But, sure enough, there are factors you should consider before you make a purchase.
Muse Headband review factor #1: Expensive
The Muse headband seems expensive.
The upgraded versions are probably overpriced too.
BUT!
It’s a high-tech device that maps your brainwaves!
It’s bound to be expensive. And also, “expensive” is subjective. If you would like to optimize your health then this investment is minimal.
And what price can you put on your mental health and well-being?
Muse Headband review factor #2: Might be distracting
When you wear a device on your forehead, it can get distracting.
Especially because your senses are heightened in the state of meditation.
If that bothers you, you might get agitated.
Kind of loses its purpose!
But, users have said that after the first few minutes, they tend to forget the presence of the headband.
It’s light, comfortable, and easy to wear.
To buy or not to buy?
Our opinion?
You won’t know until you try it!
Muse Headband review factor #3: Can slip while you sleep
The Muse S is designed for extreme comfort.
So that you experience no irritation while you sleep.
But, are you a crawler?
Do you move a lot in your sleep?
If yes, the headband can slip!
And it won’t be able to track your sleep data.
Also, if the plushest headband can bother your sleep, this is not for you!
After all, isn’t a comfortable sleep the highest priority?
What will your first experience be like?
Are you tech-savvy?
Yes?
Setting up the Muse will be easy.
If you aren’t, please don’t be intimidated!
You’ll figure it out with the help of the manual and app.
It can be tricky to calibrate the device on your forehead.
But again, the app will indicate if it’s placed properly.
For all the first-timers here:
It might be distracting to wear the headband.
Only for the first few minutes, though!
You’ll soon forget you’re wearing one.
What can you expect in your first session?
Hundreds of guided sessions for meditation and soundscapes.
Intimidating, but fun!
Do you like the sounds of a rainforest, or the beach, or a city park?
Or, do you want a voice to guide you?
You’ll know what to pick!
You can choose the duration of the session.
Suggestion: Choose 5 – 10 minutes if you’re a beginner.
It’ll seem less daunting!
When you start your session, the sounds will engulf you.
They’ll stop your thoughts from wandering.
But what happens when your thoughts do start to run wild?
The sounds will amplify.
This change will get your attention back!
You’ll make a conscious effort to get back to focusing on your breath.
You’ll notice yourself calming down.
And finally, you’ll be more mindful of your heart rate and breath.
What can you expect after the first session?
The Muse is accurate in analyzing mental activity.
The mapping will indicate how much time your mind was ‘Active’, ‘Neutral’ or ‘Calm.’
Don’t expect the signals to be in the ‘Calm’ zone throughout the session.
That would be over-expecting!
It will take you a few minutes to get in the zone.
And if you pick longer sessions, you’ll be fluctuating between the three zones.
Well, that’s it!
Experimenting is the key.
Find out what works best for you!
What happens to post the Muse Meditation Session?
After the session, you can write a journal entry about how you feel!
Also, you can pick an emoji to describe.
Once you are done self-analyzing your session, the app will show you the chart.
The graph will indicate the amount of time you were Active, Neutral and Calm.
Every second you spend in the Neutral zone earns you a point.
And every second in the Calm zone earns you three!
The number of times you return to the calm state from the active state are tagged as Recoveries.
A longer period of ‘calm’ earns you ‘birds’ as a reward.
So cool, right?
You see these scores along with the graph.
You can expect to push your meditating duration with regular practice (2).
And slowly, you’ll notice yourself meditating for long periods!
Muse 1 vs. Muse 2 – What’s The Difference?
To buy the basic headband or the upgraded one?
If you’re confused, you should check out some basic differences.
Functionality:
The Muse 1 headband ensures basic functionalities like:
Mapping mental activity
Audio feedback
But, who doesn’t like upgrades?
Muse 2 is the version every wellness enthusiast was looking for!
Along with the above features, it provides additional meditation modes:
Heart rate
Breath
Body Movement
It has a pulse oximeter sensor and an accelerometer to provide these additional features.
Battery Life :
There isn’t a major difference in the battery life of both devices.
Both have a battery life of 5 hours.
If you use it for 20 minutes every day, it would mean recharging it just once every two weeks!
Convenient and amazing!
What’s in the box?
The packaging is quite simple and functional.
What you’ll find on unboxing:
The headband
USB Cord
Basic printed user guide
The user guide is apt to start setting up the device.
But first, charge it to full power.
Meanwhile, you can download the app.
The box does not include a travel case.
But you can easily find it online!
It’s advisable to have protective gear since the headband is delicate.
How to set it up?
Setting up is easy!
Download the app and install it
Connect the device to the app via Bluetooth
Before the session starts, you’ll see a circle on the screen.
It indicates whether you’re wearing the headband correctly.
The circle fills with color as it starts to receive a good signal from the sensors.
You can start your meditation practice as soon as the color wheel is filled in!
What should you take care of?
It takes a minute for the device to pick up signals.
Please be a little patient!
The downside?
You need to calibrate every time you want to use the headband!
The upside?
After the initial setup, you can use the device and the app offline!
What brain waves does the Muse detect?
The Muse is an amazing piece of technology!
The electrical impulse that our brain emits is very feeble.
And yet, it picks up these signals expertly!
But how does it make sense of our mental state?
Brainwaves are categorized into five bands:
Delta Waves (0.1-2.9 Hz)
These waves are present when you are in a deep sleep.
The state of sleep when you have no dreams at all.
Theta Waves (4-7.9 Hz)
Theta waves are emitted when you experience deep relaxation or in your meditative state of mind.
