Customer Reviews

Sirius Value Light and Sound Mind Machine with Bonus Ganzframes

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I work in a hectic job and need wind-down time at the end of some rather stress-filled days.

I picked up the Sirius after carefully considering what I was buying. I did look at the Proteus, but considering that I really wasn't going to be all *that* much into programming new sessions, the Sirius unit was plenty for my needs. The Proteus does look pretty cool and does have expandable and reprogrammable features, but it really was a bit much for my needs.

For the money, the system does work well and gives me the relaxation I need. The menu system can be a bit tricky, expecially when trying to select the program to run. I would have given it 4.8 stars because of this weirdness with the menu selection, but Amazon doesn't get that granular ;>) I would also suggest to the folks at Mind Modulations to print out a little guide that fits on the back of the machine so that you know what program does what. I'm doing one of my own and sticking it on there so I don't have to track down the guide every time I want to use the machine.

Another point is the wires. I ended up setting the system up in a permanent arrangement near my recliner so that the wires are tied together with some simple plastic straps so I don't fight the wires every time I go to use it. You'll end up doing this later after fighting the wires for the umpteenth time. I warned you! ;>)

The LED glasses are pretty cool, but be careful with the light settings. These things can *REALLY* put out bright light. Start with a minumum setting and then take it from there until you get the light setting you want. I got white LEDs with mine. I do know you can get colored LEDs with different style glasses, so you can do some customizing of accessories as needed if so desired.

I was skeptical that the light patterns would do anything helpful, but found, to my pleasant surprise, that these mind machines do indeed stimulate some interesting effects and leave you refreshed and even a bit sleepy. Frankly, that was the main point for me buying this unit and it certainly is better than using some big-pharma drugs that do God-knows-what to your brain cells ;>)

I did find that my little Creative MP3 player coupled with the input was also very effective at displaying some neat patterns. A little Enya and some quiet time and voila! The Audiostrobe sample CD is pretty good and I think maybe later I'll pick up some music dedicated to this, but honestly, I do think that the pricing is a bit much for the Audiostrobe CD sets. Alas, this is the way with most CDs and music so no surprise here. There are programs to help you create your own Audiostrobe formatted music tracks that can save $$$ if you are on a tight budget.

Overall, a great little unit and despite a picky menu on occasion, it really does pretty well for what it is intended to do. 4.8 - 5 stars for this neat and useful tool.

When I was in college in the late '80s I built something called a Dreamachine to help me relax in stressful times. It was invented decades earlier by Brion Gysin (Nothing Is True - Everything Is Permitted: The Life of Brion Gysin) and Ian Sommerville. You can read about it on Wikipedia if you feel so inclined.

The Dreamachine is a somewhat primitive antecedent of the Sirius and other devices like it. Back then "brainwave entrainment devices" like the Sirius were expensive and white LEDs hadn't been invented yet. So my dreamachine was the best I could do to help me de-stress during those years.

Flash forward about two decades and I found myself stressing out again going through a divorce and getting a promotion at work. With all the new responsibilities those life changing events brought to me, I needed some help relaxing. I'd rather avoid the pharmacological solutions, though many are available. So I hunted around for a flicker rig and found that the technology had come a good way along in 20 years.

Amazon really does sell just about everything imaginable.

This is the sort of little machine that you will have to try for yourself. Some people find that the flickering lights make them feel uneasy or even nauseous, and if you have any seizure disorder then this type of thing should be avoided at all costs. But with those caveats, if this thing does it for you, you will never want to be without it.

The features are really good considering that this is basically the lowest priced instrument you will find of its kind. I was leery of the 23 preprogrammed sequences that run from 10 minute to 1 hour, but I have come to enjoy some of them.

What I really purchased this box for was the ability it offers users to set our own frequencies. I like to be able to find a frequency that feels good to me and just leave it there for a while. The lower frequency ranges actually settle my mind into sleep-oriented brain wave patterns and help empty my head of the sort of ruminative thoughts that keep me from getting the sleep I need.

My girlfriend loves it. My 8 year old son loves it. I think I have even made some significant new advances in my psychotherapy with the help of this thing. I can't say enough good things about this device.

