Muse: Meditation & Sleep Reviews

This device is certainly having an impact on my overall wellness in the short time I’ve had it. I’ve been on a path of clarity in recent months and had been strengthening my meditation practice on my own. I heard about this months ago and knew it would aid in bringing me the peace that’s eluded me most of my life. I kept thinking I wanted to buy it for the people in my life that weren’t connecting as deeply to their own practice (to justify the expense). By happenstance I was granted a bonus at work that allowed me to treat myself and when I saw it was on sale for the holiday season I bought 2!! One for me and one for the partner I’ll be starting a podcast with in the next few weeks called “psst Your Crazy Is Showing” where we dig through the things mediation has made clear in our lives and speak from a deep present moment awareness (or as deep as we can get at our novice level at this point). I’m almost 2 weeks in and feel that the time I spend with this app has almost tripled the benefits I was getting on my own (a 5 minute session feels like 20, and 20 minutes feels like an hour! ... in the best calming way imaginable). Rest and digest and may peace be with all who find this and the this app Headband. Thanks for reading :)

I have chronic migraines, chronic insomnia, and I am never fully relaxed; most stem from childhood abuses. Anyway, I’ve tried everything for all of it, massages, medicines, acupuncture, reiki, etc. and none have been as effective as this. I have the this app S and between biofeedback lessons and the sleep journeys, I have relaxed more, slept more (even fewer nightmares), and felt more alive. I hadn’t gotten out of bed much in months due to depression/anxiety/migraines and after using this for a meditation, I always get out of bed and do something. It’s “expensive” (relatively, biofeedback therapy would have been way more expensive), but way worth it. Hubs is getting another for work (not the S), to calm down after bad meetings or during bad days.

I highly recommend this. We had another biofeedback device before this but it didn’t seem to help me at all, so I gave up on the idea. I was hospitalized for migraines two weeks ago and they suggested it. So we tried the old one and it broke, then found this app. Very glad we did.

Overall the this app is one of the higher quality eeg measurement devices available at a consumer price. It does lack a larger portion of the brain in terms of coverage, but still proves effective at providing enough quantifiable data for isolating a range of mental events. I wish it included more of the parietal regions and had coverage of the visual cortex, but beggars can’t be choosers. That being said, here’s an honest review of the this app application after review via this app 2 and S headsets. If you are interested in guided meditations with feedback, this is the best on the market. If you are interested in sleep feedback, also pretty good. One qualm I have with Muse is it’s not considering that any consumer of bci devices would be interested in precision data. I’m not able to export my sleep tracking data at all and even if I wanted to transcribe my data from the provided graphs, the measurements are low precision providing sleep phases by the hour. Who would be collecting data with no intention of using it? If I could export my meditation and sleep data to csv or some other useful format, I would give Muse a 5. I’m able to access the raw eeg data through available Python libraries, but why should anyone need to reinvent sleep phase algorithms when you already have them? Guess we have no choice at the present moment.

Update: $95/year subscription is WAY too expensive for a pricey device to be used with it’s totally subpar app with numerous audio issues. Get better audio recordings, fix the UI, cut the subscription price in half and I might be back. I was a firm believer in this product, but it has taken a turn for the worse. Sounds like they don’t even listen to the audio recordings before uploading them. Someone has to be working there to realize that this is majorly an audio experience, and even slight problems are exaggerated when you’re trying to get in the zone. The device is still pretty amazing but it’s tied to an app that makes it way less usable.

A few minutes with Muse and EEG device will help calm you down. It is an efficient brain training tool, as the techniques are easy to remind yourself of as you go about your life. The design of Muse is all around very pleasing. The audio was better with the last version, but it's still some of the best I've heard in an app. The brain-sensing device is VERY well designed and built. This is a very cool product with a lot of potential for other applications beyond calmness training and I'm excited to see more in the future. I'm curious as to what users are doing with the SDKs that were offered with the Kickstarter. Some really imaginative stuff could come out of this!

