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The Ozlo Sleepbuds are a unique pair of earbuds designed to block out sound and comfortably deliver your choice of audio to sleep to.
For runners, sleep is a cornerstone of recovery, enabling your body to repair itself after a workout. If you are sleeping in a loud environment (or spending nights in hotels before race day) protecting that recovery time is essential.
Do I think they work well, and can I recommend them?
If the noise level of your sleeping environment is an issue, and you are generally comfortable wearing earbuds, then I can definitely recommend the Sleepbuds. They are a cleverly designed product that puts attention on the few key areas that make the difference: comfort, battery life, and sound attenuation.
For people who sleep in a loud environment, or do lots of travel on planes and in hotels, these offer a ton of value and could offer a major improvement in your sleep quality.
There are a few quirks and limitations to be aware of, so read on for my full Ozlo Sleepbuds Review to see if the Sleepbuds are right for you.
The packaging is high quality, featuring strong cardboard and protective foam. Inside, you get the charging case, the buds, a USB-C to USB-A charging cable, and four earbud size options (labeled 0 to 3).
My buds came with size 2 installed, which provided a good fit right out of the box in terms of making a seal to block out noise. However, the smallest size (0) was the most comfortable, particularly for when I was side sleeping, so I compromised and went between these with size 1.
The earbud sizes were very easy to interchange, and I’d definitely suggest folks experiment with several of them if they’re having any issues with comfort or noise blocking.
I am happy to report the setup was a breeze. I used the QR code to download the app and followed the instructions, which were clear and easy. I didn’t encounter any snags or unexpected glitches in this initial setup on my Pixel 10 Pro – a good sign for Android devices like mine which are sometimes given lower compatibility priority than iOS devices.
After the initial setup, I was prompted to run updates. This went fine until it finished and I tried to reconnect, which failed. After a few failed attempts, I restarted my phone (and the case by shutting the lid for over 30 seconds with the buds in place), and that fixed the connectivity problem.
So, a reminder to anybody who picks them up and has any trouble connecting: follow the golden rule of tech and try turning it off and on again before you panic.
Before you start using the buds, you’ll be prompted to select some preferences. Things like: when the buds begin playing sleep noise, which audio track you prefer, and the volume level it plays at. I went with “Soar” (which sounds like the low rumble of an airplane) at about 35% volume. That might be quieter than you’d expect when you try for yourself, but some recent research we covered in the newsletter indicated that quieter noise might be better for sleep quality. We’re talking whisper level – so, at or below 30dB.
You can also select your alarm sound, time, days to repeat, and volume level. Having an alarm in your buds is a nice perk for those who share a bed and don’t want to wake their partner up with an out-loud noise.
The build quality feels premium. The case is well constructed out of plastic and rubber with a sliding top cover that feels durable.
As far as comfort goes, they are pretty fantastic compared to every other earbud I’ve used. They are the most compact wireless earbuds I’ve worn, and that is especially true if you downsize to one of the smaller alternative earbud covers they include. They are so small and comfortable that I have no problem falling asleep in them, even if I’m laying on my side.
However, I experienced some minor drawbacks. This may be a problem unique to me, but most nights I’ve worn them, I’ve woken up briefly due to the sensation or itch of something unfamiliar being in my ear. Over time, I think I’d grow more used to the feeling, but it is worth considering and weighing this potential downside against how disruptive your sleep environment noise level really is.
When we sent the Sleepbuds to our SMM Run Club Testers, the feedback was all positive:
Peter: “After trial and error, I found the perfect fit.”
Matt: “They fit great – no adjustment other than [the included] alternative sizes needed.”
The Sleepbuds rely on passive noise cancelling rather than Active Noise Cancelling (ANC). ANC draws a lot of power, so you would have to put a physically large battery in the buds to make it last the whole night. I doubt there are any headphones out there that do that while remaining low-profile enough to sleep on comfortably, so I see this as a necessary tradeoff.
The good news is that their passive noise cancelling is quite good. Attenuation charts courtesy of SoundGuys show strong performance above 1K Hz. This is key for disruptive noises, since humans are particularly sensitive to sounds in that 1k to 5k Hz range.
There isn’t quite as good attenuation in the low end, though this wasn’t a big deal for me, since low rumbles are less disruptive. Masking sounds from this area by choosing ambient noise with an emphasis on lower tones should cover all your bases (apologies for the dorky audio pun).
Before I nerd out on the technicalities of the sound, I’ll say this: For their primary purpose – ambient noise at low to medium volume – they sound great. As far as podcasts, audiobooks, and ambient noise go, they’re more than adequate.
That being said, you can listen to whatever you like on them. So, is the listening experience for music any good?
My answer is a qualified yes. For headphones that aren’t really intended for music listening, they sound better than you might expect, but they have their shortcomings.
First, they don’t have powerful subbass or shimmering highs. (To be fair, most wireless earbuds struggle with this). Their max volume is also pretty quiet. Fine for ambient and soundscapes in a calm environment, but don’t expect to really rock out on these if that’s part of your bedtime routine.
The frequency response is mid-focused and clear enough for casual listening. The high-mids are smooth, and I don’t hear any noticeable distortion. The low-mids are surprisingly punchy, but they don’t extend much into the lows and subbass. They also struggle a bit in the highs; vocals lack airiness, causing a slightly muffled tone.
The Sleepbuds use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to allow for all-night battery life at the cost of range. This seems like a necessary tradeoff and a clever engineering trick.
In my experience, the basic Bluetooth connection is quite fast and reliable. Connecting to the app takes a little more time, but it’s not a big deal for me, since you generally only do this once a day when you’re getting ready for bed.
As for battery life, I’ve been happy with the results. It has lasted the full duration of my sleep with no issues so far. The advertised 10-hour battery life seems accurate.
1. Keep the volume low – some research suggests noise at or below whisper level (30dB) is ideal.
2. Experiment with earbud sizes – bigger buds will give a tighter seal to block noise, but smaller ones may provide greater comfort for side sleepers.
3. Go beyond white noise – different noise profiles and sounds can have varying effects on your sleep.
When the Sleepbuds aren’t on sale, their price is on the high end for wireless earbuds. Whether or not they are worth it will depend on your individual needs.
For instance, if you are a light sleeper living in a noisy area that is disrupting your sleep, they are a no-brainer: an awesome way to fix the problem and tune out the noise. If unexpected noise conditions the night before a race have ever cost you a good night’s rest, they will also be of great value. These are one of the best ways to sleep better in hotels.
When we asked our SMM Run Club Testers how the Sleepbuds improved their sleep, they said the following:
Peter: “Less noise disturbance, better quality of sleep, alarm function works very well to not disturb [my] partner.”
Matt: “They really help me fall asleep and stay asleep in noisy environments (hotels).”
On the other hand, if you are somebody who is looking for a super versatile pair of earbuds, that is not where these shine.
If you’re on the fence about whether noise blocking will help you at all, a cheap pair of foam plugs is a reasonable first experiment. But for anyone who already knows noise is the problem, the Sleepbuds are one of the best solutions available.
Price: $350 list price (Readers can save $80 off MSRP price using code SMM at checkout).
Readers can save $80 off MSRP price using code SMM at checkout.
Want to learn more? Check out our original Ozlo Sleepbuds review from our contributor Rebecca Trachsel.
