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Marpac Sleepmate/Soundscreen 980A Review
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 Sleep
Mate 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.
Copyright 2007, All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without the written permission of Sound Machine Review
is expressly forbidden.
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 Sleep
Mate 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.
Copyright 2007, All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without the written permission of Sound Machine Review
is expressly forbidden.
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