AirAlarmSounds built into AirAlarm
| Sound | Character | May suit |
|---|---|---|
| White noise | Steady, broadband texture | Masking inconsistent background noise |
| Fan | Mechanical and even | People who already sleep with a fan |
| Rain | Soft variation without a melody | A natural but predictable background |
| Ocean | Slow rises and falls | People who prefer more movement |
| Forest | Layered outdoor ambience | A less mechanical soundscape |
| Fire | Warm crackle and variation | Short wind-down sessions |
| Airplane | Low, continuous cabin-like hum | Listeners who find low steady sound familiar |
What the evidence can and cannot say
A 2022 systematic review in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine examined 34 adult studies of white noise, pink noise, and mixed audio. The authors found some positive results, but concluded that strong evidence for auditory stimulation was still lacking. Differences in noise sensitivity, study methods, and individual conditions made a universal recommendation difficult.
That matches a practical approach: treat background sound as a preference and masking tool, not a treatment. If it feels irritating, keeps drawing your attention, or has to be loud to work, switch it off or choose another sound.
How sound connects to the alarm
- Choose your wake window.
- Connect compatible AirPods.
- Start a built-in sound or supported external media.
- When playback stops or the audio route changes for long enough, AirAlarm estimates that sleep has begun.
- The app fades the sound and schedules the AlarmKit alert inside the chosen window.
The sleep sound is not required to play all night. Its job in AirAlarm is to support the wind-down period and provide a clear start to the automated alarm flow.
Keep the volume conservative
The World Health Organization says hearing risk depends on both sound level and exposure time. Its safe-listening guidance recommends keeping personal-device volume no higher than 60% of maximum, monitoring exposure when possible, and taking breaks from sound. For bedtime, start lower than you think you need and avoid using volume to cover a very noisy environment.
Stop using earbuds in bed if they cause pressure, pain, skin irritation, ringing, or hearing changes. AirAlarm does not provide hearing or sleep treatment advice.