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FAQ's

FAQ's

Where do you ship to? 

We ship to Mainland UK only. 
 
SleepPhones® Wireless (Bluetooth® technology) - Is it safe?
 
Yes.
 
500mW is the typical cell phone transmission power.
2.5mW is the Bluetooth Class 2 radio, 10m range.
 
So it's actually 0.5% (half of 1%) of the power compared with cell phones. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DBm
 
"Results of animal studies consistently show no increased cancer risk for long-term exposure to radiofrequency fields. Several large multinational epidemiological studies have been completed or are ongoing, including case-control studies and prospective cohort studies examining a number of health endpoints in adults. The largest retrospective case-control study to date on adults, Interphone, coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), was designed to determine whether there are links between use of mobile phones and head and neck cancers in adults. The international pooled analysis of data gathered from 13 participating countries found no increased risk of glioma or meningioma with mobile phone use of more than 10 years." - World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs193/en/)
 
Regarding mobile phone radiation, research is ongoing to continue evaluating risk beyond 10 years. To be safe, we recommend following these basic tips from the Environmental Working Group (http://www.ewg.org/cellphoneradiation/5-Safety-Tips) regarding cell phone usage in general.
 
However, we want to point out that cell phones emit 200 times more power than the Bluetooth® chip that we use. So while the safety tips apply to cell phones, they do not apply to our Bluetooth® device. For Bluetooth® devices, the WHO (World Health Organization), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), FCC (Federal Communications Commission), FDA (Food and Drug Administration), Bluetooth SIG (Bluetooth Special Interest Group) or IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) have not found it necessary to issue any safety advice.
 
Therefore, we feel confident that using SleepPhones® Wireless (and soon-to-come RunPhones® Wireless) is safe.
 
Which MP3 players will work with the SleepPhones?
 
Almost all MP3 players, iPods, and CD players will work with SleepPhones. The first generation iPhone just needs a $3 adapter to work, and one of the Shuffles also needs an adapter. As far as we know, everything else will work.


Which CD players will work with the SleepPhones?
 
Any CD player with a standard headphone jack will work. Basically, every personal CD player we've encountered will work. All of the portable boomboxes we've seen also work. Only professional large sound systems with a large jack won't. But there's a simple cheap adapter to solve that problem.
 
Which laptops or computers will work with the SleepPhones?
 
Every laptop with a standard headphone jack will work. We have never seen a laptop that would not work. As far as we know, most desktops will work too, but the cord length may be an issue if the computer is kept very far away from the monitor. SleepPhones has a cord length of 4 feet.
 
How do I figure out what size to buy?

Almost everyone fits into the one size fits most. The XS is for a small person, less than 5'3" (160cm) tall, not much hair. The XL is for big people over 6' (180cm) tall, heavy set, with a good amount of hair. Of the few size exchanges, it has mostly been from people who over-estimated their head size. The headbands do stretch, so if you are between sizes, go with the smaller size.
 
If you would prefer to measure your head, be sure to measure around the forehead, just above the ears, and around the hair in the back.
 
The headphones slip around on my head. Are they too big? Do they routinely stretch after you've been wearing them?
 
If the SleepPhones are slipping around your head, though, then they are too big. They do stretch a little bit, but they shouldn't be moving around. SleepPhones are made from 88% recycled plastic and 12% spandex (Polartec® Power Stretch®), so they are designed to stretch.
 
What are the technical specifications for the speakers?
 
120cm (48") cord
3.5mm (1/8") stereo plug
Impedance: 32 Ω
Frequency: 20-20 kHz
Power: 300/500 mW
RoHS compliant (lead-free)
 
Do SleepPhones shrink when washed in hot water?
 
No. The high quality Polartec® fleece is resistant to shrinking or stretching when washed in hot water or dried with high heat. As with any fleece, we recommend using low heat in the dryer.
 
How does the Personal Alarm Clock feature work?
 
