bluetooth earbuds to sleep to

June 15, 2023 8:56 PM

I have been using cheap wired earbuds to listen to podcasts to help me get to sleep for many years now, but my new phone no longer has a wired connection. In the past over the ear headphones have been a bit too bulky and I would drop little airpod-type headphones behind my headboard far too often. What is a listening device that would work for me to fall asleep with but wouldn't get lost?
posted by crossswords to Health & Fitness (21 answers total)

Get a set of "Magnetic Anti-Lost Straps for AirPods,Colorful Soft Silicone Sports Lanyard, Neck Rope Cord."
posted by dum spiro spero at 8:59 PM on June 15, 2023

Best answer: I got myself one of these ugly headbands and I couldn’t be happier with it. All the earbuds I tried falling asleep with before hurt and this thing is perfect for falling asleep to podcasts.
posted by ttyn at 9:00 PM on June 15, 2023 [14 favorites]

Best answer: This is my solution (WARNING! 100,000+ word answer to a different but somewhat similar question).

TL;DR is Soundcore Anker Life U2 Bluetooth Neckband Headphones with 24 H Playtime
posted by flug at 9:09 PM on June 15, 2023

+1 the headband ttyn linked. I've gone through 2 or 3 of them in the past five years (the batteries eventually die and aren't easily replaceable), but that's okay since they're twenty bucks a pop.
posted by Alterscape at 9:21 PM on June 15, 2023 [1 favorite]

Nthing the headbands ttyn linked to. There are a few other brands with similar products, but these have the thinnest headphone, making them much nicer to sleep on
posted by matildatakesovertheworld at 10:05 PM on June 15, 2023 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Earbuds that fit me, and whose sound I like, are far harder to find than most people can apparently fathom. I have a set at present that I do really like, and if I found myself forced to accept that some insufferable hipster in Marketing had deemed a ten cent 3.5mm jack too expensive to include in a thousand dollar phone, I would go the USB dongle route before even beginning to consider alternatives.

USB dongles do have more failure modes than 3.5mm plugs and wires, and they cost more, but because they are still a wired solution they shit upon Bluetooth from a great height on reliability and quality grounds.
posted by flabdablet at 10:11 PM on June 15, 2023 [1 favorite]

Yet another rec for ttyn's headband-style headphones. Any time I'm having trouble sleeping I don them and put on Sleep Baseball. And unlike earbuds, they're perfectly comfortable while side-sleeping.
posted by rouftop at 10:20 PM on June 15, 2023

if I found myself forced to accept that some insufferable hipster in Marketing had deemed a ten cent 3.5mm jack too expensive to include in a thousand dollar phone

It's not about cost, it's about weatherproofing.

That said, if OP has a set of earbuds that they're already used to sleeping with, I agree that picking up a USB C/Firewire->3.5mm adapter is the way to go. The former can be picked up for a few bucks, albeit without audiophile quality sound.
posted by Candleman at 10:51 PM on June 15, 2023

This Belkin adapter or this Apple adapter will let you continue to use your wired headphones.
posted by malthusan at 12:34 AM on June 16, 2023 [3 favorites]

Sorry. They’ll work if you have an iPhone. If you have an Android, then this USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter will do the same thing.
posted by malthusan at 12:38 AM on June 16, 2023 [4 favorites]

If you have an iPhone, there are wired earbuds with lightning plugs. I have also used Musicozy Bluetooth sleep headphones and they are okay.
posted by hungrytiger at 1:23 AM on June 16, 2023

Nthing the headband for cheapness and comfort. They also surprisingly to me don’t leak a lot of sound which is good if you sleep partnered.
posted by jeoc at 3:00 AM on June 16, 2023

I have tried many, and I have settled for using only one earbud at a time (I'm a side sleeper). I leave the ear facing the pillow empty as I haven't found anything that I can comfortably sleep on consistently. If I flip sides throughout the night, I swap buds.

I have tried the headbands, but I run hot. They make me uncomfortable when trying to sleep.

These are the ones I use. They last all night, sound decent, and don't cost too much in my opinion.
posted by Zealotte at 4:03 AM on June 16, 2023

What about a flat Bluetooth speaker under your pillow?
posted by wenestvedt at 4:03 AM on June 16, 2023

Mod note: Comment removed. Per the Content Policy, please stick to addressing the main question being asked, thanks.
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 5:15 AM on June 16, 2023

I also just use an adapter for wired pods while I sleep and it's fine. I use Bluetooth during the day.
posted by dame at 6:19 AM on June 16, 2023

I’ve been using Beats Flex for this purpose and they do the job perfectly. They’re around-the-neck style but very unobtrusive, and really solidly built. Mine are two years old and no issues at all with the wires either at the earbud or battery/control areas. I have no worries about what happens to them while I toss and turn at night.

Battery life is a tad short but they also charge back up fast. Sound quality is not audiophile but perfect for podcasts and workable for music.

Unlike most Apple products they seem to be often discounted — they list at $80 I think but it looks like they’re available at various big-box stores for $40. Think I got these for $35 at Costco back in the day.
posted by sesquipedalia at 8:10 AM on June 16, 2023

Best answer: Honestly, I'd just get a cheap tablet that has a wired connection. A cheap $50 or $60 tablet would probably cost less than Bluetooth earbuds and you could continue using your wired ear buds without worrying about breaking expensive ear buds.
posted by AlSweigart at 10:57 AM on June 16, 2023

I haven't tried them myself, but soundcore Sleep A10 is designed for this purpose. I'd be really curious to hear how they are!
posted by Cogito at 2:59 AM on June 18, 2023

You can get bluetooth sleep mask. It's just like the headbands idea posted by others, but it's also an eye mask.
posted by Frenchy67 at 9:45 AM on June 19, 2023

I have the same issue and settled with getting a refurbished pixel 3 with a headphone jack and using that while sleeping.
posted by dazedandconfused at 6:17 PM on July 15, 2023