Latest sleep products unveiled in Vegas

Angie Wagner

Monday, March 16, 1998 | 9:57 a.m.

Can't seem to get enough zzz's? How about a water bed with relaxing surround sound?

"What you see and hear, you can now feel in the bed," said Felix Tauscher, a German distributor for the Aqua Surround Sound System.

About 600 retailers from around the world plopped down on the newest mattresses, kicked their feet up and tried to stay awake as they sampled the latest sleep products at the International Specialty Sleep Products Show in Las Vegas on Saturday.

At the Aqua Surround booth, lying on the waterbed's gold satin sheets sent waves thumping against your body in time to the music on the television. The waves grew more powerful as the music increased.

"Oh my!" one woman squealed after trying the new product.

The sound system is built into the foundation of the waterbed. The sound produced by a television or radio is transmitted through the water and the resulting frequency waves travel through the body.

"This is not a sleeping room anymore, this is an exciting room," Tauscher said of the bedroom.

The system retails for around $4,000.

"It's a little bit unconventional, I guess," he said.

If sleepless nights are a problem, maybe the mattress massage is the way to go.

Blue Magic Products of Stockton, Calif., has created two vibrating wands that are placed between the mattress and box springs. Operated by remote control, the wands vibrate at different levels and speeds, creating instant relaxation, the company said.

"It's a wave-like sensation," said Jeff Moran, sales manager. "It just relaxes you."

The mattress massage starts at $80.

Land and Sky of Lincoln, Neb., features the "Night Flight," a "flotation" mattress intended to transport tired people to a new state.

"It's a whole new experience," said Ron Larson, company president.

The show ends today.

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