The alarm clock feature is pretty interesting. Most people wake up with their SleepPhones still on in the morning. It's hard to say what people will do during sleep, but many customers have said that their SleepPhones stay on all night long to block snoring. If they can set their MP3 play, iPod, or CD player to play an alarm in the morning (like our Breakfast Sizzle track on this page (click here), then they can wake up to their own personal alarm clock! It's especially useful if they have roommates or bed partners who go by a different schedule. We do recommend setting a back up external alarm for 5 minutes later just in case they take the SleepPhones off during the night.
 
If a person is wearing the SleepPhones product, will they be unable to hear the alarm offered to awaken by a usually adequate alarm clock?
 
You will be able to hear the alarm clock. It will only be slightly attenuated by the fabric around the ears. We feel that being able to hear the fire alarm in the middle of the night is still important, so SleepPhones do not actually cancel out noises.
 
Can they block out noises all night from neighbours as in heavy footsteps, cats knocking things off tables upstairs, etc?
 
The headband does not have any special equipment to get rid of external sounds. It would be like wearing 2 layers of fleece of your ears, which doesn't block out too much. But if you listen to some music or the included CD, you can drown out outside sounds. We recommend setting the sound level during a fairly quiet time and not adjusting up too much during the night. Constant sounds above 85 decibels (like a hair dryer) for an extended period of time may cause hearing damage.
 
I'm allergic to wool. Can you tell me more about the fabric used for SleepPhones?
 
SleepPhones are made from Polartec® Power Stretch® 88% recycled polyester (e.g., plastic bottles) and 12% spandex. They do not contain any animal or plant fibers that may cause an allergy problem. They are not treated with any fabric softeners or conditioners.
 
Machine washable: any temperature is fine, but warm water is preferred
Fabric softener: not recommended, as it reduces the wicking properties that keep you comfortable at night
Bleach: not recommended
Machine dry: low heat preferred
Iron: do not iron, as the fabric will melt on high heat
Dry Clean: do not dry clean, as this increases flammability
Flammability: Polartec® fleece is much less flammable than other fleece on the market. Certificate for conformation to the flammable fabrics act is available upon request.
 
Do you use any fire retardant chemicals?
 
No, there are no fire retardant chemicals in the SleepPhones. The 88% recycled polyester and 12% spandex fabric is manufactured by Polartec®, without any special coatings.
 
Are the speakers relatively flat?
 
Very. We had our speaker supplier custom make our speakers to be as flat as possible while delivering excellent sound quality.
 
Will the SleepPhones put pressure on the sides of my head preventing me from falling asleep?
 
Hopefully not enough pressure to prevent you from sleeping. It's important to get the right size so that it's not too tight around the head. At the same time, if it's too loose, it may slip around too much when you sleep or the speakers may be too far from your ears. It may take a couple of night to get used to sleeping with a headband on.
 
What makes SleepPhones better than other headphones?
 
SleepPhones speakers are of excellent quality, with an emphasis on bass response. We get them from the same supplier that makes speakers for a famous audiophile headphone company. Their products often sell for hundreds of dollars.
SleepPhones are fully adjustable. Not only are there different sizes, the speakers can be moved forward or back, depending on a person's ear position.
Regular headphones are too bulky for sleep. They will come off by the morning (cannot use the private alarm clock feature). Plus, a side sleeper cannot possibly use them.
Earbuds and earphones should not be worn for sleep (or any extended period of time). Earphones do not breath, raising the risk of outer ear infections (swimmer's ear) from moisture buildup, especially the fancy silicone ones. Also, wearing earphones to sleep can cause a skin ulcer to form in the thin skin over ear cartilage. This can happen in just one night and may take weeks to heal.
SleepPhones are very lightweight, since most of it is just fleece fabric.
Noise-cancelling and Dolby technologies may render some binaural beat, biofeedback, and hypnosis audio ineffective.
Since SleepPhones are made with fabric with minimal hardware, you can roll it up and carry it compactly.
SleepPhones can be washed.


I want to know if the speakers are completely flat? what exactly is inside the felt squares - is it earbuds?
 
There are small speakers inside of the felt squares. They are not what you might call a earbud, since earbuds are designed to go into the ears. The speakers are not completely flat, but they are very very thin. The speakers are a special design made exclusively for us by a company that also makes high-end audiophile quality speakers. We cannot claim audiophile status, but most people are pleasantly impressed with the sound quality. Most people cannot feel them when sleeping on their side.
 
