The listening reference Listening guide
How to choose a sleep sound
A short listening routine to help you compare wind, rain, fan noise, and water without changing several things at once.
Compare the recordings
Taptanium publishes this guide and makes every app featured in it. These are our editorial picks for different listening preferences.
- Recorded wind A textured wash of wind with a slow rise and fall.
- Recorded fan An even mechanical wash from a recorded fan.
- Coastal waves Waves gather, break, and draw away again.
1. Pick one steady sound and one moving sound
Start with a recorded fan and compare it with wind or surf. Notice which one you can leave in the background while you read or rest. The clips have the same duration and gentle fades, while their sound levels and textures reflect their sources.
2. Use the device you will actually listen on
Compare on your usual speaker or headphones at a comfortable, low level. Stereo headphones reveal spatial detail in binaural recordings. If you usually use a speaker, make your final decision on that speaker.
3. Decide when it should stop
If you want a wind-down routine, try setting a timer and fade-out. If you want a continuous background, check the native app’s playback settings. These previews end at 30 seconds.