Really love it and yes it helps me and yes the sessions are great, the device is super and the overall integration and response is perfect. BUT the software Interface is horrible. Makes no sense, deep menus with weird color changes and courses and sessions all over the place. Also, no way to see what meditations you have already done, no real menu buttons, just clickable pictures. I would really expect a more professional and easy to use interaction with the device. Also, I hate developers that sneak in self-promotion within the menu options. This is the case here also where they offer you money to share the experience. This is all good but please do not put it in the general menu as of it were an option. Again, the device and the purpose of the experience is exactly perfect. Redesign the UI from the ground up and you have a winner ! Also every developer response on Muse Store with critique or comments, they just used a canned response comment of “thanks for your review” horrible, people like me that spend for the device money and $90 per year subscription that have the time to write a critique, deserves much better than a copy and paste non-sense response.

Overall I would rate this app as an excellent electronic device for meditation. I cannot see bees out with my friends who have for years meditated see the difference between that and using this device to help you get to where you need to be. What I do notice however is that the device sometimes has problems connecting with your phone. It is important to make sure that there are no oil‘s dust or residuals on the headband and to make sure that the area where the skin contact device is clean. And it is important to make sure that your phone is on your right side while using. For some reason I find it more difficult to use a device in enclosed spaces like inside a motor vehicle as opposed to an open space in the room. The extra money for the optional meditations is worth it. In that optional package you get extra meditations that are specific to certain situations and so far for me is proving all to be valuable resources. So overall I do recommend the device itself I also recommend the optional meditations that go along with that package.

I was recently introduced to this app by my Buddhist teacher. I’ve been trying to meditate since September and have struggled to do just three minutes. I get frustrated because in my mind wandering a lot of times and give up and then I’d be start. I have a busy mind, I feel like I’m constantly chasing a bouncing ball in my mind. Recently my Buddhist teacher hook me up to this and it was amazing and the very visual person and to have that feedback that you get from Muse is amazing. So I knew I needed this tool to help me with my Meditation so that I know longer gave up thinking I was doing it wrong. I just ordered this week and received it and started using it and I’m so excited and motivated to use it every day. Where on my own I really struggled to meditate. I’m on a spiritual journey I know important meditation is for me on this process. I’m at so excited for all things it’s going to do for me. If you’ve on the fence about buying this app I say buy it. You never be afraid to invest in yourself, you have to take care of you first before you can take care of others.

The gap between technology and mediation is typically thought of as a huge gap. That gap alone had me very skeptical about buying a headband. I talked myself into buying one just to monitor my current practice and to boost it with reaffirmations of doing it effectively and effectively. Boy did that pay off I learned a few new tricks that I’m convinced would have taken me years to settle into without this head band. Time is what we are all lacking in this world and so to find something that can help save time is a hell ya for me. My pineal gland feels more active and I have been feeling more overall improvement in my stress and health from a mental stand point. I’m extremely excited to see how the future will be with the aid of the band. NOTE: By no way is this a miracle one stop shop you have to do the inner work and studying. I have been studying and reading meditation and other holistically practices for years. This is just a great tool to improve your practice with you applied knowledge.

I have waited quite some time but was very eager to purchase a this app headband. I finally received it & was trying to “create an account”or log in (if you have one)has been quite a ridiculous nightmare (I received NO emails in response to password). Reached out via chat for a WHOLE day & was “introduced” already several times so basically got NO support in trying to “obtain a new password”. Then reach out on instagram where I actually thought because I got a response I’d get help, but that wasn’t the case.... So it is the week before July 4 holiday (received headband & was reaching out 6/28) only to find out I will not be able to access Muse until july 4 is over so for almost a WHOLE week, I cannot even use the headband! So I can’t even give a fair review because there is a lag/lack in customer support for sure, and since I was hoping to actually USE the headband I cannot even review that....
I was hoping to make a lot of referrals for people to purchase these (as I work in the health & wellness fields) & actually DID refer 1 person getting one before I even got mine (got no credit for that either). Now I am seriously reconsidering since the customer service part hasn’t been useful at all.

