleepPhones Classic avoids in-ear pressure entirely because the flat speakers sit in a fabric band, and Exopine says its filtering preserves alarms, baby cries and conversation while cutting disruptive noise. Use common sense, follow each product's instructions, and check with a doctor if you have ear or hearing conditions.
what are the best noise cancelling sleep headphones
I can't crown a universal winner, but I can map it: if you want maximum noise blocking, the Exopine 55dB earplug is the stronger choice on the numbers. If you want to fall asleep listening to audio in comfort, the SleepPhones AcousticSheep Classic headband fits better. Check the current price on Amazon for each and pick based on whether you need silence or sound.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: ACAGET True vs ACANDYA 5.3: HIFI Stereo Earbuds, JBL Tune Buds vs Jxrev Earbuds: Bluetooth Headphones, Xmenha Nude Sleep Hidden vs Yeforu Invisible, Linsoul KZ AS10 vs SONY WH-CH720N: Studio Monitor Headphones