diff --git a/js/PeakDetectorAudioNode.ts b/js/PeakDetectorAudioNode.ts
index 1dafba9..156bf31 100644
--- a/js/PeakDetectorAudioNode.ts
+++ b/js/PeakDetectorAudioNode.ts
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ export type PeakDetectorAudioNodeOptions = {
 
 class PeakDetectorAudioNode extends AudioWorkletNode {
 
-  constructor( providedOptions: PeakDetectorAudioNodeOptions ) {
+  constructor( providedOptions?: PeakDetectorAudioNodeOptions ) {
 
     const options = optionize<PeakDetectorAudioNodeOptions, PeakDetectorAudioNodeOptions>()( {
       logZeroValues: false
diff --git a/js/demo/TamboKeyboardHelpContent.ts b/js/demo/TamboKeyboardHelpContent.ts
index 4f9a58d..57c185f 100644
--- a/js/demo/TamboKeyboardHelpContent.ts
+++ b/js/demo/TamboKeyboardHelpContent.ts
@@ -12,10 +12,6 @@ import { HBox } from '../../../scenery/js/imports.js';
 import tambo from '../tambo.js';
 
 class TamboKeyboardHelpContent extends HBox {
-
-  /**
-   * @constructor
-   */
   constructor() {
     super( { children: [ new BasicActionsKeyboardHelpSection() ], align: 'top', spacing: 30 } );
   }
diff --git a/js/demo/testing/view/AmplitudeModulatorDemoNode.ts b/js/demo/testing/view/AmplitudeModulatorDemoNode.ts
index 98d0b58..3ed244d 100644
--- a/js/demo/testing/view/AmplitudeModulatorDemoNode.ts
+++ b/js/demo/testing/view/AmplitudeModulatorDemoNode.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ const LABEL_FONT = new PhetFont( 16 );
 
 class AmplitudeModulatorDemoNode extends VBox {
 
-  constructor( providedOptions: AmplitudeModulatorDemoNodeOptions ) {
+  constructor( providedOptions?: AmplitudeModulatorDemoNodeOptions ) {
 
     const soundSourceRadioButtonItems = [
       {
diff --git a/js/demo/testing/view/ContinuousPropertySoundGeneratorTestNode.ts b/js/demo/testing/view/ContinuousPropertySoundGeneratorTestNode.ts
index ab685fe..689753b 100644
--- a/js/demo/testing/view/ContinuousPropertySoundGeneratorTestNode.ts
+++ b/js/demo/testing/view/ContinuousPropertySoundGeneratorTestNode.ts
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class ContinuousPropertySoundGeneratorTestNode extends VBox {
   // dispose function
   private readonly disposeContinuousPropertySoundGeneratorTestNode: () => void;
 
-  constructor( stepEmitter: Emitter<[ number ]>, providedOptions: ContinuousPropertySoundGeneratorTestNodeOptions ) {
+  constructor( stepEmitter: Emitter<[ number ]>, providedOptions?: ContinuousPropertySoundGeneratorTestNodeOptions ) {
 
     // keep track of listeners added to the step emitter so that they can be disposed
     const stepListeners: ( ( dt: number ) => void )[] = [];
diff --git a/js/demo/testing/view/RemoveAndDisposeSoundGeneratorsTestPanel.ts b/js/demo/testing/view/RemoveAndDisposeSoundGeneratorsTestPanel.ts
index ce4f169..1919991 100644
--- a/js/demo/testing/view/RemoveAndDisposeSoundGeneratorsTestPanel.ts
+++ b/js/demo/testing/view/RemoveAndDisposeSoundGeneratorsTestPanel.ts
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ const SOUND_GENERATOR_INFO = new Map<string, SoundGeneratorComboBoxItemInfo>( [
 
 class RemoveAndDisposeSoundGeneratorsTestPanel extends Panel {
 
-  constructor( providedOptions: RemoveAndDisposeSoundGeneratorsTestPanelOptions ) {
+  constructor( providedOptions?: RemoveAndDisposeSoundGeneratorsTestPanelOptions ) {
 
     const options = optionize<RemoveAndDisposeSoundGeneratorsTestPanelOptions, SelfOptions, PanelOptions>()( {
       fill: '#f5d3b3',
diff --git a/js/demo/testing/view/SoundClipChordTestNode.ts b/js/demo/testing/view/SoundClipChordTestNode.ts
index 17dac33..269e6c8 100644
--- a/js/demo/testing/view/SoundClipChordTestNode.ts
+++ b/js/demo/testing/view/SoundClipChordTestNode.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ class SoundClipChordTestNode extends VBox {
 
   private readonly disposeSoundClipChordTestNode: () => void;
 
-  constructor( providedOptions: SoundClipChordTestNodeOptions ) {
+  constructor( providedOptions?: SoundClipChordTestNodeOptions ) {
 
