The Manta Sound Sleep Mask promises a blissful combination of comfort, sound, and darkness for a superior sleep experience. This review delves into the details of this Bluetooth-enabled sleep mask, examining its strengths and weaknesses to determine whether it lives up to its ambitious claims. We'll explore the mask's comfort and fit, analyzing its design choices and their impact on wearability, particularly focusing on potential pressure points and temperature regulation. Sound quality and the integrated microphone's performance will also be scrutinized, assessing its suitability for audiobooks, music, and calls.Beyond the functional aspects, this review will evaluate the mask's battery life, charging convenience, and the overall user experience. We will also touch upon Manta's customer service responsiveness and, critically, assess the company's environmental practices and commitment to sustainability. Ultimately, we aim to provide a balanced perspective, weighing the Manta Sound Sleep Mask's innovative features against its shortcomings, helping you decide if this sleep mask is the right choice for your needs.
Pros And Cons
- High-quality materials
- No eye pressure
- Good light seal (with adjustments)
- Long battery life (20 hours claimed)
- USB-C charging
- Wide range of quietness
- 60-day risk-free trial
- Good tech support responsiveness
- Gets hot sometimes
- Difficult to get a good fit
- Requires adjustments to be comfortable
- Elastic band is irritating and not integrated into design
- Causes ear pressure
- Sound quality is mid-range; low tones sound cheap
- Noise isolation is poor
- Microphone is poorly integrated and not advertised
- Phone call audio requires high volume for both listening and speaking
- Company seems unaware of climate crisis and lacks recycling program
Read more: Banish Dark Circles: 5 Cooling Eye Masks That Work
Fit and Comfort: A Mixed Bag
The Manta Sleep Mask boasts undeniable quality materials; the eyecups are luxuriously smooth and silky. However, comfort is a subjective experience, and I encountered two main issues. Firstly, the mask can get quite warm, although this wasn't a consistent problem. Secondly, achieving a consistently good fit proved challenging, even after weeks of use. I ended up modifying the design to improve comfort, which highlights a potential design flaw.
The integrated elastic layer, while present, wasn't effectively incorporated into the design. Unlike the original Manta mask, which featured elastic built into the Velcro strap for ease of adjustment and comfort, this newer model falls short. This omission makes achieving a proper fit and maintaining comfort more difficult, significantly impacting the overall user experience. It's a step back from the original's superior design.
Light Seal and Ear Pressure
The mask's design, passing over the ears and wrapping around the skull and neck, contrasts with the original's above-the-ear placement. This, combined with the lack of flexible fabric, causes pressure points to shift with head movement, affecting the light seal. The tight fit needed for a complete blackout can sometimes result in uncomfortable ear pressure.
This ear pressure is particularly noticeable for individuals with larger ears. Finding a balance between a secure fit and comfortable ear pressure requires constant adjustment. The absence of functional elastic means there’s no “set it and forget it” solution; it becomes a nightly guesswork whether you’ll wake up with sore ears.
Battery Life, Charging, and Sound Quality
The battery life is surprisingly impressive; I used it for a 5-day trip without needing a recharge. The USB-C charging is a welcome feature, a refreshing change from proprietary connectors. Although the battery capacity is small (200mAh), the claimed 20-hour battery life seems accurate in my experience. Charging is quick, taking about an hour.
Sound quality is decent for audiobooks but not ideal for music appreciation. Higher frequencies sound good, but lower tones lack depth and richness. Noise isolation is also minimal; external sounds, even at a distance, are easily audible. While the volume is loud enough to mask some noises, it’s not sufficient for complete sound blocking.
Microphone Functionality and Additional Features
Surprisingly, the mask incorporates a microphone, a feature not advertised on Manta's website. While convenient for calls, it requires cranking up the volume to hear the other person clearly, and speaking loudly for them to hear you. The microphone is not ideal for quiet conversations.
The wide range of quietness settings is a thoughtful design choice, especially for sleep use, allowing for very faint and precise audio levels. The inclusion of an accessibility menu in the online store is also commendable, showcasing a broader range of features than many competitors.
Warranty, Support, and Environmental Concerns
Manta offers a 60-day risk-free trial, a standard practice for many companies. Their customer support is responsive and helpful, providing timely replies to inquiries. However, their response didn't resolve the core issue of the mask's fit.
Environmentally, Manta's practices are concerning. They seem unaware of the climate crisis and show little effort in mitigating carbon production or providing recycling options for their products. The lack of focus on sustainable practices is a significant drawback.
Final Verdict
The Manta Sound Sleep Mask, while having some significant design flaws (primarily the fit and ear pressure), offers a comfortable sleep experience once the fit is adjusted. The warmth issue can be mitigated with cooling eyecups. The lack of better alternatives makes it a livable, albeit imperfect option.
Ultimately, the product's shortcomings are balanced by its unique features (Bluetooth, microphone, wide range of quietness settings) and the relatively responsive customer service. While not a perfect upgrade from the original, the Manta Sound Sleep Mask remains a competitive choice in the limited Bluetooth sleep mask market.
