Have you ever heard of vibrators that make noise or hum and wondered what the heck that means? Vibrators just hum, right? Well, what they’re really talking about is how those vibrators move and feel.
Key takeaways
- Buzzing vibrations are high frequency vibrations that move back and forth very quickly. So fast you probably can’t even see it!
- Rumbling vibrations are low frequency, with slower and larger movements.
- Buzzy vibrators provide surface level stimulation. which sometimes feels tingly or numb, while noisy ones provide deeper stimulation. that pulses through the body.
Buzzing vibrations = high frequency
The key to understanding the difference between humming and rumbling vibrations will involve a little physics. When a vibrator’s motor is turned on, the vibration moves back and forth, and the speed at which it moves determines how buzzy or rumbling the vibrations feel.
Buzzy vibrators move very quickly or with high frequency. When you turn one on, you probably won’t see it move much, if at all, because it goes so fast.
If you look at the GIF above, you can see that it barely moves the Fleshlight’s sleeve, even on its highest setting. In the video below, the vibrator creates small but very fast waves on the surface of the water.
How do you feel?
The feel of a buzzing vibrator will depend on exactly how buzzy or high-frequency it is. Buzzier vibrations may tickle or tingle your skin and may cause you to feel numb if the vibrations are too strong or if you use them for a long time.
The reason this happens is because those high frequency vibrations don’t penetrate very deeply into the tissue. They can seem very superficial and many people do not find their use very satisfactory.
Of course, humming and clunking are a spectrum, so a vibrator that makes a little bit of humming noise can still be felt deeper in the body, while a vibrator that makes a lot of humming noise may be too ticklish for some people.
The 3 best Buzzy vibrators we’ve tested
Buzzy is not always synonymous with cheap or low quality! Here are three vibes that have buzzy vibes that are still lovely, high-quality toys…
The Eva is a small vibrator designed to snuggle next to the clitoris.
You can use it during penetrative sex to provide additional clitoral stimulation as you progress. It’s anchored in place with small, flexible “legs” on each side so you can use it hands-free.
Despite it being the most vibrant vibrator I’ve come across, I really enjoyed using it during sex with my partner. I couldn’t use it for long periods because it would start to feel ticklish, but it was strong enough that it wasn’t necessary.
This little vibe made headlines when all kinds of celebrities started raving about it! The Vesper is the first collar vibrator, so you can show off your pleasure for everyone to see!
Made of sleek stainless steel and featuring a delicate chain, it’s discreet enough to not scream “sex toy!” – Perfect for a date night!
Isabelle tried it and said, “the more intense vibrations are great for prolonging the experience and having a slower buildup or even edging.”
Little Dipper has a rather unusual shape, but is ideal for trying out multiple different types of stimulation.
The silicone is silky smooth, the ribs provide an interesting texture to rub, and you can choose between precise and extensive stimulation using the different sides.
When Edie tried it out she found that while the vibrations are definitely buzzy, they are also incredibly strong!
Noisy vibrations = low frequency
If the buzzing vibrations move at a very high speed, it makes sense that the rumbling vibrations move at a much slower speed.
But doesn’t that weaken them? Not really: the frequency of the vibrations does not determine how powerful they are, but how deeply you feel them.
If you look at the GIF above again, you can see that the vibrator moves slowly enough that you can see the toy back and forth. But the movements are much larger, which gives them more impact. In the video below, you can see the vibrations creating larger waves in the water and causing a big splash.
How do you feel?
Noisy vibrations penetrate deeper into the skin and through tissues. Think of it like the bass coming out of a speaker: you don’t just hear it in your ears, you feel it in your body!
You may not feel as many noisy vibrations on the surface of your skin, because the vibrator itself doesn’t move as fast. However, once you press the vibration inside you, you will feel it throbbing!
When you use a vibrator on your clitoris or vagina, the noise can be a great benefit because it stimulates more internal structure of the clitoris. The more nerve endings inside the clitoris you stimulate, the more pleasurable you will feel.
The 3 best Rumbly vibrators we’ve tested
If you love power and you love rumble, you really can’t get any better than the Doxy Die Cast Wand.
This stem is made from solid titanium alloy and has a specially designed dual-weight head to create the most booming vibrations possible.
Isabelle wrote our review of this toy and absolutely loves it. It’s not for the faint of heart, however: if you crank up the intensity, you may find yourself on a whole new plane of existence.
The Tango X is my favorite toy of all time and I don’t see anything that comes close to taking that title.
This little bullet vibe is incredibly loud, and in fact, many in the sex toy business consider it the gold standard in loud vibrations.
You might recognize it from the GIF and video above, so you can see for yourself how loud it is!
I couldn’t do this ranking without including an insertable vibrator! This toy is designed to maximize G-spot pleasure, with a flexible, curvaceous shaft, ribbed texture, and super-powerful, super-rumbling vibrations.
Cassie liked lower settings for a purring kitten and higher settings for a ferocious beast! If you have had a hard time feeling something with internal vibrations in the past, the power and low frequency of the Tiger may be what you are looking for.