Are SleepPhones compatible with hearing aids on the "T-switch" or "telecoil" or "Telephone switch"?
 
Unfortunately, SleepPhones do not have the T-switch technology and may not work well with hearing aids.
 
Are SleepPhones effective for people who are hard of hearing?
 
SleepPhones can play music quite loudly, so just turn up the volume to compensate for mild hearing loss. The binaural beats are based on a stereo sound principle and won't work as well if the hearing loss is not the same on the left and right ears.
 
I bought Sleepphones a little over a month ago, and for the most part they are wonderful! I am totally blind and suffer with tinnitus, so have been sleeping with a radio low in the background for many years. Now that I am in a committed relationship I use earphones or pillow speakers to avoid keeping my sweetheart awake.... I think the tag is on the front then, isn't it?
 
Thanks for giving me your perspective! I know that many blind people use SleepPhones, and it's hard to imagine the various difficulties they might have with it, such as how to wear it and how the speakers go back into it. Yes, the tag is in the front. Written on there is "SleepPhones," with a picture of a cute sheep. It faces out, so if you were facing someone, they would be able to see the tag. It should not face in, where it would be scratchy against the forehead.
The back of the speaker is not completely flat, whereas the side that plays the music best (goes against the ear) is flat. You can feel that difference within the soft fleece. That's the other way to tell how it goes in. Unfortunately, there's no easy way to differentiate the left versus right speakers. But if there is music that you listen to often, the you may be able to tell the difference then. I'm glad you have developed an easy way to differentiate the two speakers with putting a rubber band around the left side!
 
Do you have to use an iPod or does the headband work to get rid of sounds?
 
The headband does not have any special equipment to get rid of external sounds. It would be like wearing 2 layers of fleece of your ears, which doesn't block out too much. But if you use an iPod or CD player or anything that will play music, you can drown out other sounds.
 
Do you plug them in somewhere?
 
They do not need a separate power source. You can just plug them into your CD player, MP3 player, or iPod. They are just basic headphones that will play anything you would like.
 
When I have them on like the picture shows, the speakers are too far away from the right spot for me to hear anything. I went to your FAQ page and tried it under my hair and then over and under my hair. It seems the best way to hear the music is to wear it as a blind fold. If it covers my eyes then it seems to be in the best spot for hearing the music, the second best is covering my eye brows
 
The speakers are removable, so they can be moved within the headband. When we send them out, we try to match them up to the position of most people's ears. But we can't predict where everyone's ears are. While wearing the SleepPhones, please push the speakers around until they match where your ears are.
 
I’ve noticed that after my wearing my phones for a few weeks, I seem to be waking up with them slipped down to my neck, or moving as my head moves on the pillow. They probably have stretched a little...
 
One way to change the way it fits would be to put it on in a different way. Most people simply slip it over their head and hair, which works but does slide a bit more. Another way is to pull the SleepPhones all the way down to the neck, then pull up the front to rest on your forehead. That way, the back is a little lower and is at the lower portion of your hairline. The band would not be in direct contact with the pillow, which helps it stay in place. If that doesn't work for you, we would be happy to help you find the right size.
 
Can you plug these headphones into a normal radio too?
 
Yes, you can plug them into a normal 1/8"/3.5mm jack for the radio. It's the normal headphone plug size.
 
I listened to the CD that came with the SleepPhones and tried to figure out why there is a humming in the background. Is it suppose to be there or do I need to turn the volume down?
 
The humming is actually the binaural beats. Try to ignore it. We made them as soft as possible but still audible so that they would work. If you listen to them very closely, however, they are very fast beats in the beginning and towards the end of the sleep tracks, they are much slower. If you can't hear the humming at all, then you may not be getting the full effect of the binaural beats. Studies have shown that they can still work at 1% of the total volume, but in our experience, it seems to work slightly better when louder than that. Ideally, they should be barely audible when you concentrate on them.
 
