Falling asleep gently while listening to soft music is no longer a problem thanks to music pillows. Here you can read which models are particularly impressive in everyday life.
Many people like to fall asleep to soft music.
Others have problems falling asleep and use music or audio books to distract themselves and not have to think about the worries of the last day.
Since headphones annoy many people in bed, music pillows are a great invention.
The following article is about how a music pillow works, what types there are and which brands are recommended.
As you can see, the topic of music pillows is much more extensive than you might think at first.
If you too would like to try out music or other sounds while falling asleep, you will find numerous helpful tips here that will surely help you to find a suitable music pillow.
Or to save time: jump straight to the top 5 .
Index
How do music pillows work?
Since headphones in all their conventional forms interfere with sleep, the music pillow was developed.
With this you can play your favorite music very quietly and directly in your ear without disturbing other people with the sound.
The principle of a music pillow is actually quite simple: Small speakers are housed inside the pillow, which ensure that the music you want sounds very quietly directly to your ears.
- The construction of the loudspeakers and the pillow should ideally be created in such a way that you do not notice them when lying on the pillow.
- In order to supply the music pillows with music, you usually need an external player.
This means that you connect your MP3 player or smartphone to the pillow with a cable and control the program and volume from there.
What is important when choosing a music pillow?
As with normal pillows, music pillows also come in very different sizes, fillers and degrees of hardness.
If you use a special pillow when sleeping, you should also make sure that the music pillow you choose has the same properties as your conventional pillow.
Tip: More information about the optimal sleeping aid can be found here: Pillow test .
The size of the pillow is also important. There are music pillows in many different square or rectangular shapes.
Since the headphones are integrated, a music cushion shouldn’t be too small. Otherwise the built-in electronics keep pressing against the head.
You should also pay attention to your normal sleeping position. People who sleep on their side often use different sleeping aids ( side sleeper pillows ) than those who sleep on their back or stomach
There are also corresponding differences with music pillows.
Tip: This article provides information on everything you should consider with different sleeping positions .
You are welcome to jump straight to my top 5 music pillows . Or read in the next few sections what else is important.
Covering and processing of the music cushion
In addition to the size of the pillow and the fillers used, the material of the cover and the general processing are important selection criteria.
- For example, it is always advisable to choose a removable cover that you can wash separately.
- With other music pillows, you can remove the electronic components of the pillow and clean the entire pillow.
When looking for a music pillow you should always ask how to wash it and what parts of the pillow are washable.
How are the speakers installed?
Another aspect to consider is the integration of the speakers.
There are music pillows where they “float” freely in the pillow and others where there are special soft pockets that hold the speakers in place and ensure that you do not feel them when “lying on them”.
Connection options for playback devices to music cushions
Thanks to the increasingly widespread use of Bluetooth technology, it is now possible to completely do without cables when listening to music in bed.
- Tangled cables, getting tangled in the cable or the uncomfortable feeling of waking up with the MP3 player in your face are a thing of the past.
- More and more networked devices & speakers like Amazon Echo are also relying on wireless connections & the technology is constantly improving.
However, cables are a must for absolute music lovers. Most of the time, it’s not only cheaper, it sounds better too. The majority of the music pillows available therefore still rely on cables.
Below I present recommended variants with & without cables – but if you prefer a pillow from another brand, then definitely keep an eye on the connection options.
Tip : When comparing products, make sure that the cables are long enough to be able to place the player outside of the bed.
My personal top 5 from the music pillow test
Every person is different and expects different quality features from a pillow or a music pillow.
While some only pay attention to the sound, for others the pillow texture is much more important.
Here I have listed my current favorite products very subjectively.
Each of them is worth a recommendation – just choose the variant that best meets your personal requirements:
Best value for money:
Best quality
Music pillow with memory foam
The newgen medicals sleep pillow comes with a memory foam filling and integrated speakers for very little money. When it comes to the sound of the speakers, however, you have to compromise on quality.
