review – I reviewed a Early Versions of Sleep Phone Love them about 18 months ago. Can AcousticSheep “make a better mousetrap” for their already impressive product? Ah ah ah ah ah! …
What is it?
SleepPhones are Bluetooth wireless earphones wrapped in a soft, comfortable, stretchy headband.
Hardware Specifications
- Bluetooth®: 5.0 AAC Receiver
- Micro-USB charging and headphone socket
- Wireless Range: 15-30 feet (5-10 meters)
- Rechargeable battery: full charge lasts 24 hours
- Charging time: 4 hours via micro-USB cable (included)
- Frequency range: 20Hz-20kHz
- Fabric: 95% Polyester, 5% Spandex, Preshrunk, No Pilling
- Compliance: Compliant with CE, RoHS, FCC standards
- Security: Ultra-low power, safe RF transmission
- Limited Warranty
- Made in the USA with globally sourced components
- Fleece and Breeze headband provided.
What’s in this box?
- scarf
- Bluetooth receiver
- Ear “speaker” with micro USB connection (included in headband)
- Micro-USB charging cable
- user’s manual
Design and Features
In September 2020, I reviewed previous versions of Sleepphones here and like them very much. I’ve used them almost every night since then. They held up well, were still comfortable, and sounded as good as the day I took them out of the box. Of all the products I’ve reviewed, Sleep Phone is the one I use the most – all night, every night.
The previous version of Sleepphones lasted an entire night, plus a few more hours. On the rare occasion that I forget to put the receiver module on the charger, I can plan for 8 hours one night, then three or four hours the next night for a total of 12 or 13 hours, compared to the 10 hour spec . I didn’t observe any drop in battery life. The only issues I’ve had is that the headset USB connector has very little wear (it still works) and the foam pad on the back of the bluetooth receiver is a little sticky but easy to clean.
Think about it…a pair of earphones, crushed to pieces by a heavy skull, rolled like a road roller on a sturdy pillow (I’m a very restless sleeper), used for 8+ hours a night, plugged and unplugged 18 a day months they still Work the same as they did on day one. Why don’t all headphones do this well?
As 2022 rolls around, the folks at AcousticSheep have launched a new Sleepphones that have all the features of the previous version, but with Bluetooth 5.0, battery life has been significantly improved. I ran four days of testing and found the battery life far exceeded the 24-hour spec. Playing audio at low to medium volume, my stopwatch clocked an impressive 41 hours! No other wireless headset I’ve owned comes close. In addition to being already foldable and compact, there’s no need to carry an extra USB charger for multi-day trips, making SleepPhones ideal for travel. For those who only use Sleepphones for a few hours a day, I can imagine more than a week between charges. Spectacular!
The packaging is safe and reliable.
Charging takes about 4 hours with the help of a micro-USB socket. The headphone “speakers” share the same socket.
A red LED, visible through the receiver’s gray rubber body, glows red during charging and turns off when charging is complete. The same LEDs flash about every four seconds when connected, and flash rapidly during pairing.
The controls on the receiver are the same as in previous versions. Up and down arrow buttons change volume and double tap to advance or rewind tracks. The center button turns the receiver on and off, plays and pauses tracks, and initiates pairing.
Less time tethered to the charger is required, and I imagine there will be less stress on the Bluetooth receiver and headphone connector, which should extend the life of all components and the headband.
Another improvement is the inclusion of a Velcro strip to seal the opening for inserting and unplugging the receiver and, if needed, the speaker. I frequently roll over in my sleep and have observed on rare occasions (twice in 18 months) that the receiver in previous versions may partially disengage from the headband. Although the receiver never fully came out, adding velcro should eliminate that possibility. It also secures the receiver inside the headband, reducing peripheral movement. During my week with the new version, the receiver didn’t budge.
As with earlier versions, the headband is washable after removing the receiver and speakers.
In my tests, I was able to move my home about 35 feet from the Bluetooth source iPhone 12 Pro and stay connected without dropping calls.
The sound is as good as the previous version. For some of my evaluations, I enjoy listening to a variety of playlists, which include classical, rock, and vocal selections. For long listening sessions, Sleepphones are unrivaled in comfort. That being said, fleece headbands are very warm, so consider your options if you prefer something cooler or use them while jogging on a hot afternoon. When it comes to exercise, few earphones can match the safety of Sleepphones—because they wrap around the user’s head and stay in place even during the most strenuous activities.
Of course, the beauty of SleepPhones is sleep. They are uniquely designed to remain comfortable regardless of the wearer’s position. I’m a side sleeper and can probably put as much weight as possible on the flat panel speakers without discomfort, which is all the more impressive since I use an incredibly hard pillow. Still, after eight hours of sleep, I didn’t experience the same “ear fatigue” that I do with other over-ear headphones.
Special thanks to my wife’s model!
what do I like
- Great battery life!
- crazy comfortable
- Washable headband
- good voice
what would i change
- A little pricey, but worth it!
final thoughts
There are a lot of sleep headphones out there, and I’ve used them a lot. No one has as long battery life or comfort, durability or sound as SleepPhones. I want to thank them for so many sleepy nights, I love them so much! Thank you, AcousticSheep!
Price: $99.95
where to buy: sleep phone and Amazon
resource: Samples for this review provided by AcousticSheep.
