Muse S Athena

Fit & Design

• Adjustable headband: Fits 43–63 cm (17–25 inches)
• Lightweight: ~41g
• Comfortable, breathable fabric:
• Opal (Light): 79.7% Cotton / 13.5% Polyester / 6.8% Spandex
• Carbon (Dark): 22.4% Rayon / 73.1% Polyester / 4.5% Spandex
• USB-C charging port
  
  

Brain & Body Sensors

• 4 EEG channels (detect brainwaves) + 4 auxiliary channels 
• Infrared + red PPG sensors for heart rate and SpO₂
• fNIRS sensors measure blood flow in the brain (for mental effort)
• Motion sensors (accelerometer + gyroscope)
  
  

Battery & Charging

• Battery: 150mAh lithium-ion
• Charge time: ~3 hours
• Usage time: ~10hrs - varies by session type (sleep, meditation, continuous monitoring)
  
  

App & Compatibility

• Works with the Muse App on iOS (16.1+) & Android (9+)
• Bluetooth 5.3 for stable, low-energy connection
• Not compatible with Huawei devices

• EEG sample rate: 256 Hz
• The Muse headband is equipped with seven sensors, four of which are passive electrodes:

○ Frontal electrodes, which rest on the forehead: AF7 and AF8

○ Temporal electrodes, which rest behind the ears: TP9 and TP10

○ There is a reference sensor at the centre of the forehead (FpZ) and two bridged grounds.

• 20% silver-fabric dry electrodes
• PPG + fNIRS sample rate: 64 Hz, 20-bit resolution
• Electrode positions: TP9, TP10, AF7, AF8
• Aux Channel Connection: Input range: 725uV AC signal (1.45mVp-p) with 1.45V DC offset; Aux channels are amplified like all other EEG channels

• Muse S Athena brain-sensing headband
• USB-C charging cable
• Quick start instructions (digital setup guide available in the Muse app)

No, you can use Muse right out of the box with the free app. You’ll get real-time brain and body feedback, basic meditations, and progress tracking without a subscription. Premium is optional and adds deeper brain insights, AI coaching, and 500+ guided meditations.

Muse S Athena (hardware only)

• Includes all EEG-based neurofeedback (Mind Sessions) for focus and calm training.
• Tracks your breath, heart, and body biofeedback during sessions.
• Adds advanced sleep tracking and sleep tools for in-depth rest insights.
• Provides fNIRS-based neurofeedback (Strength Sessions) to measure and train cognitive effort.
• Comes with basic guided meditations and programs in the free Muse app.
• Works right out of the box — no subscription required.
• Sleep Assist
• Deep Sleep Stimulation
  

Muse S Athena + Premium (hardware + subscription)

• Everything above plus:
• Smart Wakeup (coming April)
• Enso AI Coach
• Advanced scores
• Full content library

Note: You can start with Muse S Athena alone and upgrade anytime within the app.

It’s designed to. Audio is whisper-quiet and pauses if your sleep looks unstable.

Here's how Muse 2 and Muse S Athena compare for brain health and cognitive performance:

Sensor technology

• Muse 2: EEG brainwave tracking only
• Muse S Athena: EEG + fNIRS for brain blood-flow and O₂ monitoring

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Tracking capabilities

• Muse 2: Real-time focus and calm training, posture, breath, heart rate
• Muse S Athena: All Muse 2 features plus sleep tracking, recovery tools, and cognitive performance scoring

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Primary outcomes supported

• Muse 2: Focus and stress reduction
• Muse S Athena: Focus, stress reduction, sleep improvement, and mental endurance

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Use case / functionality

• Muse 2: Lightweight tool for daily focus, calm, and stress management
• Muse S Athena: Designed for full-spectrum brain health — performance recovery, overnight sleep optimization, mental endurance, and peak performance tracking

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Form factor / wearability

• Muse 2: Sculpted band, best for daytime sessions
• Muse S Athena: Ultra-soft, breathable fabric, comfortable for overnight use

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If you’d like more detail on technical differences, visit the official comparison guide.

Muse's EEG technology has been validated in over 200 published research studies and is used by leading research institutions worldwide. While clinical EEG systems use more sensors (typically 32-128 channels) for diagnostic purposes, Muse's 7-channel EEG provides research-grade accuracy for measuring key brain states related to attention, focus, and meditation. Independent validation studies have confirmed Muse's accuracy for sleep staging compared to polysomnography (PSG) gold standards, with concordance rates of 85-87%. For meditation and focus applications, Muse's ability to detect alpha, beta, and theta wave patterns has been validated against laboratory systems, making it the most scientifically-validated consumer EEG device available while maintaining a comfortable, wearable form factor.

Muse's Bluetooth EEG system has some inherent limitations compared to wired laboratory systems. The most significant limitation is Bluetooth lag and jitter, which can affect precisely timed experiments requiring millisecond accuracy for event-related potentials. For stimulus-locked EEG research, this timing variability can reduce signal amplitude and shift temporal responses. Additionally, mobile EEG data quality is not as precise as research-grade systems, and electrode placement follows a simplified configuration rather than the full 10-20 system used in clinical settings. However, for focus training and sleep tracking applications, these limitations do not significantly impact the device's effectiveness, as these applications rely on general brain state patterns rather than precise timing.