I would like to know if one always hears binaural beats while using the SleepPhones? Or, do you have the binaural beats because they are incorporated into the CDs or mp3 downloads?? I'd prefer having the option of NOT having binaural beats, if possible.
 
The SleepPhones will play any music and sounds supplied by the audio device. They do not automatically play the beats. The music in the Nature Sounds CD has the beats, but you don't need to listen to the CD. Feel free to use the SleepPhones like any other pair of headphones!
 
I will often listen to talk radio shows from a radio that only puts out a mono signal, thus only one side of the headphones will function. Do sleep phones have a mono-stereo switch?
 
No, but here is an adaptor you can use.
 
The speakers are less loud the further from the ears. What do I do about that?
 
True statement, due to basic physics. Smaller size SleepPhones will help the speakers be closer to the ears. This does help to increase volume slightly.
 
What I'm worried about is that it seems that the iPod is attached to the head band. Because I sleep on my side and turn over through the night, how do I deal with the iPod flopping all over the place with me?
 
The wire is at least 4 feet long, so we've actually included a velcro tie to reduce the wire length as needed. You can stuff the iPod under your pillow.
 
Is it marked clearly which is the right and left ear? I need to know that for what I intend to use them for.
 
The red speaker is the right side. The green speaker is the left side.
 
Is the CD MP3?
 
The CD is in a traditional CD format. There should not be any compatibility issues for CDs internationally. MP3 music can be downloaded from our website if you prefer.
 
Can you tell me whether I need an iPod in order to use this system?
 
You do not need an iPod to use this system, although having one makes listening to different things all night long easier. An iPod Nano costs about the same as nice programmable CD player.
 
I want to pump the sound into my ears all night--how does this work if the Nature Sounds CD is just 30 minutes long? Neither my stereo nor my computer seem to automatically replay a CD--when it ends, it ends.
 
Well, there's really no solution other than to buy a music player that will loop a track. I would recommend a programmable MP3 player, like an iPod. It's rechargeable, fully programmable with sleep, alarm, and other features to make full use of SleepPhones. A CD can only play up to 80 minutes of music anyway, since that's the limit of its size, so there's really no way around the problem of all night noise without a music player that will play all night long.
 
I just purchased the sleepphones and have a question about how to properly set up playing the CD. The 2 sleeping tracks are 30 minutes long. Then there's the awake track. So if i just hit play on the cd player, there's only about 70 minutes of sleep inducing sounds followed by something to wake me up. How am i supposed to get it to play the sleep tracks for 7 or 8 hours followed by the wake up track?
 
Unfortunately CDs only hold about 70-80 minutes of music, and we wanted to include enough tracks on the Nature Sounds CD for people to have some options. Using a programmable MP3 player is best (such as an iPod), since you can then control for tracks that help you fall sleep, stay asleep, and wake up. Some CD players have a sleep function where it automatically turns off at a specified time. To get both the sleep and wake up capabilities, your music player would need to be programmable.

 
My wife and I would both like to sleep with your SleepPhones. Do we have to use two different iPods?
 
If the two of you both listen to the same track to fall asleep and you want to use just 1 iPod or CD player, you can just plug in a splitter. 
 
Do you have any data to indicate that this is an effective way to sustain sleep?
 
A well-conducted medical experiment takes hundreds of thousands of dollars, clearance by many scientific and ethics boards, and many years. We are planning to conduct a well-designed double-blind placebo-controlled trial in the future, but we are a small company right now and do not have the resources (that is, money) yet. Dr. Lai (the inventor) is a clinical family doctor - the type that you see for a physical or a cold, not a medical researcher. She does not conduct medical experiments. SleepPhones have not been approved by the FDA for treating sleep disorders.
 
However, previous research on binaural beats shows that it is quite effective. There are many competitors in the binaural beat field who have done independent research, but they do not also offer the sleep headphones. We welcome you to do your own research online regarding binaural beats. We have heard from many very satisfied customers, and their comments are listed in the testimonials section of our website. We do not claim to cure any diseases or offer medical treatments for illness.
 
If one does continue to listen to the binaural beats tracks throughout the sleep session, does this factor result in difficulty waking?
 
