Review - Muse S Gen 2: Why I DON'T believe it's reading my BRAIN!

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Muse S Gen 2

Ever feel like your brain can't shut off? Your thoughts are racing, you're replaying things over in your mind, and you just can't seem to relax or fall asleep? What if you could know what's going on inside your cranium? That's the premise of Muse brain sensing headbands.

Muse S is a headband-style device that claims to track your brain activity, and using built-in meditations, to help you relax, or even fall asleep. I recently got a sample of the Muse S to try out and see for myself what it can do. In this review I’ll walk you through how it works, what the experience is like, and whether I recommend it.

There are many devices out there that track sleep cycles to varying degrees of accuracy, but the Muse S takes things a step further. It’s a device that actually tracks EEG readings and provides feedback that can help you “train your brain.”It’s a combination sleep monitor, sleep helper and a meditation assistant.

What’s New in Gen 2
Muse S consists of a soft headband and a removable brain sensing pod that’s rechargeable.

The Gen 2 model improves upon the original version with better signal quality, faster battery charging, and a more accurate battery level indicator, claims Muse.

The most significant change is the updated headband, which uses more spandex to allow more stretch and make the band less likely to tear.

The ear electrodes are also wider to help maintain a strong signal…. Though as you’ll soon see its didn’t do much for my experience.

What Does Muse Monitor?
The Muse S is a meditation tool, as it claims to help you focus on meditation, while also monitoring your heart rate, brainwave activity or EEG, and breathing.

You choose a voice-guided mediation and then try to listen and focus.

The EEG readings sense when your brain is working harder and offer meditation options and sounds to help you relax, and give audio feedback when you do. If you’re not at peace, your brain is working harder; the Muse S increases the amount and frequency of certain sound effects, then lessons them as you relax.

When you’re fully relaxed, you’ll hear the chirping of birds.

Muse S also offers Sleep help: you an take one of the digital sleeping pills to help you fall asleep, and it will also do sleep position tracking, give you a sleep efficiency score, and “deep sleep insights.” You do, of course, need to wear the headband to sleep.

If you’re on Apple HealthKit, the Muse S will take over your sleep tracking and report back to your Health app while your phone or watch is charging.

Set up
You will need to download the Muse app and create an account. Next, charge up your Muse sensor and clip it into the headband. The app will take you though an initial demonstration and share tips if you’re not familiar with how to use it.

The thing I found out is that if the sensor isn’t clipped into the dock on the band correctly, it will not work properly. Make sure there’s no gaps between the dock and the sensor, and press to close any you do see. Even a small gap can mean your sensors won’t take readings.

With the brain sensor pod charged, put on the headband and open the app. Tap to connect to your band via Bluetooth. You’ll chose a session and the device will check the sensor contact with your skin. Then just sit back and listen to the audio.

Wearing and using Muse S

The headband has an adjustable strap that should let you get a snug but comfortable fit.

Also, very important is that you need to make sure the Muse logo is facing up; if the band is worn upside down, the sensors, particularly on the ears, can’t connect properly for a good reading.

Before each and every session the band will re-calibrate itself and this take about a minute. Each of the sensors across the front and behind the ears need to make perfect contact with your head of the whole thing will not work; there’s no, “4/5 sensors are working so let’s just go ahead anyway” option.

I can tell you I found this very difficult, particularly getting the ear sensors properly connected was a massive challenge that, frankly, stressed me out most times I used it. You’ve got to make sure no hair gets in the way.. which, for some of us, is a challenge. The coloured bars in the app will light up when you’ve got all your connections made.