MC Square light & sound machine review

[deano888red]

I decided to order this device after using the Proteus for more than 8 years. I liked the Proteus, but my main issues were the quality of the equipment; plastic and hollow. Not a very substantial feel. This goes for the earphones, light glasses, the provided case, the device itself. As for function, no real issues but the glasses broke way too easily. The volume was scratchy and there was an ever present background hum that was distracting and just unpleasant. That said, after researching a number of types, I decided to try the MC Square.  I liked the aesthetics as well as the functionality.  I never really used more than a few presets so the ones provided on the MC Square seemed reasonable. The rest of the gear was very stylish, and seemed solid.  So I ordered.

The service I received was more than excellent. Tons of communication is important when buying from overseas…this was definitely not deficient and made me feel very safe. Of course, I was still nervously anticipating the package. It was sent expedited and arrived in Toronto from South Korea in about 1 week. There were no additional duties or fees and came straight to my door. In terms of the unboxing, this is what I received…

It was well packaged in a standard shipping box, supported with lots of foam peanuts. The retail box inside was wrapped in two layers of bubble wrap. Very secure and tidy. The retail box itself was well made and tastefully designed with bilingual (English and Korean) graphics/ lettering. Opening the lid of the box you are immediately greeted by an English manual, and under that, the curvy black MC Square itself. A protective film covered the entire face of the device. The cardboard it was mounted in lifted out and revealed the rest of the equipment.

The combination glasses & earbuds were found inside of a really cool opaque protective plastic tube that can be used not just for occasional protection or storage, but is substantial enough to use in a backpack or purse without worrying about damaging the glasses. Great idea actually. Along the same lines, the box also contained a thick (but compact) neoprene-like case to protect the device in your pocket or bag. Also included was another full spare set of standard earbuds, and several pairs of replacement silicone buds. There was a USB to mini USB cable for charging and for connecting to your PC.  There was also a power adaptor for the USB cable. Since I’m from Canada, I thought the European plug was really neat. Again, this was obviously well thought out because right beside that was an included adaptor for my Canadian flat blade plug.  All the cables were of very good quality. They had a soft, durable, and rubbery feel, and did not have that cheap plastic stiffness that you would find in some cheaper products.

The device and glasses were in black, gloss black, or dark gray. The earbud silicone was white. The front of the glasses was also covered by a thin protective film and the design of the glasses is kind of reminiscent of Jordi Laforge (Star Trek fame) with a minimalist purple strip across the front. The inner aspect of the glasses was also very tidy with an opaque black diffusing cover which was well fitted and completely hid the LEDs and any wiring or other electronics. The glasses are very comfortable with a gray soft silicone nose piece. The earbuds that come with the glasses are conveniently attached near the front of the glasses and the cord is coiled to avoid more wires dangling. If you aren’t using the earbuds, there are little slots on the sides of the frames where the buds can be tucked away to keep them from hanging. Again….lots of very well thought out details. Further attention to detail is the idea to have the earbud and glasses cord combined as they are….this really reduces distracting clutter around your face that you get with separate cords.  Initially, I was concerned that the glasses did not cover the eyes (the lower part) as much as other glasses, but as I used the device it appears this may be by design as they allow space for viewing the device to adjust settings. That said, I am also used to very bright light stimulation, which was not immediately evident with the MC Square.  However, the glasses provide 4 red light LED’s per eye and are bright enough with subdued lighting… which is typically how I use my equipment anyway.  In addition, and quite by accident, I also discovered that these also work with my other led glasses and are very bright if I’m in the mood for that. 

I can’t help but be impressed with the device itself. Out of the box it felt good.  It had some weight to it which I assume is due to the lithium ion rechargeable battery pack. But it’s also incredibly compact with soft, smooth curves.  This includes the really sensitive touchpad on the front which appears to be etched into an aluminum face.  The colourful display tells you everything you need about the settings and is intuitive and super easy to navigate. Also, it was in English right out of the box. The buttons on the face are used to choose or modify the program, volume, brightness, etc.  Along the left side of the device, are a row of additional buttons including on/off, recording feature, a turbo feature (increases the volume), and a locking switch to keep buttons from being pressed accidentally. The bottom of the device has a mini usb port with a cover, and a micro SD slot (also covered). The top of the machine has three jacks; headphone, glasses and an auxiliary jack for a microphone, or your phone or something else to play music overtop the light/ sound, maybe a guided meditation session, or what have you. 

As far as the actual onboard programs…there are 5 presets; concentration, relaxation, learning, energizing, and sleep. I tried them all and found they were on par with anything else I’ve used in the past, so I was pleased with that.  The presets also included several natural sounds that can be played at the same time as the presets. These included things like white noise, dolphin sounds, running water, rain, etc.  When played, these sounds fade in and out and are quite pleasant.  There is also a feature that allows you to add your own. This is a new feature that I haven’t seen in other devices and while I am used to basic light sound stimulation, this adds another dimension to the experience for me.

So, overall, I am very pleased with the MC Square light and sound machine. It not only works well, but it offers basic and extra features in a durable, compact, stylish, and very portable body. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the MC Square and I look forward to years of trouble free use.