REVIEW – I have tested several devices that claim to help the quality of sleep and help with falling asleep faster. So far, none of them have been able to live up to their hype. Now I get to test the Kokoon Sleep Aiding Headphones. Will this time be the charm or just another miss? Let’s see!!
What is it?
The Kokoon Sleep Aiding Headphones use audio and work with you, your body and your environment to create a personalized relaxation experience. “The headphones feature Active Noise Cancellation and passive noise isolation, whilst the app and sensors detect you falling asleep and introduce white noise to help block any unwanted sounds.”
What’s in the box
1 x Kokoon Sleep Aiding Headphones
1 x Micro USB Charging Cable
1 x Sleep Mask
1 x 3.5mm Audio Cable
1 x User Manual
Design and features
Features
- Designed for comfort: Flexible silicones designed to mold to your head are wrapped in soft fabric and ventilated to make sure you stay cool
- Protected from noise: Kokoon headphones combine three noise reduction technologies including Active Noise Cancellation to help you switch off and relax
- Sleep sensing: Sensors including EEG Brainwave sensors monitor your relaxation and sleep to personalize your experience
- Sleep exercises: The Kokoon Relax app includes audio techniques used in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and proven to work
- Music and soundscapes: Relax with music composed especially for Kokoon or the sound of gentle rain, the ocean, and much more with our soundscapes
- Personalized recommendations: The app will let you know how slept and as we learn what works for you, make recommendations on new audio to try
On the surface of the earpiece, there is the branding, a type of soft external material and 3 mic ports that are a part of noise cancelation.
On the inside of each earpiece, there is the same material as the outside, then a leather-covered cushion. Inside the cushion, there are the sensors.
On one “arm” of the headphones, there is the micro USB charging port and the action button.
On the other “arm” there is the 3.5″ audio port and the power on/off button. In between the two, there is the status LED.
Performance
When I took the headphones out of the box and examined them, my first impression was that the cloth type material parts of the design would probably be destroyed within a week. I was also quite intrigued by the 3 sensors that are very visible within each ear cup. Nevertheless, I charged them overnight and downloaded the app, created the account and was ready to go.
I am from the Caribbean, and I grew up with the sounds of the beach and the waves crashing ashore, and also the therapeutic sounds of raindrops hitting the zinc roofs during a rainstorm. The latter was always the perfect sleep therapy. While I sampled the spoken word therapy, I knew right away that the Rainfall and Ocean Waves audio sessions would do the trick for me. I started with the Rainfall therapy and the next morning I was amazed at the undisturbed sleep that I had experienced and at how relaxed I felt. Right then I knew that for me these Kokoon headphones were a winner. Keep in mind, that it is not just the therapeutic sounds that make them a winner, but also the amazingly comfortable fit, and their ability to stay on my head and in position as I subconsciously change positions during sleep. And, contrary to my initial impression, the material remains unscathed and adds to the ability to even lie on my side with one earcup buried in my pillow and without any discomfort.
The only other function that I changed was the white noise component. By default, the sensors confirm when you are sleeping, and change the sound that you selected to white noise. This also means that if you awaken during your sleep time, you will hear white noise. I changed the setting so that the audio I selected remains playing throughout my sleep.
“The Kokoon Relax mobile app includes hours of spoken word techniques used in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy which help our customers fall asleep 30% faster when compared to music or white noise.”
The following are screenshots from the app showing the settings and choices/options that are available.
The screenshots below are also from the Kokoon app. They show the sleep quality measurements and information that the sensors are able to provide.
The only issue that I have come across is confirmation regarding the accuracy of the amount of sleep measurement time. I say this because while the headphones are still on and working when I wake in the morning, and the Bluetooth connection to my phone is fine, I get the following screen when I open the app:
Upcoming features:
Increasing data capture to improve the accuracy of detailed sleep staging
Smart alarm based on your sleep patterns
Launch of open API and SDK
Extended language support
What I like
- The build quality
- The great noise canceling
- The comfortable wearability
- The sound/therapy options
- They actually work for me
What I’d change
- I can’t answer right now!! I am still peacefully sound asleep. Ask me when I wake up!! 🙂
Final thoughts
After struggling to find something or anything to help with my insomnia, these Kokoon Sleep Aiding Headphones seemed like just another gimmick. But, from the first night that I wore them, they became a mandatory part of my sleeping attire every night, and now I sometimes worry about what will happen if they ever cease to work or are somehow unavailable for my use. They are comfortable, they stay on my head all night long, and are customizable enough to adequately personalize my experience. My only issue is in relation to the Bluetooth connectivity message that I previously mentioned and whether or not it is capturing the statistics for the entire duration of my sleep. For me, these headphones get a very well done and two thumbs way up!!
Price: $319.99 (Available in black or grey)
Where to buy: The Kokoon website and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Kokoon
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$300 seems like a lot of money to spend on these headphones. I am a side sleeper and I do worry about comfort. You did not mention if you ever got hot in them. How well to they block outside noise? My husband is a pretty loud snorer and I currently wear swimmer type earplugs that I mold into my ear each night. I like the idea of getting something that works without having to shove plugs into my ears.
Hi Lynn,
As I mentioned, I find them very comfortable which includes them not getting hot and uncomfortable. And yes!! They are noise canceling, and do so quite well. This is a product that each user may have a slightly different experience with.
I love them and use them every night.
Hope this info helps.
There is a beat sound in the neighborhood that I have not been able to trace. My next door neighbor can not hear it. I can hear it at night as well as feel it. Very annoying & interfering with my sleep. Will these headphones block that noise. Oh by the way, if I step outside, I can not hear it.
The rhythm is coming from inside the house
Thanks for this great review. I’m getting my Kokoons tomorrow and am excited to fire them up.
I too disbelieve that these could possibly be comfortable for an all-night side sleeper. I also depend on being able to hear my alarm in the morning, which I can hear through my earplugs but which I likely will not hear with these on.
But, more than that, I’m just never going to use something that requires the battery-drain that is bluetooth to be enabled all. night. long. That’s a deal-killer and a design flaw, IMO. Other devices only require a BT connection upon start-up and when retrieving data from the device.
But as a fellow insomniac depending on some serious drugs to get me to sleep and (mostly) keep me there at night, I am glad for you that you found something that really works!