I appreciate the headband and the way it helps me focus. It really is a fantastic tool. I am pretty annoyed with Muse though because it sells you a very watered-down one-dimensional view of meditation. Meditation is a very real life tool for being in touch with the reality of ourselves and the world around us. It is a place to be with grief and loss and disappointment and anger as much as it is a place to find peace. Capitalism tells us that each thing we buy will make us happy. We need to meditate to unhook ourselves from that chasing of false happiness that we’re sold. But Muse tries to sell us meditation as another thing we can buy to achieve happiness. I wish I could use the headband while listening to meditations by teachers I value or music that works for me. But no, they make it so you cannot use Muse with other sounds playing at the same time so you have to go down the curated narrow cookie cutter idea of meditation that the company sells. For the amount you pay for the headband you would hope they would let you have more freedom in how you use it.

I purchased the this app device as an adjunct to help me meditate. I have always had a difficult time keeping my mind focused therefore I have always found meditating very difficult. I am an Emergency Physician and deal with stressful situations daily. I find myself getting frustrated and snippy when I get very busy at work. and in 10 minutes, I can go back to my call room and do a 5-7 minute meditation session and come back completely refreshed. I had tried the Calm app in the past but having a way to measure and track your progress is so much more beneficial. I look forward to my meditation session. The only recommendation I would have for new users is that when you are doing the initial calibration keep your mind somewhat active rather than starting your meditation at that time. This will give you better results and you will hear more birds. The this app device is a little expensive but I feel worth every penny. How much are you willing to pay for peace of mind.

Maybe because I have gained move focus and clarity in the present that everything seems more animated. Thanks to my this app, pun intended. This happens more and more for longer and long. Somebody once told me “life doesn’t come with instruction booklets”. maybe that’s true but maybe you already have one or maybe you can make your own with this app. After all you already possess the most advanced computer on the planet, your brain. this app is helping me create my very own operating system for my brain, teaching me to quiet the monkey mind and allowing me to focus with more clarity & intent. this app allows you to steep back and break free from the mental warfare be the observer and become the leader of your own mind.
Plus brain sensing tech is super cool. Even your your not into tech. It’s just really Awesome & easy to use. Plus you’ll have instant feedback as well session reviews, tracking, goals setting and reminders. If you want to meditate but can’t it’s because you haven’t tried this app. ENJOY

Muse likes to say that distractions are a part of life. Yet if you meditate with its band in a distracting environment, your calmness percentage goes down. Also Muse contradicts itself when it says distractions are part of life and if the meditator gets distracted he or she should focus on his or her breath to meditate successfully. Yet, the unpredictable noises reduce chances of calmness points and chirping birds for calmness. Due to this I have to think too much in order to be calm when that defeats the purpose of calming the mind.

Worst of all, it seems as if you have to be an incredibly advanced yogi with a near perfect diet in order to meditate successfully and my best moments with it were after I was exhausted from an incredibly stressful day, arguments with people who mistreated me, and fell asleep.

With its contradictions about distractions and annoyances, the this app app is better off having a silent or no sound section to go along with the sounds of a beach, desert, rainforest, and city park. The meditation sessions would be much better. Otherwise, it will prove something that I have been saying for approximately one year “you cannot spell contradictory without the word ‘con.’”

The this app device is just wonderful. For a multitude of reasons - attention, anxiety, migraines - I have finally taken up meditation. Part of what has kept me from it in the past is 1) time and 2) just not knowing how! Well, I started off doing just 3 minutes 3 times a week, so couldn’t use “time” as an excuse anymore. And they walk you through the how. It lets you know when your mind is wandering and I was able to bring myself back to a calm state very quickly. When I try to meditate on my own, when my mind wanders, it just keeps on wandering. I have only had it for about three weeks now, but I am already starting to feel a difference (up to 6 minutes at a time now, haha). If nothing else, it gets me away from a screen for at least a few minutes a day! My problems are not all gone, but I actually look forward to my meditation time now.

11/26: I’m updating this in anticipation of the arrival of my new this app S. You don’t have to sell me on the technology. It works and works well. So why only three stars? It’s the curse of the tablet user and especially one who uses that tablet with a case or keyboard and that is forced orientation. I don’t want to use this in portrait mode but in landscape. One of the benefits with Muse is the journal entry both before and after a meditation and it is awkward with the forced portrait mode. And from what I understand, it is a programming choice and to me a very lazy one. So, five for content, three for devs.