Not if a waking track is used for the period just before the alarm. The included CD has a track that helps you to wake up. If you can program your music player, you may be able to set the track as your alarm.
 
If a person is listening to binaural beats tracks with the SleepPhones product, will they be unable to hear the alarm offered to awaken by a usually adequate alarm clock?
 
You will be able to hear the alarm clock. It will only be slightly attenuated by the fabric around the ears.
 
How do I program my iPod?
 
If you have an iPod or an iPod nano, you can program it to shut off in 30 minutes of sleeping and set an alarm for the morning.
 
On your computer...
Load up iTunes
Insert your CD and import the songs to iTunes, or download the MP3's from this website
The track information should automatically load from iTunes. If not, you can rename the tracks.
Track 1: Harriman Birds
Track 2: Rowayton Stream
Track 3: Wake Up!
Add a playlist by clicking on the + sign on the bottom left. Name the playlist for the sleep tracks, such as "Sleep Brainwaves."
Add another playlist for the morning tracks, such as "Morning Brainwaves."
Drag Harriman Birds and Rowayton Stream (or your sleep download) into the sleep tracks playlist.
Drag Wake Up! (or your morning download) to the morning tracks playlist.
Safely disconnect your iPod by ejecting it from iTunes.
On your iPod...
From the top menu, click on Extras then Clock.
If you have not set your clock, you may set it now. Once set, click on Clock.
Take note of the Alarm Clock and Sleep Timer features.
Click on Alarm Clock to turn it on, set the time you want, and select your morning playlist as the sound to play.
Next, set the Sleep Timer to 30 minutes.
Click on the Menu button to get to the top menu.
Select Music then Playlists then your sleep playlist then the song you want to help you sleep!
You're done!
In the future, all you need to set is the Sleep Timer, unless your alarm time changes.
 
Can I wear ear plugs with SleepPhones?
 
While you can wear ear plugs with SleepPhones, doctors generally do not recommend using earplugs for an extended time period such as sleep. They tend to cause irritation or even ulcers in the thin skin of the ear canals. Also, if air is not allowed to circulate in the ear canals, painful outer ear infections (swimmers ear) are much more likely.
 
Can I use SleepPhones for purposes other than sleep?
 
Absolutely!
 
Some people even wear them as exercise headphones, since they absorb sweat and are washable.
SleepPhones can also be headphones for a personal alarm clock, where you won't bother other people in the room. The morning alarm track on the CD gently wakes you up with nature sounds and binaural beats!
SleepPhones are basically high-quality headphones in a headband design.
The 3.5mm (1/8") plug can fit into CD players, computers, iPods, and just about any device that uses regular headphones.
Since it has a full frequency response, it can play music, meditation, hypnosis, self-improvement, biofeedback, audio books, or podcasts.
How do I protect against hearing damage?
 
As with any headphones, you should not listen to it at 85dB or higher. Studies show that you can tolerate only up to 8 hours a day of music at 85dB before risking hearing loss. At 90dB, you should not listen to that more than 4 hours a day. Generally any music less than 80dB would not be expected to cause hearing damage. Most hair dryers are between 80-90 dB. As long as you keep the volume less than a typical hair dryer, then you should be fine.
 
I'm interested in blocking snoring, but I don't want to listen to anything. Can I just buy the headband?
 
No, the band won't be enough to block out snoring unfortunately. It's a fleece headband with a velcro opening in the back designed to fit the SleepPhones speakers. There is no sound-blocking mechanism of the headband beyond 2 layers or high-quality, moisture-wicking fleece. When you listen to white noise or nature sounds, then it's easier to ignore the snoring and get to sleep. We offer a free 30-minute white noise track on our website here: click here
 
I intend on using them for a meditation product called Holosync which relies on a full range of audio responses. Do you feel your product would meet my requirements?
 
Our technical guy has answered it very thoroughly on this forum. Please read his response here: http://www.learningstrategies.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Numb...
 
I would like if your product SleepPhone is compatible with multidimentional music.
 
