Customer Reviews

OCEAN WAVES

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I was very much looking forward to playing this CD; it's currently (May 27 1999) the top-selling environmental recording at Amazon.com, and it has garnered some enthusiastic reviews from previous buyers. When my package arrived from Amazon.com I disappeared upstairs to my bedroom and prepared to be spirited away to some deserted stretch of wild ocean. Yet it would take a mind with a much greater imagination than mine to believe even for a moment that the sounds on this CD bear any relation to anything found in nature. The sounds of surf are synthetic and artificial, an undifferentiated hiss and roar, comparable to someone blowing on a microphone. I couldn't recommend this to anyone, and doubt if I'll be buying any more of the 'Sounds of Nature' series anytime soon. Darn.

When I first listened to this CD through speakers, I was a little disappointed. I tended to agree with a previous reviewer who thought it sounded like static. I took the CD to work and listened to it through headphones. What a difference. It sounds so much better. I got this CD in order to drown out the conversations of the guy in the cube next to mine. He is from the planet where they NEVER SHUT UP! I am a computer programmer and I need to concentrate and focus. This CD is perfect as a source of masking white noise. It is great because it has no background music and it is one long continuous track.

The clarity of this CD is similiar to the hiss of a radio between channels--and you don't have to pay extra for that! If you've been to the ocean you'll realize that this is not what it sounds like. ;)

Sounds of Nature: Ocean Waves sounded like a good CD from most of the reviews. When it started up, the pounding of the surf was wonderful. And then...the seagull started. The bird cries seem to be dubbed over the ocean due to their startling clarity. Plus the bird was obviously perched on top of the microphone because it was so loud. No dopler effects from distances, no multiple calls, just a single bird. And the bird keeps jumping from side to side (left speaker to right and then back). Perhaps other birds join in later but I didn't bother waiting to find out. The purpose of the CD was to drown out office noise and allow me to concentrate. Instead I found myself flinching everytime a bird call came. The earphones came off and the CD is gone. Don't bother with this one if you're looking for soothing ocean sounds.

With headphones, this CD does a marvelous job of knocking the surrounding cube noise down--pretty much wipes out sales teams' voices with ocean static. The sporadic seagull calls first cackled out like contrived screeches on metal but after a few spins I stopped harboring that notion. The volume level is decidedly consistent. I'm left wanting something different from a white noise CD because although the waves silence distractions, I can't say that they actually put me into a productive frame of mind. If you need a CD to wipe your mind's slate clean in a distracting environment for five or ten minutes, this is it. If you need a CD that does that plus adds to your creative levels, this isn't a good pick.

Absolutely awful. A non-stop drone of static. I also purchased "Sounds of Nature: Waterfalls" and it sounds exactly like "Ocean Waves". Static, static, static.

I had been searching for a CD like this for a long time. Most either have unrealistic ocean sounds or have other sounds that get in the way. There is one part I believe they got a little carried away with the seagulls, but otherwise a great CD.

I discovered ocean CD's as a healthy way to help my insomnia. I liked this one at first because its just nature sounds, no music added. But the ocean sound seems to be at a constant loud level; a wax&waning rolling,pounding surf which jumps back and forth from left to right earpiece on headset(somewhat irritating to say the least). Occasionally sounds like it was recorded from a boat as water laps against the side. The first time a seagull suddenly(and loudly)screeches, it startled me out of my chair! I can go to sleep with it sometimes but was looking for a bit calmer ocean sound. I do believe these nature CD's should be used only with headphones. Sounds much different & better than just on speakers.

If you don't know that you're not actually there, you'd swear the ocean is out side your door. On surround sound your on an island. I've been looking for a recording like this for a long time. All that's needed is the smell of the salt air.

I use this just before bedtime...it is an excellent way to clear your mind of all of the days' hustle and bustle...It also may be used to enhance your ability to dream or during meditative exercise...The sounds are those of true ocean waves...Enjoy!