As a side sleeper, I’ve experienced first-hand how tricky it is to find products that support my preferred sleeping position. Indeed, it was only when I purchased the Manta PRO Sleep Mask back in 2022 – which is specially engineered for side-sleepers like me with C-shaped eye cups – that I was finally able to enjoy total darkness without having uncomfortable elasticated straps digging into the sides of my head.
I loved my Manta PRO so much, in fact, that I gave it a glowing review, and later got a Manta SILK Sleep Mask when I started worrying more about the signs of ageing. I thought I’d truly hit the side sleeper’s jackpot when I combined my Manta sleep masks with my Simba Cooling Body Pillow (also made for side sleepers), and both are now so vital to me for a good night’s sleep, I even took them on a camping holiday with me this summer!
That said, as someone who can only fall asleep listening to some kind of sound to quiet my busy mind, I longed for the day when I could wear a sleep mask with built-in speakers that would be comfy enough for side sleepers (playing an audiobook out loud in a field late at night does not make for fellow happy campers).
So, imagine my delight when I discovered a few months back that my favourite sleep mask brand had granted my wish with the launch the Manta SOUND Sleep Mask?! Naturally, I got my hands on one as soon as possible, and after six weeks of testing, I can tell you that it not only deserves a spot in our best sleep headphones guide, but it’s also my favourite product of 2024, hands down. Read on to find out why.
MANTA SOUND SLEEP MASK REVIEW: PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
The Manta SOUND Sleep Mask is now available to buy for a recommended retail price of £143/ $143 from Manta Sleep UK / Manta Sleep US.
Available in a DUO bundle which allows you to buy two SOUND Sleep Masks at a discounted price of £259 / $259, it comes in a choice of two colourways: Classic (grey/black) or Sunrise Pink (I tested the former). You can also try it risk-free for 60 days and return it for a refund if you’re not entirely happy with it.
MANTA SOUND SLEEP MASK REVIEW: DESIGN
The Manta SOUND Sleep Mask comes complete with a mesh zip bag for travel and washing purposes, a USB-C charging cable, an instruction manual, and a separate adjustable Velcro strap that attaches to the mask and fits over your head if you need help in keeping the mask in place over night.
The mask itself comprises of several components all held together with Velcro: namely the unique two-layer strap consisting of a top layer housing all the ‘tech’, and a bottom layer that allows you to attach Manta’s famous C-shaped eye cups in the perfect position for your face while being removeable and washable for hygiene purposes. These layers are also curved to fit perfectly over your eyes and ears.
It’s the C-shaped cups that gently taper off at the sides and sit flat against your temples that makes them so good for side sleepers. Thanks to the foam that expands to keep the light out and compresses when you lie on your side, you get a perfect blackout seal with none of the bulk when you switch positions, creating a constant ‘air bubble’ that also prevents pressure on your eyelids and eyelashes.
Just like the Manta PRO Sleep Mask, the SOUND Sleep Mask is engineered to keep you cool and comfortable through the night using soft, perforated materials for maximum airflow and ventilation. To start enjoying audio, the mask must be within 1m of your device for pairing via Bluetooth, which you do by pressing the on/off button for three seconds.
MANTA SOUND SLEEP MASK REVIEW: FEATURES
Hailed as ‘the most comfortable Bluetooth sleep mask in existence’, the secret of the SOUND Sleep Mask’s success lies in the ‘razor-thin’ Bluetooth headphones, which are just 5mm in thickness.
Optimised for side sleep comfort, these headphones are nestled within the top layer of the curved, padded strap. And, unlike most audio masks, the headphones are easily adjustable with a pull of the slidable tabs on the sides of the mask so you can position them perfectly.
The thin Bluetooth control panel is located on the centre of the mask’s top layer and consists of one on/off button and a plus and minus button on either side to raise or lower the volume. Nearby, you’ll also find a discreet USB-C charging port.
One full charge takes around 2 and a half hours, but you get a whopping 20 hours of battery life, which is apparently twice as long as any leading competitors. Even better, Manta SOUND Sleep Mask will never interrupt your sleep with battery notifications.
MANTA SOUND SLEEP MASK REVIEW: PERFORMANCE
I was highly impressed by the Manta SOUND Sleep Mask from the very first night of using it, and it’s been firmly attached to my head every night ever since. Manta sleep masks can take a little getting used to initially, but as a seasoned wearer, I had zero issues adapting to it.
After selecting my chosen sound – an audio book read by Stephen Fry - I adjusted the mask to fit my face for total blackout and attached the separate overhead band to see if it made any difference to the mask staying on my head.
Nestled into a pillow on my side, I played around with the positioning of the speakers by sliding them back and forth. When they were placed directly over my ears, the sound quality was excellent, and it felt like it was surrounded by Fry’s voice. After waking the next day with the mask still firmly in place, I realised I hadn’t managed to listen to a full chapter before falling asleep, which is incredibly rare for me.
Over the next few nights of use, I did notice that I was disturbed once or twice with a bit of an earache due to the solid nature of the small Bluetooth speaker pressing against the ear I was lying on, so I naturally changed position at the time.
However, I soon found the best way to get around this is to slide the speaker you’re lying on either to the front or back to reduce any direct pressure on the ear. This does mean that the volume of the speakers reduces a bit as you move the speaker further away from the ear (we’re literally talking an inch or two either way), but it’s easily remedied by adjusting the volume with a tap of the Bluetooth controls.
After almost two months of testing, I have never been bothered by the Bluetooth controls or USB charging port during sleep. And now I’ve found how to adjust the speakers to my liking, I can attest to sleeping deeply every night.
I have also woken up every single morning to find the mask still firmly in place, which I do attribute in part to using the additional overhead band. The battery life is also seriously impressive for this kind of device, and I can listen to white noise or soundscapes all night long for at least two nights before needing to charge it again.
While this mask doesn’t come with built-in sounds like the Philips x Kokoon Sleep Headphones, or provide active noise cancellation like the Quieton 3 Sleep Earbuds, I don’t miss either. I like playing a variety of sounds through my choice of apps to match my mood, and the noise I hear is enough to muffle London traffic, police sirens, and my dog’s snoring.
I should say that I am in no way a sound engineer or audio expert, so I can’t speak to the quality of the speakers with any authority. But, as I side sleeper, I honestly feel the thin, slidable speakers excel at delivering sounds to my ears in a comfortable way, and that’s all I could ask for – I really don’t care about base levels when I’m trying to sleep!
Overall, I’m addicted to sleeping with this mask, and I regularly use it for daytime naps and meditation sessions, too. However I choose to use it, I find I ‘go under’ faster and more deeply, and I stay that way for much longer. For me, the Manta SOUND Sleep Mask is an absolute game changer.
MANTA SOUND SLEEP MASK REVIEW: VERDICT
The Manta SOUND Sleep Mask is specially engineered for side sleepers, with C-shaped eye cups for total blackout and thin 5mm Bluetooth speakers that are slidable so you can adjust them for complete comfort.
The mask might not come with active noise cancellation or built-in sounds, but it does offer an impressive 20 hours of battery life, full adjustability for a perfect fit that stays in place all night long, and unmatched comfort as you listen to music, meditations or any sound that soothes you. Highly impressive.