Also, when you are sleeping or under hypnosis.
Isn’t this the zone we’re trying to get into?
And that’s exactly what the Muse helps us with!
And when you emit Theta waves, you hear the birds chirping!
Alpha Waves (8-13.9 Hz)
Alpha Waves are emitted when we experience the lucid state of awareness.
After a long walk in the forest, a yoga class, or a swim.
Any activity that’s relaxing for us!
Beta Waves (14-30 Hz)
Associated with the alert state of our mind; when we are thinking, talking, planning, analyzing.
Beta waves are dominant in our waking state.
Gamma Waves (31 Hz+)
Gamma waves are emitted when we are involved in intense mental tasks.
For instance, trying to memorize something.
Or extreme attentiveness and involvement of our perception abilities.
When the Muse picks up these waves, it maps them into comprehensive data.
Doesn’t tech make our life ten-fold easier?
What are the pros and cons?
When we review, we try to give an unbiased opinion of the product.
We hope the pros and cons section will help you make an informed decision!
Muse Headband Review Pros
Simple Design: The headband has a light, sleek design that’s comfortable to wear. The Muse S has an elasticated band that makes it a wonderful sleep tracker.
Easy App User Interface: The App is designed well and is a great guide for beginners.
Battery Life: The battery life is good and can work for a good two weeks if used for 20 mins every day.
Multifunctional: The newer versions of the Muse device come with multiple functionalities. Assists in tracking sleep as well as for meditation.
Variety of meditation audio: Hundreds of soundscapes and guided sessions. And you can always subscribe for more.
Easy to understand feedback: The graphs and charts that give feedback are easy to understand. Also, the competitive nature of the app to garner points and ‘birds’ is motivating!
3rd party apps: The device can be connected to apps like Muse Monitor for advanced brain sensing.
Muse Headband review Cons
Add-on subscription fee: The app is free, and so are the soundscapes, but to access more guided sessions, one needs to pay extra.
Soundscapes can get repetitive: The default soundscapes are amazing, but you can find yourself being bored over time. Moreover, you cannot have your own sound library.
Can be expensive: The price range of $199-$300 can be quite expensive. And an additional subscription fee to take more advantage of the experience increases the expense.
Not helpful for advanced meditators: The Muse is ideal for beginners. It helps them with meditation and increases their session time. But for advanced meditators, the only thing it can help with is tracking their progress.
How much does it cost?
Okay, now we are dealing with the main topic!
Original Muse
Most affordable of all, it was priced at $199.
But, with the newer versions in the market, it is now majorly unavailable.
Also, if you want to make a smart investment, buying the newer versions is much better!
Muse 2:
The headband alone costs $250.
Muse S:
The most expensive of all since it has all the functionalities of the above two.
AND it can be an excellent sleep assistant and tracker!
It is priced at $350.
The Muse Bundle – headband + 1-year biofeedback and guided meditations subscription would cost you about $100 more.
The Muse: Shipping policy
Once you order, the product will be shipped from the United States, Canada, Australia or the European Union, depending on your location.
If you order from any other region, it typically takes more than two weeks to ship.
Please Note: Countries outside the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the European Union may be subject to custom taxes and import duties.
Is it worth it?
TOTALLY!
But, it depends on your needs and wants.
It’s absolutely worth it if you’re a beginner.
And if meditation doesn’t come naturally to you.
If you’ve been struggling with anxiety, depression and unrest, it’s a small price to pay.
Mental wellness and health should be the priority!
The kind of fast-paced world we live in, it has become absolutely essential to meditate.
For our mental peace, for high energy levels, and our overall well-being!
BUT!
If you’re an expert practitioner, the product might be redundant.
You can then use it just to track your progress.
And to extend your duration to practice meditation for longer sessions!
Suggestions for calibrating the Muse headband
Users have often faced problems with calibrating the headband.
So we thought some suggestions would help!
Initially, the app will give some exercises to collect user personal data – to differentiate between your brainwaves. The feedback depends on them, so it’s advisable to do these exercises actively!
Try the headband at different heights on your forehead. Adjust the sensors until the app shows good signal quality.
Your skin should be clean. Avoid excess makeup, oils or moisturizer.
While the headband reads the brainwaves, try to be still (like you would while you meditate).
Well, that’s it!
Once you get comfortable with calibration, things will seem very easy!
FAQ
Some of the frequently asked questions you need to know.
Is the Muse headband worth it?
Yes, absolutely.
If you’re a beginner or an intermediate practitioner of meditation, the Muse is JUST FOR YOU!
Does it help one relax?
A big YES!
And, mental health >> everything else.
So investing a little to change your life for the better is worth it!
Is the muse S worth it?
Do you have difficulty putting yourself to sleep?
Do you experience stress that keeps you awake?
If yes, then buying the Muse S is worth it!
A sleep assistant, a meditation assistant and your personal sleep tracker.
In no time, you’ll see the benefit of having a sleep assisting device!
What does the Muse headband do?
The Muse headband
Assists you while you meditate
Provides audio prompts to increase your concentration
Plays immersive soundscapes for a better meditating experience
Charts your sessions
These are the basic functions.
With an upgrade in your headband, you can enjoy more benefits.
You can have a sleep assistant and tracker and a wide range of guided meditations!
Does Muse sleep work?
Have people experienced better sleep using Muse S?
The answer is YES.
People have noticed that biohacking sleep and insomnia is now easier.
The soundscapes have helped people slip into a deep sleep.
The headband is soft, has an elasticated band that makes it easier to wear at night.