Salubrion Enso Clock

by Salubrion

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.8 x 0.8 x 3.8 inches ; 8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• ASIN: B000VJ6ZPY
• Item model number: EC-100-K
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,470 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 19, 2004

Product Description

The Enso Clock began with a ground-up conceptualization and design for a new timer and clock to be used for meditation and yoga. Salubrion focused on creating an innovative method for conveying time to the user, resulting in the use of the Japanese Enso. Enso Enso, which means circle in Japanese, symbolizes enlightenment, elegance, and the universe. Traditionally, the enso is painted with a single clockwise brushstroke, beginning and ending at the bottom. The central display feature of Salubrion's new clock is the Enso that surrounds the screen and is gradually brushed on-screen as the timer progresses. This way, the user can glance at the Enso and see the relative amount of time that has elapsed, eliminating the distraction of focusing on the exact numerical time that remains. Interval Timing The Salubrion Enso Clock allows for Interval Timing in which the user can set sequential timers that run one-after-the-other to compose an overall session. At the end of each interval or timer, one of several available soothing chimes is played. The Enso Clock's chimes are recorded from Tibetan and Japanese singing bowls as used in traditional meditation sessions. Using the latest audio technology, the Enso Clock's reproduction of the singing bowl chimes is very high quality and virtually indistinguishable from original. Alarm In addition to countdown timing, Salubrion's clock can be used as an alarm clock, featuring the same soothing chimes. The beautiful satin champagne finish along the sides of the clock is complemented by a black rubber coating on the backside of the clock. The clock can be placed flat on the floor in front of you for use during seated meditation, or propped up using the elegant hinged stand that folds out of the back of the clock. Each Enso Clock also includes a convenient carrying case with an integrated cleaning cloth that both protects and polishes.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great timer, but not perfect., June 8, 2008

By 

Russell Christopher (Charlotte, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Salubrion Enso Clock (Electronics)

I purchased this excellent clock back in March of 2008, and have been using it daily since then.

In my opinion, the key strengths of this device revolve around flexibility and looks. It allows you to choose from a number of wonderful, rich sounding chimes and other sounds (they actually sound better than the real bells & chimes built in to other meditation timers I own). You can set the tones to repeat "forever" after your meditation period has ended, or sound only twice at varying volumes. Good stuff.

You can also create very complex "programs" for yourself (Chime after x minutes, then y minutes, then z minutes, etc. etc.)

I also find the clock very attractive, but that's just personal opinion.

The flexibility that this clock gives you comes at a price, however - setting (time, alarm time, etc.) the thing is a bit complex. The first thing I normally do with any new electronic gizmo I purchase is throw away the instructions - it's an ego thing, I admit it. Anyway, 3 months later, I'm guarding the instructions to this baby with my life. While setting up a basic timer is easy as cake, doing more interesting programs will take a bit of trial and error.

The backlight button on the clock has also been hit or miss for me. I have to touch it just right or the backlight won't come on. I'd also like the ability turn the backlight on and keep it on. In it's current incarnation it only stays on for 5-ish seconds.

Finally, it would be nice if the buttons had some sort of tactile "nubs" attached (this comment is stolen shamlelessly from another reviewer). At 4AM in the morning, I need all the help I can get making sure I have actually activated the timer.

So, this clock isn't perfect, but it is the best one I've found so far, and it is fantastic for travel - packs really easily.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent 'MEDITATION TIMER' not a yoga timer!!!, November 7, 2008

By 

Anthony S. Clarke "Asparian" (Austin, TX - Kumamoto, Japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Salubrion Enso Clock (Electronics)

I note that some people are complaining this does not have a seconds timer that they need for yoga positions. Well, the reason for that is this is a meditation timer not a yoga timer! Therefore, this clock does exactly what it is meant to do. If you need a yoga type timer then you need to look elsewhere.

I also see some people are worried about losing the instructions, indeed they needed to refer to the instructions to set up the clock between sessions. However, as I am pretty technical I did not need to use the instructions to set up the clock - it was very logical to me. Of course, I understand logic in technological egonomics, so maybe my experience is skewed in this respect. If you can effortlessly program your video recorder or microwave oven then this clock will present no problem at all. You can download more detailed instructions from the Salubrion website.

This clock does has a few flaws as a meditation timer, but none that are 'show stoppers'. Here they are in full.

1. You cannot set the timer to chime just once at each interval - it would be better if you could set each interval chime count. In my case I would set it to chime once for mid-intervals and chime twice for the last interval. The option for 'continuous chime' is only relevant to an alarm. NOTE: for some reason mine chimes only once on every other interval - is this an undocumented feature?

2. When dismissing the display during a session to make it less distracting (a good feature), all items except the ring should vanish. However, the 'alarm' icon, 'enso' text, and 'enso icon' remain - they should really vanish, too.

3. For the price I think it should have a crown-glass front. I know this would add to the weight and expense, but the face can scratch the way iPods displays do. I leave the protective shipping screen on mine - though I think it will only last a year or so before I have to remove it.

4. The backlight is too weak. There is a time when you need to use it because the display is too dark to read but the ambient light is too much for your eyes to have completely adjusted to the dark. I would like to see several levels for the backlight depending on the ambient light. This feature is available on cheap digital watches.

5. The backlight should extend to the buttons, too.

6. The backlight button is difficult to find in the dark.

If anyone is put off the product by the list above, they should look to doing some deeper relaxation practice - the problems are just to small to worry about.

Wish list:

1. It would be cool to be able to add my own chimes. I can do this on my baby monitor, so the technology can't be that difficult to add. ;-)

2. It would be useful if the backlight came on automatically when the alarm rings or the end of an interval is reached. This feature should, of course, be optional.

The good stuff.

1. Easy to use.

2. Well built with a nice feel (though I would like glass on the front)

3. Very clear and undistorted sound - amazing in such a small package.

4. Nice travel case.

Overall, I am very happy with the timer and can recommended it to people using it for Mindfulness meditation practice. Those wanting it for Yoga should look elsewhere. It cannot replace a proper singing bowl and guided meditation sessions, but for med-on-the-move it is a great little item.

46 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly poor human factors, March 4, 2008

By 

E. Santiago "Programmer, lector, cook" (Los Alamos, NM, USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Salubrion Enso Clock (Electronics)

The chime sound is beautiful; would that the rest of the timer were as well done. Much as I wanted to love it, and much as Chime 1 pleases me, this is not a usable device.

I bought this as a yoga timer. The timer has 1-minute resolution; for yoga you need something finer, to allow 45-second or 90-second poses... or 85 if I'm feeling tired, 100 if I'm energetic. Even if it had 1-second resolution, setting intervals is challenging: you can't just say "chime every 90 seconds", you have to define a fixed number of intervals through a clunky interface. Perhaps there's something I missed? I emailed the manufacturer, then emailed again after a week of silence, and still (5 days later) haven't heard back from them.

The product shows signs of not having had usability testing. For instance, the backlight button--one of many on the circular face--has no tactile signature. It can't be identified in the dark. And even though the chime is lovely, it sounds twice. That makes it unusable (for me) as a meditation timer. A "chime once only" option would fix that... but I could find no such setting.