The hardware is, naturally, paired with a smartphone app for iOS and Android that can be used to track your progress. In the future, you’ll also be able to develop “stress measurements” to better identify how stressed you are, or can be, and look for ways of moderating it. In the materials the company supplied, it looks as if you don’t need to be sat quietly in a dark room while your Cove is running. Instead, you can hang out at work, on a video call or doing exercise while the device works its apparent magic on your mastoid. 

If you’re the sort who spends their days with an eye on the fashion world, then the name of Feelmore’s founder may be familiar. Francois Kress has previously been CEO at brands like Carolina Herrera, Stuart Weitzman, Prada and Bulgari as well as LVMH. He’s joined in this venture by a coterie of neuroscientists who believe that there is plenty of positives to this sort of neural stimulation for better mental health. 

Naturally, as with any piece of technology like this, we can’t be certain of its effectiveness until there’s been a lot more research done. And, of course, we haven’t touched or used the gear ourselves, so it’s hard to say yet if it’s in any way effective. We’ll hopefully learn more when Cove hits store shelves this fall, for an as-yet undisclosed price. 

The WI-1000XM2 packs the same QN1 chip from the WH-1000XM3. Sony says it not only does a better job blocking out sounds around you, but the component uses less power for noise cancellation. Indeed, I had the chance to put that to the test at Sony’s busy IFA booth. I can assure you active noise cancellation is a big improvement for earbuds, even if it seems like overkill. I easily blocked out the ambient roar and could hear crisp, clear audio through the WI-1000XM2. It’s important to note that the WF-1000XM3, the true wireless model, has a similar chip with the QN1e.

Sony has refined the design a bit, but on the whole, the WI-1000XM2 looks much like its predecessor. This new model does have an in-line remote similar to wired earbuds, and it allows you to easily do things like adjust volume and pause what you’re listening to. The buds themselves are also slightly different and there’s a hybrid driver system inside for “deep bass and clear mids.” Battery life is the same at 10 hours, but a 10-minute quick-charge feature will give you up to 80 minutes of listening time.

I’m not a fan of the behind-the-head style of headphones/earbuds. It’s just not comfortable to me, or a design that really fits my needs. But the improvements Sony has made on the WI-1000XM2, I can admit these things sound amazing. The audio has great clarity, and the bass is punchy without being overpowering. Through a range of genres during a short test drive, I was impressed by what these things offer — even if they might not be for me. If you are a fan of earbuds like these, or you have the previous model, the WI-1000XM2 is certainly an upgrade.

Sony says the WI-1000XM2 will be available in January for approximately €330 / £300 — no US pricing has been revealed yet. In fact, the new model isn’t listed on the US site, so it may not be released there. The WI-1000X went for $199.99 (€280/£260), and even though ometimes the company improves its headphone models without increasing the price, that isn’t the case here.

Update 9/6/19 4:40PM ET: This post has been updated with pricing and availability from Sony.