The Muse S Athena's fNIRS (functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy) technology works by emitting safe, low-power near-infrared light that penetrates through the skull into the prefrontal cortex of the brain. This light is absorbed differently by oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin in the blood. As neural activity increases in specific brain regions, blood flow increases to those areas, changing the ratio of oxygenated to deoxygenated hemoglobin. The Muse S Athena's sensors detect these subtle changes, allowing it to measure how hard your brain is working (cognitive effort) in real-time. This data reveals patterns of mental exertion and recovery that aren't detectable through EEG alone. The fNIRS technology is completely non-invasive and has been validated in research settings for measuring cognitive workload, making Muse S Athena the first consumer device to bring this advanced neuroimaging technology to home users.

• Size Range: 43 - 63cm
• Wireless Connection: BLE 5.3, 2.4 GHz (Upgraded)
• Charging Port: USB-C (Upgraded)
• Battery: 150mAh Li-ion
• Charge Time: 3 hours
• Usage Time: Up to 10hrs
• EEG Channels: 4 EEG channels + 4 amplified Aux channels
• Sample Rate: 256 Hz
• Sample Resolution: 14 bits / sample (Upgraded)
• Reference Electrode Position: FPz (CMS/DRL)
• Channel Electrode Position: TP9, AF7, AF8, TP10 (dry)
• EEG Electrode Materials: Silver thread fabric (dry) (Upgraded)
• Accelerometer: Three-axis @ 52Hz, 16-bit resolution, range +/- 2G
• Gyroscope: Three-axis @ 52Hz, 16-bit resolution, range +/- 250dps (New)
• PPG Sensor: Triple wavelength: IR (850nm), Near-IR (730nm), Red (660nm), 64 Hz sample rate, 20-bit resolution (Upgraded)
• fNIRS Sensor: 5-optode bilateral frontal cortex hemodynamics, 64 Hz sample rate, 20-bit resolution (New)
• Aux Channel Connection: Input range: 725uV AC signal (1.45mVp-p) with 1.45V DC offset; Aux channels are amplified like all other EEG channels
• Materials:
  • Pod: Polycarbonate plastic with soft-touch paint, magnets, glue
  • Soft Band:
  • Opal (Light): 79.7% Cotton / 13.5% Polyester / 6.8% Spandex
  • Carbon (Dark): 22.4% Rayon / 73.1% Polyester / 4.5% Spandex
  • Electrodes: 20% silver content, 80% polyamide fabric (nylon) (Upgraded)
• Weight: Approx. 41g
• Dimensions:
  • Module: Approx. 6 × 3 × 1.5 cm
  • Headband: Adjustable length approx. 48-63 cm, width approx. 3.25 cm
• Muse App Compatibility: Apple iOS 16.1, Android 9 or higher (Huawei devices not supported)

Unlike standard meditation apps that only provide guided content, Muse creates a unique, personalized experience by combining EEG brain sensing technology with biofeedback meditations. This neurofeedback approach gives you real-time insights into your actual mental state during practice, not just timers or generic guidance. The Muse app translates your brain signals into weather sounds that respond to your mental activity—calm weather when focused, stormy when distracted—providing immediate feedback on your meditation effectiveness. This scientifically-validated approach has been shown to increase meditation consistency and reduce stress in just four weeks. Additionally, Muse's comprehensive tracking of brain activity, heart rate, breathing, and body movement creates detailed post-session reports that show your progress over time, making meditation less abstract and more measurable.

Apollo Neuro takes a different approach to wellness technology by using gentle vibrations designed to engage your nervous system and support stress management and focus. While Apollo claims to improve stress and focus through nervous system conditioning, it does not measure brain activity or provide neurofeedback. Muse, on the other hand, provides direct brain activity measurement and neurofeedback training — helping you actively develop focus, relaxation, and recovery skills. Muse is designed primarily for sleep and cognitive training, requiring active engagement during sessions, whereas Apollo focuses on passive nervous system optimization throughout the day.

Yes, you can use Muse with glasses and most hearing aids. For glasses wearers, remove your glasses first, place the Muse headband securely so the sensors make full contact with your forehead and the skin behind your ears, then put your glasses back on over the headband. If your glasses have metal frames or conductive parts, they may interfere with sensor quality, so if you notice connection issues, try using a different pair or remove your glasses after starting a session. For hearing aids, make sure the sensors behind your ears touch clean skin without obstruction. Hearing aids that fit inside the ear usually work well, while devices that sit behind or on top of the ear may need to be adjusted slightly to allow proper contact. You don’t need headphones to use Muse audio; you can play the sounds through your phone or tablet speakers. If you experience connectivity issues, reposition the sensors or lightly dampen them with a cloth before use.

Yes! We are proud to offer a no questions asked 30-Day Money Back Guarantee.

If you're not satisfied with your Muse purchase, please reach out to our Muse Customer Care Team referencing your order number as soon as possible and we will do our best to coordinate a seamless return for you. We stand by our 30-Day Money Back Guarantee and customer satisfaction is always our priority.

Muse is happy to cover the cost of return shipping within the United States and Canada. Our Customer Care Team will provide you with a prepaid shipping label and an RMA (Return Material Authorization) number for your return. Any additional shipping fees, handling fees, or customs duties are at the expense of the customer and will not be refunded.

Your order is shipped from a third-party warehouse in 1-2 business days from the time you place your order. Once shipped, you can expect to receive your Muse within 3-5 business days and you will receive an automated email including your shipment tracking number.

*Deliveries to rural areas and countries outside of Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the EU, the shipping time may be longer.