There are some other features too that have more to do with using the box as an entertainment device, but I don't really have any use for that stuff. For me it's instant meditation and relaxation in a very portable package.

Your machine is the greatest! I was able to figure it out without a whole lot of fussing. I've been using it for 6 weeks now for winding down after a hectic day at the office, and sometimes to keep me going a little stronger in the afternoons (I'm definitely a morning person). The profound effect felt long after a session is still as strong as it was when I first used it. Now I'd like to order a Sirius for my wife, because I don't often want to share mine.

Years ago I was dealing with some pretty severe PTSD from the military... a Psychiatrist sent me to a counselor that was into this "weird, left/right brain balancing stuff".... I thought it was a gimmick at first but almost immediately I was calmer, able to sleep, etc... she sold me a first generation "PHOTOSONIX" for around $500... It was a godsend! I immediately started getting better, emotionally and mentally and my stress levels plummeted... it wasn't the only treatment I was using (meds and counseling) but it had an immediate and profound effect that added to those other treatment regimens. I used it every day, then every few days, then only when I had a bad day... within about a year, I rarely need to use it, but when I did, it was just as effective!

Unfortunately, the power source went bad after a couple of years... I repaired it once but it only lasted another couple of years.

I had a reoccurrance about a month ago due to some serious personal stressors going on in my life and in desperation I found this and several other models out there... I went ahead and threw the dice, hoping that this would give me some of the same calming effects I'd experienced before.

Well, it worked... in all honesty, the software is designed more to make you feel "groovy" than to help with emotional stressor... but it still works! WooHoo!

I didn't mean to boor you with my story but if you are thinking about getting this kind of device, you need to know that even though it isn't a magic pill that cures everything... there is a very good chance that it will help get you back to a point of calm, balance.

So... if you buy this device or something like it, give it some time... try it for awhile... one program that is supposed to give you energy might make you calm or a calming one make you hyper.... everyone is different... like the instructions say... try all of the programs and see what works for you... (I keep little notes in the instruction book to help me remember)...

(And, by the way... if you are only interested in something that will help you meditate or you just want to have your own little "Intra-cranial Rave"... then it is very good for those things as well!) ;-)

Enjoy and good luck!

After a lot of research on models, even talking to several experts in the U.S., I decided to finally buy the Sirius. And I must say I am very happy I did. I assume Mind Machine and others will not like to hear this, but the truth is that less can be more. The Sirius does just about anything you need in terms of entrainment. More programs don't really add a lot, more colors on your glasses don't either. A friend bought a more expensive machine, by the same manufacturer, and we've had a chance to test them thoroughly, he agrees with me, his was a waste of money. Simple, easy to use, does what you need, time tested and great value. Wouldn't change it for any other mind machine.

I purchased this in July, and it's now almost January, and after using it nearly everyday, it's still going strong! I chose this model because it's more affordable than the others and FORTUNATELY, being affordable does NOT equate to being cheaply made!

This is my 1st "mind machine" and I think it's one of the best things I've ever purchased. After using this, my brain just feels re-charged-it's GREAT!

I highly recommend this

I was surpised how well it worked for the price. I have been using it for about two weeks and it took a couple days to get used to but it is helpful to achieve alter states of consciousness or just a relaxing state.
It has 21 pre programs and you can either use you own CD's or the audiostrobe CD's to create your own light/ sound session. Also a helpful tool for the Ganzfeld experiment.

I bought this 6 months ago to help with meditation and to lower my stress. It works very well. I wish it was easier to program and I wish that it had come with an adapter but I could probably buy one somewhere. My three year old played with it once and the glasses stopped working but I fidgeted with it and brought them back to life. Keep away from small children.

Amazing machine! It arrived 1 month ago and I use it almost every day! It really works. Very satisfied with the different programs. Received it very quickly (in Netherlands!), Thanks to the seller!

This is a cool product. It is very refreshing, relaxing, and energizing all in one. The only problem is the buttons on it are confusing. You will be trying to count upward on the sessions (1.2.3.4...) and it will begin to count back down (7.6.5.6.5.4) not allowing you to get to the desired number. I usually turn it off and try it again. I've had other people use it and they enjoyed it as well. No where near the best light system on the market, but it's the cheapest and still has some positive results. Worth trying.