Apps and tools for a calm, enjoyable life

Soundrown

Free

Soundrown offers a simple, user-friendly way to create ambient soundscapes with a mix of different background noises.

Our take

A Minimalist's Dream for Ambient Soundscapes

Alright, so I got my hands on this thing called Soundrown, which promises to bring peace and quiet into your life through ambient sounds. First impression? It's a neat little gizmo that doesn't take up much space. You just plug it in, pick a sound, and let it do its thing. The sound quality is surprisingly decent for something so small, and the range of sounds is pretty wide — from rainforest to ocean waves. But here's the catch: if you’re expecting it to completely drown out a noisy neighbor or construction outside, you might be setting yourself up for disappointment. It's more about creating a soothing background rather than a complete sound barrier.

Diving into the sounds themselves, they're pretty well-crafted. The ocean waves genuinely feel like you're at the beach, minus the seagulls stealing your fries. The rain sounds are great for reading or falling asleep, though if you're a light sleeper, you'll want to play around with the volume. It's not as customizable as I'd like, but it does the job for most situations. The downside? Some sounds loop a bit too obviously, which can get annoying if you're the type to focus on repetitive patterns. Not a dealbreaker, but worth noting.

The design is simple and functional, which I appreciate. No need to fumble with a hundred buttons when you just want to relax. The controls are intuitive, and the build feels pretty solid, so it should last a while. However, it’s powered by a USB cable, which is great for portability but not ideal if you want to plug it into a regular outlet without an adapter. It’s a minor inconvenience, but one to keep in mind if you're planning to move it around a lot.

Now, onto the price. It's not the cheapest option out there, but it’s not exorbitant either. You’re paying for the convenience and a decent range of sounds. If you’re looking for something high-end with a slew of features, this might feel a bit basic. But if you’re after a straightforward way to add some calm to your space, it ends up being pretty good value. Just know what you’re getting into and manage your expectations accordingly.

In short, Soundrown is a solid pick if you want to create a peaceful atmosphere without too much fuss. It’s easy to use, has a decent variety of sounds, and can make a noticeable difference in how your space feels. Just don’t expect it to perform miracles in super noisy environments. It’s all about knowing what it’s good for and making it work for you. If that aligns with what you're looking for, give it a shot. If not, you might want to keep searching.