CPAP hardware comparisons.

I am in the market for a new (first) CPAP and right now I'm thoroughly confused by the wide variety of options available. I'm sure my medical provider will make recommendations, but I would like to mine some of the wisdom of cpaptalk before that meeting takes place. I would imagine that there have been threads in the past which compare and contrast the pros and cons of different brands and models. I would appreciate someone pointing me in the direction of those threads.

What matters most is that you get something that will provide full data that can be used with Sleepyhead software (more on that later), and that you get an Apap vs plain Cpap. Apaps can do Cpap if you choose to use it, but Cpaps don't do Apap, and having the option is important... most use Apap these days and the most popular (and good) ones are from Resmed and Phillips Respironics (I vote Resmed myself). You can look on Cpap.com for models of both, with pix, graphs, reviews (honest ones) and more. My machine, a bit cheaper than those, is also very good but may not give as much data as you'd like depending on what features you get. Look at the links below to access SH.

https://sleep.tnet.com/resources/sleepyhead
https://sleep.tnet.com/resources/sleepyhead/shorganize

Target either the ResMed or Respironics brands.

Have you had the sleep study where they determine your optimal pressures? If so, what pressure(s) was it determined to be the best for you?
If not...are you going to have a sleep titration study.

What was your diagnostic sleep study final diagnosis....was it plain jane vanilla obstructive sleep apnea or complex sleep apnea or central sleep apnea. Your diagnosis can impact which type of machine might be best for you.
I hate to recommend something and it not even be suitable for your diagnosis.

Pugsy wrote:Target either the ResMed or Respironics brands.

Have you had the sleep study where they determine your optimal pressures? If so, what pressure(s) was it determined to be the best for you?
If not...are you going to have a sleep titration study.

What was your diagnostic sleep study final diagnosis....was it plain jane vanilla obstructive sleep apnea or complex sleep apnea or central sleep apnea. Your diagnosis can impact which type of machine might be best for you.
I hate to recommend something and it not even be suitable for your diagnosis.

Thank you, I am awaiting the results of my Watch-Pat sleep study (hopefully today). Previously I had tested myself with a recording oximeter and that test confirmed I had moderate sleep apnea.

One other note: you DO NOT want anything in the ResMed line that starts with the words Air Start. These machines do not supply you with enough data to really manage your therapy.

Okay...now I remember the particulars of your situation...still in the diagnosing stage.
I don't know if your doc will want to do the in lab sleep titration thing or just give you an auto adjusting machine and let the machine sort it out.

All this assumes you have plain jane vanilla OSA and no issues with centrals...if you have issues with centrals we can talk about that later.
Most people have plain jane vanilla OSA...so we are going to assume that is what you have until proven differently.

I suggest you target your machine research to the ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet...second choice would be the Phillips Respironics DreamStation Auto CPAP. Both are good machines and each has minor pros and cons differences but in your situation with a bunch of unknowns still I would suggest the ResMed AutoSet.
I have used both brands in apap mode...I think that when pressures are higher that the ResMed exhale relief is a bit better in terms of how it offers its exhale relief. Since we don't know yet what pressures you will need...anticipate higher just to cover your butt.
Better to not need something and have it than need it and not have it.

The ResMed auto adjusting algorithm is a bit more responsive/aggressive in terms of how it responds to apnea event warning signs.
I am able to use a less starting minimum pressure with a ResMed machine than I would have to use with a Respironics machine...it isn't a huge difference but a difference nonetheless....and 7 cm starting pressure is definitely more comfortable than 10 cm starting pressure...and I am all about comfort.
The down side to that more aggressive algorithm....sometimes the variations in pressure can disturb sleep in some people but if that happens we can easily fix it.

So...for now I would read up on the ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet.
https://sleep.tnet.com/home/files/resme ... -guide.pdf

Second choice would be the Phillips Respironics DreamStation Auto CPAP...
If you want to read that manual you can request it here.
http://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-p ... tup-manual
I used to have a direct link for that manual but it's broken. Respironics keeps moving stuff around.

All this is assuming you have plain jane vanilla OSA...and not a problem with centrals. If you have very many centrals (a few is normal) then we get to have a different discussion about machine models.