Pretty, Nice Sound, Very Limited Selections
This Orein Assoupi 3-in-1 Sleep Sound Machine has three different functions. With the color changing lights, it functions as a pretty little lamp. It also functions as a sound machine. Its third function is a a bluetooth speaker. I'll discuss them in turn. The power button, light button and three volume controls ( - , pause/play, and + ) are all located on the front of the machine. The sound button and the timer button are located on the bottom of the machine. LAMP FUNCTION: As a lamp, there are five programs, accessed in sequence by pushing the light button on the far right of the front of the lamp. The programs are: 1) fast color change, 2) move to the beat, 3) slow fade color transition, 4) night light, and 5) lights off. Though there are many light colors, you cannot stop on any particular color but instead can only see either a fast or a slow continuous rotation through them all. The exception is #4, the night light, which is only available golden yellow. As a stand alone light, my favorite setting is 3, the slow fade color transition. It is so peaceful to watch, and is absolutely mesmerizing to me, especially when the house is dark. Setting 2 works best connected to bluetooth, but will also change colors and intensities to the sound machine selections, and it's definitely cool to watch on the rain/thunderstorm setting. SOUND MACHINE FUNCTION: There are five sound programs that are accessible by using the controls on the bottom of the speaker. The programs are 1) rain, 2) fire, 3) meditation, 4) fan, 5) ocean, 6) sound off. They have to be accessed in order. The fire program doesn't sound anything like a crackling fire to me, it sounds like very high pitched tinkling. I didn't like this one at all, although I would have liked it if it had actually sounded like fire. The meditation program is a very soothing new age kind of sound that I like a lot, and I also like the rain which includes lots of thunder, and the ocean. I'm not much for white noise, but the fan would be pleasing to those who are. I thought the sound was amazingly clear and sharp for such a tiny little machine. Sound can be played continuously, or the timer button on the bottom of the machine can be pushed to choose an auto-off of 30, 60, or 90 minutes. BLUETOOTH SPEAKER: It was amazingly easy to connect bluetooth, and I tried it on a number of different types of music using my iPod as the music source. I was pleased with how this little speaker sounded with each music selection I played. While this is obviously not going to match the high fidelity sound of my expensive home sound system, I feel it performed quite well. Note: if the power button is held for two seconds and the blinking blue light is on, indicating the speaker is ready to pair to bluetooth, the speaker will automatically shut down after two minutes if it is not paired with bluetooth. If I change my mind about connecting to bluetooth after the blue light is flashing, I can just press the power button rapidly and the blinking blue light will go away and I will return to normal speaker mode. Also, if the speaker is paired to bluetooth and is paused for 15 minutes or more, the speaker will automatically shut down. I find that the more I use this little sound machine, the more I like it, and am content with its limitations. The slowly fading lights and a soft mediation program in the background with this little machine sitting on the corner of my computer desk at home is just perfect for me, and I am glad I ordered this machine.
Rating: 4 stars