Is it Sleepmate or Sleep Mate or Soundscreen or Sound Screen? Name confusion is the only problem we found with this machine. This is the white noise machine that started it all, and with its ingenious engineering, it is still the leader.  Now 50 years old, the Marpac SleepMate is still the benchmark in the white noise world.

There have been many upgrades, with the last one coming about a year ago which added the “A” to the model number and a slight change in dimensions and a “whiter” color.  Marpac places either a Sleep Mate label or a Soundscreen label on the unit depending on the resellers order.  These units are also used in doctor’s offices to keep you from hearing what disease the person  who is in with your doctor has as you wait in the waiting room.  For this reason the Soundscreen label was introduced.  After all, who wants a machine in their waiting room that says Sleep Mate?


First Impressions: It looks weird.  It looks like no other sound machine on the market.  The power cord is 8 feet long and the unit is bright white as apposed to the ivory color of the proceeding model.  You can get any color you want, as long as it’s white.  The plastic is thick and the unit has a good weight feel to it.

How it works: The “cap” on top rotates to expose and/or cover small holes to change tone and volume, somewhat.  The “collar” rotates to expose or cover open slots on the side changing the tone and volume, somewhat.  We say ‘somewhat’ because although the volume does change, it is slight.  The 980A has a low and high speed power switch to aid in volume control, but the best way to control the volume on the unit is to place it near or far from you in the room.

There is a single speed model 580A under the same label names.  The top volume on that unit will run at 85% of the top volume on the two speed 980A.  The 980A has a volume of 65 decibels at 18″ above the unit.

The guts: What makes this different than any other sound machine it that there is actually a motor inside of it turning a rotor.  It works like a fan (which many people use for sleeping already) but it won’t collect dust and go out of balance, and it won’t blow air around the room.

Our CRI’s have told us that these machines have lasted over 25 years!  These American Made units are truly durable.  This unit holds the all time record of best initial quality with a defective rate below .01%!  A defective rate among electronics of 2% is the norm. The unit weighs in at 1 lb. 10 oz.  It is 3.5” tall and 5.5” diameter at the base.  Still light enough for travel, but not as light as the Marpac Marsona TSC-330.  Some resellers offer a 220v-240v model for European travel that has a two prong power cord.  This unit can only be used outside the USA, unlike the 330I.

Maximum volume measured at 18″ above unit at full volume is 69 decibels.

Pricing: Retail pricing is $56.95 for the two speed 980A, $46.95 for the single speed 580A and $61.95 for the 220v-240 volt international model.  These units can be found on the web for 49.95,  40.95 and 54.95 respectively, with some resellers offering free shipping.  It will be hard to find them cheaper as Marpac has activated a ‘MAP’ (minimum advertised price) policy, per our CRI’s.

Verdict: If it’s white noise you’re after, then there is no better machine on the market.

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