Updating this as of July 2021: the this app S is quite an improvement and I have high hopes for the software update but a word to those who buy on support. It’s just not there hence the 2 star rating. They take their time - days long wait - and when they do it’s with the usual copy/paste reply. So, nothing of any substance. The device is remarkable but once you buy it, you are not important enough to merit a response and I say this as someone who owns 2 this app bands.

I am new to my this app, but enjoying it for relaxation. Yes, sometimes it takes a few minutes to get the headband positioned just right, but being patient should help as well. I like the versatility of the free meditation, you can choose the time length, and the music. It is also challenging to keep yourself very still to not mess up the connections, but when meditating you’re suppose to be very quiet, still & relaxed. So I know this is something I need to work on to do better. Many times I surprise myself when I see the amount of time in a calm state! Any of the this app devices are expensive, but it is a small investment for yourself if it helps you relax more, reduce stress, sleep better, etc... I’ve been using mine for a few days and loving the results. I would recommend this product to others who need more calm in their life!

Muse and the hardware are quite polished and together really do help train and develop your mind for a calm and effective meditation practice. However this does take time- I have gone off and on using this over the course of two years and have now come back to it-- now I've noticed huge changes over that timeframe. You shouldn't expect to see results within just a few weeks, as this is not a quick fix, but it's a great starting point for beginners and long term check in too for the more seasoned. I have consistently found over the years that putting the audio feedback down low to 45%-25% of the slider seems to help. It loses a star because sometimes the audio feedback can be so distracting and overwhelming at 50%+ that it actually defeats the purpose of calming your mind and achieving multiple "Recoveries" in a session. Additionally, the expensive price could be more justified with additional guided/narrated content.

Putting the mind at ease, highly recommended for professionals who have constant interruptions by emails, by telephone, by texts, by colleagues, by other distractions, ideal for those whose distractions and seeking of innumerable things disallow focus and productivity, return the mind to its normal, calm state, Imperturbed by interruptions within or without. It's mindful awareness, neither a nap nor distractions, listening to breathing, blood flow, silence, deep trance-like state,"awake" after 10-20 minutes, so to speak, with energy and focus that will get the mind on task, rather than searching and questioning. A mind at peace with itself is a beautiful device in to optimize clear headedness, goal-making, goal-awareness,and goal-accomplishmemt. Reward your mind with Awareness of The Present. The mind works laboriously for you 24/7 if necessary, subject to periodic rest

Hello,

There has been many instances where I jot down beautiful thoughts or epiphanies I have as I mediate and I quickly do so on the “Journal Entry” section, afterwards. And, sometimes I like to go back on them / or go back to the specific Journal I had written.

It would be amazing if the “Journal Entry” appeared right below the specific Mediation — right on that very page. I hate having to scroll thru my past mediations one-by-one and then, opening them, then having to click on “Tap to View the “Journal Entry”, for each and every single thoughts that I have written! It is very unfriendly UX.

Please include that in your next update, this app. As it would be very handy for many, many users across the globe who use that feature!

Also, finally when the session gets interrupted during the meditation period, and we open our eyes to fix the headband, and after we see the colours filling up the circle, why is there no option to automatically start the meditation? I mean why do we have to manually click “Resume”? I wish it was just automatic. Because it hampers with the whole process of closing the eyes, and getting into that state. I wish we could fix the band and it take us right back to the medication process. Instead of manually clicking a button.

Thanks,
MESH

Sadly this company is like too many other companies in this niche - they create a great meaningful product but in a blink of some success they change the focus and just shoot for the profit and forget about quality and integrity. The original headband and app was a game changer a real innovation which generated interest and excitement but the second generation of Muse and device is a major disappointment. Muse is clunky and fraught with bugs and the cost of the guided options is highway robbery - given the cost of the second generation headband (even though the second generation is clearly cheap and flimsy compared to the original). The battery life is woeful and Muse performs likewise - woefully. Really this company needs to go back to the drawing board both with its manufacturing choices and pricing expectations. It’s not too late - but I doubt they can transition back to a truely quality product because they will really have to put the customer first and their large profits in balance.