Noise can affect sleep for better or worse.

White noise machines that deliver just that - constant noise - fall squarely in the category of best for sleep.

Constant white noise, such as that produced by a machine, has been shown to improve sleep quality by helping to mask sudden bursts of noise and helping people stay asleep more easily.

A "white noise machine" makes sounds at variable volumes and features lights, automations, and more.

We tested the best ones with the goal of finding devices with a wide variety of sound options for light and heavy sleepers alike.

After two months, two were above the rest:

Best overall white noise machine: Sound + Sleep Mini (MX $ 1,581 at Amazon Mexico)

Sound quality and options

If you're looking for a plethora of sounds to calm you down and sleep on, the Sound + Sleep Mini will fit its 48 tracks into 12 categories ranging from standard white noise to ambient sounds like rain and wind.

It would be a lot to list the 48 individual sounds, but here are a few highlights: The fireplace inspired the same warm and inviting vibe you get in a room.

Crickets in light rain filled the space with a medley of natural sounds, transporting us to a relaxing evening outdoors.

All the soundscapes under the "Crowd" category reminded us of when we could go out to a cafe with a laptop and work there.

Speaking of worldliness, some other sound machines we tested had somewhat short soundtracks where you can recognize where the loop is resetting.

Sometimes detecting that little glitch by listening when a soundscape was reset made it harder for us to relax.

With the Sound + Sleep Mini, we never recognized those repeats.

This machine has a speaker on the top, so the sound goes directionally upwards.

Thanks to its comparatively wider volume gradient, we were able to easily choose the precise noise intensity we preferred.

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The device also features an adaptive sound mode, in which a built-in microphone detects ambient sounds and increases the volume in an attempt to cover them.

We tested this by clapping close to the machine, then further away, and finally, while people were chatting loudly in the next room.

We only noticed a significant volume change when the sounds originated from the same room as the machine.

So if you have a noisy roommate, this might help.

Sound quality is decent.

It sounds good in high and low tones, which helped our immersion a lot once we closed our eyes and listened to each track.

It handled the tracks better than most of the others we tested.

The Sound + Sleep Mini, as its name suggests, is a compact device, with an asymmetrical teardrop shape and a flat top, on which the speaker resides.

Like most of the sound machines we tested, it's easy to set up.

All you have to do is plug the power cord into the bottom of the machine and then plug it in.

Alternatively, you can insert 4 AA batteries under a bottom panel.

It is also available in black.

More sound machine options

They have a timer with 30, 60 and 90 minute options that will gradually reduce the volume as it nears its end.

It's not a feature we often notice, as we were asleep before it kicked in.

The LED lights on the device also dim so you are not distracting.

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On the side near the controls there are two audio ports: one is for input if you want to use the Mini as a speaker.

The other is a headphone jack, a feature we wish more machines would include.

With this option, you can immerse yourself even more in the audio of your choice.

Sound quality is even slightly better with headphones on if you have a decent pair.

Overall, the Sound + Sleep Mini has everything you want in a sound machine.

It comes with a multitude of soundtracks, expansive volume control, and a snooze timer.

In terms of design, it's a stylish piece that will go well on your nightstand with controls you'll learn in an instant.

How we test

To really control the capabilities of each machine, we take notes on settings, listen to every soundtrack, press every button and control, examine the overall design, observe and test additional features, and research warranties.

We then compare and contrast these features to find the best of the best.

Naturally, our first step was established.

Out of the box, we wanted to know how easy (or difficult) it was to get each machine up and running.

This included cable management, battery insertion, and app settings.

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Once the devices were working, we dove into our category of sound options.

Variety was important to us - how many unique sounds can each sound machine make, and how many categories were there?

As we listened to each other, we also noticed the quality of the sound.

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Note: The above prices reflect the price at the time of publication of the article.