Soundcore Sleep A30 by Anker Sleep Earbuds

The Soundcore Sleep A30 are earbuds made for wearing in bed. They combine active noise cancelling (ANC) with sound playback, which plain earplugs and sound machines can't do on their own. They cost about $200 and have 3.6 stars from around 3,000 Amazon reviews. That rating is mixed, and you should weigh it before spending this much.

What they do

Anker says the noise cancelling adapts to the shape of your ear canal, and it's aimed at snoring, pet noise, appliance hum and traffic.

Snore masking is the unusual part. The charging case sits by the bed and listens for snoring, and the earbuds adjust a white noise track to cover it as it gets louder or quieter.

The soundcore app has a library of sleep sounds, along with alarms, bedtime reminders and firmware updates. Anker also includes binaural beat audio and says it helps you relax. I'd treat that as a bonus rather than a proven sleep aid.

For side sleepers, the buds use soft silicone, short nozzles and a slim shape. Anker says they're shaped from 3D scans of thousands of ear canals.

About that rating

A 3.6 average on a $200 product means a lot of buyers weren't happy. Fit is personal, and earbuds that are comfortable for one person can press for another. Make sure you can return them, and test them over several nights before the return window closes.

Who it's for

• People sharing a bed with a heavy snorer who've already tried earplugs and a sound machine
• Anyone who wants sound in their ears without a separate machine waking a partner
• Travelers who'd use the ANC on planes and in hotels as well

Who should skip it

Anyone on a budget, clearly. A $25 pair of Loop Quiet 2 plus a $50 Yogasleep Dohm Classic covers much of the same ground for well under half the price. And if you don't want to charge something every day or open an app at bedtime, passive earplugs are simpler.

Alternatives

Start with earplugs. If they block enough, you're done. If they don't, add a sound machine. Earbuds like these make sense when both together still aren't enough, or when a machine in the room bothers your partner.

Our best earplugs for sleeping guide compares sleep earbuds with regular plugs. How to sleep with a snoring partner puts masking in context, and best anti-snoring devices looks at fixing the snoring itself.