On the other hand, if you want to buy a good quality music pillow, you should be ready to invest a little more money. An example of a current high-end music pillow is this model from the iWile brand (sometimes difficult to find).
Music cushion with Bluetooth
Bluetooth Pillow: Currently the only model that is equipped with Bluetooth technology. This offers a whole new level of comfort in the music pillow market.
Update: The Bluetooth pillow has not been sold for some time. If you want to listen to music wirelessly, then I recommend a smart speaker like the Amazon Echo .
How much does a good music pillow cost?
Since there are music pillows in very different designs and made of very different materials, the prices also vary accordingly.
Very simple music pillows are already very cheap.
The most common and most frequently sold music pillows, on the other hand, are priced in the middle range & are usually available in stores for less than 60 €.
Proven brands & manufacturers of music pillows
There are some major manufacturers that have proven themselves in the music pillow production market. Are known among other things
- Homescapes : The brand offers music cushions in different sizes, such as 48 × 74 cm or 65 × 65 cm. There is also a choice between microfiber pillows or pillows with down filling.
- iWile: The speakers are removable in almost all iWile models. Very good customer ratings throughout also testify to the quality.
- Soundasleep : You should always use the Soundasleep music pillows with a cover, as the speakers are firmly integrated in the pillow and it is therefore not washable.
Alternatives to music pillows
Admittedly: music pillows are a niche product.
- So if you are looking for a very good sleep aid or an excellent sound, you will probably not be happy with a pillow like this.
- In such a case you should buy both things separately to really get the best of both worlds.
If you already have a pillow that is perfect for you and you don’t want to exchange it for a music pillow, you don’t have to go without music when you fall asleep.
Here I have put together some of the most popular alternatives for you:
Bed headphones
Bed headphones or so-called SleepPhones are soft fleece headbands with built-in headphones.
- This alternative can be used with any pillow and has the additional advantage of dampening outside noise.
- So if you have noisy neighbors or a partner who snores, bed headphones may be for you.
The often integrated Bluetooth interface is practical on the SleepPhones. You can connect the bed headphones wirelessly to your mobile phone.
This SleepPhones V6 with Bluetooth technology is an absolute top model in this area .
The bed headphones are available in different sizes from S to XL, so they are available for every head size.
External pillow speakers
An external pillow speaker that you can insert into the cover of your pillow is a possible alternative.
- You must also connect these external speakers to a playback device by cable.
- Pay attention to the quality of the speakers so that you can hear even quiet passages of your favorite music in perfect sound.
For example, this jack connector pillow speaker has received some very good reviews.
Neck pillow
Neck pillows are a great alternative, especially for sleeping on planes or buses.
These pillows are placed around the neck and “catch” the head when it threatens to bend.
You can also listen to music or radio plays here via integrated speakers.
- Neck pillows are recommended for a seated sleeping position, and therefore primarily when traveling.
- You should not use these in bed as they raise the position of the neck too much when lying down.
The manufacturer iWile, known from music pillows, offers this elegant neck pillow with integrated stereo speakers at a very interesting price.
Tip: Here you will find even more variants & comprehensive purchase advice: Neck pillows tested .
Conclusion: sleeping with music is becoming more and more comfortable
As you can see, there are many ways to fall asleep with soft music or while listening to a soothing audio book.
There are even products for long trips.
- I hope my review of the best music pillows will help you find a product that is right for you.
- It is worthwhile to click on the links and read through the product descriptions of the models presented for additional details.
Since the development of these products is progressing faster and faster, I will introduce you to the latest music cushion models when new releases are made.
Tip: You can find comprehensive purchase advice with all the important information about sleeping positions, materials and the selection of a suitable pillow here: Pillow guide .
I created Sleep Knowledge to share my interests and experiences on healthy sleeping with others. On this page I am therefore dealing with interesting questions about the optimal night’s sleep & everything else that goes with it.