     // sound clips to be played
     const chordSoundClipChord = new SoundClipChord( brightMarimba_mp3 );
diff --git a/js/demo/testing/view/TestingScreenView.ts b/js/demo/testing/view/TestingScreenView.ts
index c3865b6..daa072b 100644
--- a/js/demo/testing/view/TestingScreenView.ts
+++ b/js/demo/testing/view/TestingScreenView.ts
@@ -47,9 +47,6 @@ class TestingScreenView extends DemosScreenView {
 
   private readonly stepEmitter: Emitter<[ number ]>;
 
-  /**
-   * @constructor
-   */
   constructor() {
 
     const resetInProgressProperty = new BooleanProperty( false );
diff --git a/js/demo/ui-components/model/UIComponentsModel.ts b/js/demo/ui-components/model/UIComponentsModel.ts
index 923a37d..2d42a4a 100644
--- a/js/demo/ui-components/model/UIComponentsModel.ts
+++ b/js/demo/ui-components/model/UIComponentsModel.ts
@@ -15,9 +15,6 @@ class UIComponentsModel {
   // tracks whether a reset is happening
   public readonly resetInProgressProperty: BooleanProperty;
 
-  /**
-   * @constructor
-   */
   constructor() {
     this.resetInProgressProperty = new BooleanProperty( false );
   }
diff --git a/js/sound-generators/ContinuousPropertySoundGenerator.ts b/js/sound-generators/ContinuousPropertySoundGenerator.ts
index 13c9404..7d55039 100644
--- a/js/sound-generators/ContinuousPropertySoundGenerator.ts
+++ b/js/sound-generators/ContinuousPropertySoundGenerator.ts
@@ -68,7 +68,6 @@ class ContinuousPropertySoundGenerator extends SoundClip {
    * may require it to be a .wav file, since .mp3 files generally have a bit of silence at the beginning.
    * @param range - the range of values that the provided property can take on
    * @param [providedOptions]
-   * @constructor
    */
   constructor( property: NumberProperty,
                sound: WrappedAudioBuffer,
diff --git a/js/sound-generators/DiscreteSoundGenerator.ts b/js/sound-generators/DiscreteSoundGenerator.ts
index 9f3aa0a..c917e12 100644
--- a/js/sound-generators/DiscreteSoundGenerator.ts
+++ b/js/sound-generators/DiscreteSoundGenerator.ts
@@ -46,12 +46,11 @@ class DiscreteSoundGenerator extends SoundClip {
   private readonly disposeDiscreteSoundGenerator: () => void;
 
   /**
-   * valueProperty - the value that is monitored to trigger sounds
-   * valueRange - the range of values expected and over which sounds will be played
-   * options - options for this sound generation and its parent class
-   * @constructor
+   * @param valueProperty - the value that is monitored to trigger sounds
+   * @param valueRange - the range of values expected and over which sounds will be played
+   * @param [providedOptions] - options for this sound generation and its parent class
    */
-  constructor( valueProperty: NumberProperty, valueRange: Range, providedOptions: DiscreteSoundGeneratorOptions ) {
+  constructor( valueProperty: NumberProperty, valueRange: Range, providedOptions?: DiscreteSoundGeneratorOptions ) {
 
     const options = optionize<DiscreteSoundGeneratorOptions, SelfOptions, SoundClipOptions>()( {
       sound: brightMarimba_mp3,
diff --git a/js/sound-generators/MultiClip.ts b/js/sound-generators/MultiClip.ts
index 8e5faf1..7aa410b 100644
--- a/js/sound-generators/MultiClip.ts
+++ b/js/sound-generators/MultiClip.ts
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class MultiClip<T> extends SoundGenerator {
    * associated with the value.
    * @param [providedOptions]
    */
-  constructor( valueToWrappedAudioBufferMap: Map<T, WrappedAudioBuffer>, providedOptions: MultiClipOptions ) {
+  constructor( valueToWrappedAudioBufferMap: Map<T, WrappedAudioBuffer>, providedOptions?: MultiClipOptions ) {
 
     const options = optionize<MultiClipOptions, SelfOptions, MultiClipOptions>()( {
       initialPlaybackRate: 1
diff --git a/js/sound-generators/NoiseGenerator.ts b/js/sound-generators/NoiseGenerator.ts
index 91ca249..d9e04a3 100644
--- a/js/sound-generators/NoiseGenerator.ts
+++ b/js/sound-generators/NoiseGenerator.ts
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ class NoiseGenerator extends SoundGenerator {
   // function that handles changes to the audio context
   private readonly audioContextStateChangeListener: ( state: string ) => void;
 