We researched their website. Yes, we believe that they would be compatible with SleepPhones. All subliminal sounds would be transmitted by SleepPhones, so the music should be effective.
 
Have you done any research as to whether your headphones pose a health hazard for emf's?
 
Although we have not done any formal research on the potential hazards of EMFs ourselves, there has been much research done in the field already. The amount of electricity it takes to power the headset is minimal, much less than that needed to operate a cell phone, for example. The problem with cell phones is the radio transmitter, which directs the EMF to the cell phone. Further studies are ongoing by major organizations around the world.
 
SleepPhones generate much much less EMF than cell phones, so the risk should be minimal. Our SleepPhones are just like any other headphones on the market (and generate less EMF than most of the other fancy ones), so we believe that the risk is minimal. I personally use it every night, and I am less worried about that than using my computer all day.
 
I do not have the software necessary to download the mp3s. Would it be possible to include them in a different format?
 
Special software for downloading is not necessary, but it may be necessary for listening to MP3s. Usually Windows Media Player (normally included and pre-installed if you have a Windows computer) is able to read MP3 files. iTunes is a great free software for most sound file types. The MP3 format is the most compact way to send sound files. The files are so large already that any other format would not be practical, so unfortunately we cannot use another format.
 
When "ripping" music from the CD to my MP3, it took a very long time to copy. Is this due to the binaural technology?
 
It may be taking longer than you are used to because the tracks are very long themselves. Two tracks are 30 minutes long, and the other one is 10 minutes. Binaural technology should not affect the ripping process.
 
For the downloads with binaural beats, I can hear a distinct oscillation in the background. I thought binaural beats were created by the difference in the applied tones.
 
If you listen to binaural beats without using headphones, then you can hear the interference pattern as they mix in the air. That creates the oscillations you describe. If you listen to the sounds one speaker (through headphones - left side separately from the right side) at a time, then you would simply hear a straight tone. There are other factors that can impact binaural beats, such as Dolby technology or certain sound enhancements that your music player may use. Those technologies need to be turned off. Sometimes computers will read music files in different ways, and going from one medium to another using different files types and file compressions will also impact the binaural beats. We agree that it's a complicated technology. That's why we offer CDs that will definitely transmit the specific sounds you seek - as long as they are played on a CD player that does not distort the sounds with enhancements like Dolby.
 
Does it get hot with the fleece headband?
 
Most people do not have a problem with this. The body can adjust to the head being a little bit warmer by dissipating heat from other places. The high-quality fleece has excellent wicking properties, so sweat and oils should be moved away from the skin, not trapped there. That helps you stay cool and dry.
 
What does the warning statement in the instructions mean?
 
There is an asterisk after this statement.
"A family physician developed these innovative, high-quality headphones to help her patients sleep without drugs."
 
This is the wording on the warning statement.
"This product has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, please consult your doctor before using this product."
 
While SleepPhones are very safe, we don't want anyone to come off of their prescribed medications without first discussing it with their physician. If they have problems sleeping due to serious medical conditions, we encourage them to talk with their doctor about their problems.
 
You have probably seen that same statement on numerous ancillary health products. It's pretty standard to use that statement when selling products that may help with medical conditions like insomnia.
 
I continue to wear SleepPhones when I have trouble sleeping during my pregnancy - especially now that I'm in my third trimester! I plan to wear them when I get the "too tired to sleep" syndrome as a nursing mother in a few months. - founder and CEO of SleepPhones
 
I'm a nurse. Can I let my patients try it without infringing on any copyrights?
 
Feel free to let your patients try it! You can wash the SleepPhones too, so if you discover that it's dirty when you get it back, just wash it!
I believe the rule about copyrights and personal use is whether or not you charge for letting your patients try it. We would be glad to send you some brochures to pass around if you would like.
 
Do any health insurance companies cover your product?
 
We don't have any contracts with health insurance companies. SleepPhones have not been evaluated by the FDA for treating insomnia. We do not claim to treat any diseases.
 
How did you come up with the name "AcousticSheep"?
 
Better than the time-honoured tradition of counting sheep, special acoustic sounds like binaural beats induce relaxation and drowsiness.

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