Dreamstation vs Resmed or other

Hello,
I am from Europe. And i have possibility to buy new cpap machine in the USA. I would like to ask which one would you suggest as best. Currently i have curasa apap for 2,5 years and i am doing fine with it. I know that in czech i can get new Dreamstation machine, i mean buy, but here it would cost about 1600dolars . I have insurance in Slovakia so i cant get it on insurance here and in Slovakia they would probably give me some old machine ( like very old type ) because i dont need pressure higher then 8mm. So do you know if there is some advantage in buying resmed, dreamstation ( this should have servise in Europe in case ) or some other?

ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet is a great machine, I bought one recently and very pleased with it. I don't know how the Dreamstation compares but I believe it is very good too.

If you but a CPAP machine in the U.S. (or most other places in the Americas) it will come with an American style plug. You will need an adapter or a replacement plug. It is very unlikely that you would need a voltage converter, as almost all CPAPs can run on 100 to 240 volts and 50 or 60 hertz.

I have a Phillips Respironics Dream Station Auto CPAP. It’s my fourth machine since 1999; the others were all “bricks.” Here is my review, the good and the bad.


Advantages:
• Automatic means that it will raise the pressure as needed when it senses distress. I think I fell more refreshed than before.
• Good statistics are generated, so you can see how you slept, and make adjustments as needed. In addition, stats are good for your doctor to see how you are doing.
• Machine is very quiet.
• Heated hose is very good, never had rainout despite full setting on humidity.
• Automatic altitude adjustment (good for travel).
• Leak compensation.
• Auto/on and auto/off can be activated and deactivated separately.
• Puts out the prescribed pressure more precisely than my old machine (yes, I verified this).


Disadvantages:
• Machine is a bit larger than the major competing machine.
• Sometimes, there is a burning smell, especially after a potty break. I’m pretty sure it’s harmless.
• Frequently, the water does not last the whole night. I generally wake up at least once overnight, so I refill it at that time. This might not work for everybody.
• Some have complained about the brightness of the display when you turn it off and back on, such as for a potty break. I don’t find this a problem. In fact, I use the light to reattach my mask to the hose.
• The power cord has a proprietary signal, so you cannot use a different cord, even if the voltage, wattage, amperage, and fitting are all identical. This means that if you need a replacement cord (or a spare cord), you have to get the cord specific to Dream Stations. If you want to use a battery (such as for camping and electrical outages), you have to buy an $80 proprietary device to generate this signal.

Here in the US we have 2 main players in the cpap/apap market. Respironics and ResMed with DeVilbiss and F & P taking up a much lesser piece of the market.

If you can get a really good deal on either the ResMed or Respironics machine that will do what you want and you get it from here in the US and save some money....go for it.
Both brands are excellent and if money is tight...go with the one that saves you the most money.
There are very minor pros and cons with either brand but non are huge deal makers or deal breakers.
Either one would serve you quite well.

D.H. So if i understand correctly dreamstation should run without problem with adapter ( i mean because of difficulties you mentioned about cord ).

Pugsy- i mean if i would buy it in the US i would save atlaest 800 dolars on machine. Seems that ResMed and that Respironics dreamstation costs about same. I just know that dreamstation can be obtained here, so it should have also some servise here if something happens, about ResMed i dont know, hard to get information. I just want to use the opportunity because apnoe wont go away (young, dont have overweight).

The DreamStation is a bit easier to use if you want to go camping because it will run off 12 volt batteries easily.
The ResMed will run off batteries also but it takes a special and pricey adapter to convert the battery voltage to the voltage that ResMed uses.
Will save you the cost of that little adapter if you get Respironics and if you ever like to go camping where you might use the cpap powered by batteries.

Either machine from the US will of course need a little plug in adapter for your electric wall plug sockets but that's all that is needed in that regard. Those are cheap and easy to get.

ResMed has a presence in Europe (at least in the UK for sure)...so does Respironics so I would think either would be able to get any necessary service easily enough.

If you found Respironics service possibilities easier than you have found ResMed in your area...get the Respironics machine.
That way you already know where you could get help with it if you need it and won't have to struggle to find ResMed service.

I would consider a Resmed S9 if cost is an issue. It is a very good machine -- Resmed algorithm, heated hose, and data -- but because it is the next to last model, it can be found for must less. As mentioned above, servicing might be an issue.

MeToo wrote: servicing might be an issue.

no

Bress wrote:Hello,
I am from Europe. And i have possibility to buy new cpap machine in the USA. ... if there is some advantage in buying resmed, dreamstation ( this should have servise in Europe in case ) or some other?

One issue you have not touched on is if you have or can get a prescription from a US doctor (or dentist, for that matter). Many very reputable vendors such as cpap.com will require a current script. If you can get one, make certain it contains all the specifics needed to allow you to get exactly what you want. CPAP.com has an FAQ that addresses this at https://www.cpap.com/cpap-faq/Prescript ... eed-to-say
Some sellers, such as SecondWindCpap.com do not require an Rx.
Given that you have positive experience with Respironics machines, I might suggest the DreamStation as a starting point. Both the Respironics and ResMed machine reportedly work very well. Thus, it comes down to comfort for the user; it is far easier to accommodate two machines from one manufacturer than from two manufacturers. Regarding power adapters: AFAIK, all you will need is a plug adapter to change the prong shape and configuration - the voltage range should accept both US and most European voltages as long as it is 50-60 HZ.

Bress wrote:D.H. So if i understand correctly dreamstation should run without problem with adapter ( i mean because of difficulties you mentioned about cord ).

Pugsy- i mean if i would buy it in the US i would save at least 800 dollars on machine. Seems that ResMed and that Respironics dreamstation costs about same. I just know that dreamstation can be obtained here, so it should have also some service here if something happens, about ResMed i dont know, hard to get information. I just want to use the opportunity because apnoe wont go away (young, dont have overweight).

American household electricity is supplied at 110 to 120 volts and 60 hertz. Household electricity in Europe (I believe everywhere in Europe), is supplied at 220 to 240 volts and 50 hertz. Just about every CPAP on the market in the last several years will run equally well on either. You should double check this, but I'd be very surprised to learn otherwise.

On the other hand, American plugs have two flat parallel pins (one usually slightly larger than the other), whereas European plugs have two round pins, slightly further apart than U.S. flat pins. You no doubt have these plugs in the appliances in your house. The flat pins do not go into the round holes or vice versa; you'll need an adapter or new cord for that!