-  constructor( providedOptions: NoiseGeneratorOptions ) {
+  constructor( providedOptions?: NoiseGeneratorOptions ) {
 
     const options = optionize<NoiseGeneratorOptions, SelfOptions, SoundGeneratorOptions>()( {
       noiseType: 'pink', // valid values are 'white', 'pink', and 'brown'
@@ -236,8 +236,6 @@ class NoiseGenerator extends SoundGenerator {
 
     this.noiseSourceConnectionPoint = nextOutputToConnect;
     this.isPlaying = false;
-
-    // @private {number} - time at which a deferred play request occurred.
     this.timeOfDeferredStartRequest = Number.NEGATIVE_INFINITY;
 
     // define the listener for audio context state transitions
diff --git a/js/sound-generators/OscillatorSoundGenerator.ts b/js/sound-generators/OscillatorSoundGenerator.ts
index 8f32c1c..626b42c 100644
--- a/js/sound-generators/OscillatorSoundGenerator.ts
+++ b/js/sound-generators/OscillatorSoundGenerator.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class OscillatorSoundGenerator extends SoundGenerator {
   private readonly frequency: number;
   private waveformType: OscillatorType;
 
-  constructor( providedOptions: OscillatorSoundGeneratorOptions ) {
+  constructor( providedOptions?: OscillatorSoundGeneratorOptions ) {
 
     const options = optionize<OscillatorSoundGeneratorOptions, SelfOptions, SoundGeneratorOptions>()( {
       initialFrequency: 440,
diff --git a/js/sound-generators/PitchedPopGenerator.ts b/js/sound-generators/PitchedPopGenerator.ts
index 072b558..10959d4 100644
--- a/js/sound-generators/PitchedPopGenerator.ts
+++ b/js/sound-generators/PitchedPopGenerator.ts
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ class PitchedPopGenerator extends SoundGenerator {
   // next sound source to use to play a sound
   private nextSoundSourceIndex: number;
 
-  constructor( providedOptions: PitchedPopGeneratorOptions ) {
+  constructor( providedOptions?: PitchedPopGeneratorOptions ) {
 
     const options = optionize<PitchedPopGeneratorOptions, SelfOptions, SoundGeneratorOptions>()( {
       pitchRange: new Range( 220, 660 ),
diff --git a/js/sound-generators/PropertyMultiClip.ts b/js/sound-generators/PropertyMultiClip.ts
index 7168193..5189f63 100644
--- a/js/sound-generators/PropertyMultiClip.ts
+++ b/js/sound-generators/PropertyMultiClip.ts
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class PropertyMultiClip<T> extends MultiClip<T> {
    *                          between values and sounds.
    * @param [providedOptions]
    */
-  constructor( property: Property<T>, valueToSoundMap: Map<T, WrappedAudioBuffer>, providedOptions: PropertyMultiClipOptions ) {
+  constructor( property: Property<T>, valueToSoundMap: Map<T, WrappedAudioBuffer>, providedOptions?: PropertyMultiClipOptions ) {
 
     const options = optionize<PropertyMultiClipOptions, SelfOptions, MultiClipOptions>()( {
       linkLazily: true
diff --git a/js/sound-generators/SoundClipPlayer.ts b/js/sound-generators/SoundClipPlayer.ts
index 412854b..86b25c9 100644
--- a/js/sound-generators/SoundClipPlayer.ts
+++ b/js/sound-generators/SoundClipPlayer.ts
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ class SoundClipPlayer {
   /**
    * @param wrappedAudioBuffer - a Web Audio audio buffer containing decoded audio samples
    * @param [providedOptions]
-   * @constructor
    */
   constructor( wrappedAudioBuffer: WrappedAudioBuffer, providedOptions?: SoundClipPlayerOptions ) {
 
diff --git a/js/soundManager.ts b/js/soundManager.ts
index ff4d82e..5fc2785 100644
--- a/js/soundManager.ts
+++ b/js/soundManager.ts
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ class SoundManager extends PhetioObject {
                      simVisibleProperty: BooleanProperty,
                      simActiveProperty: BooleanProperty,
                      simSettingPhetioStateProperty: BooleanProperty,
-                     providedOptions: SoundGeneratorInitializationOptions ) {
+                     providedOptions?: SoundGeneratorInitializationOptions ) {
 
     assert && assert( !this.initialized, 'can\'t initialize the sound manager more than once' );
 
@@ -345,7 +345,12 @@ class SoundManager extends PhetioObject {
    * Add a sound generator.  This connects the sound generator to the audio path, puts it on the list of sound
    * generators, and creates and returns a unique ID.
    */
-  public addSoundGenerator( soundGenerator: SoundGenerator, providedOptions: SoundGeneratorAddOptions = {} ) {
+  public addSoundGenerator( soundGenerator: SoundGenerator, providedOptions?: SoundGeneratorAddOptions ) {
+
+    // We'll need an empty object of no options were provided.
+    if ( providedOptions === undefined ) {
+      providedOptions = {};
+    }
 
     // Check if initialization has been done and, if not, queue the sound generator and its options for addition
     // once initialization is complete.  Note that when sound is not supported, initialization will never occur.