Phillips REMStar 60 Series Auto vs Resmed S9 AutoSet

[-tim]

I know people are asking "which one of these newish machines do I get?" I have a new 560 that I used last night and I've been using a resmed s9.

Both machines are autoset and have humidfiers and have heated hoses. These two machines are considered the top of the line for Auto CPAP machines (except for that very expensive Swiss made machine that I would love to try)

I haven't looked at the data yet but its reporting an AHI of 0.0 after 6.9 hours.

So far on the pros and cons:
s9 easier to clean tank and hose. My resmed hose fits over the kitchen sink so I can flush the hose easily. The 560 heated hose has a clip that is in the way.
s9 has a better screen. Its brighter and has better contrast. Its also color while the 560 has a black and white screen that has a poor backlight.
560 has a much better filter design but still could use some improvement. Its design is far better than the s9 filter design.
s9 has a slightly longer hose but it attaches on the back of the unit so it needs it. The s9 hose also has its coils closer together so I expect its a stronger hose and it may heat better.
560 has a stupid humidifyer door design and needs a warning label to not force it all the way up. Another stupid design. What is it with bad industrial design and cpap machines? Industrial designers aren't that expensive. The s9 lid flips up and you lift the tank out (by putting your finger in the hole -- another bad design) and the 560 had a lid that flips up a bit and then you slide the tank out the front.
The 560 has some back flow prevention to limit how much water can go back into the machine. The s9 has no protection.
560 seems to have a slightly easier use interface based on the same concept of turn the knob and press the button.
s9 can reset the clock from the clinician's menu and I have no idea how to reset it on the 560. Did F&P get a patent on a clock on a cpap device?
560 has a "ramp now" button.
s9 goes full dark - 560 will keep its humidifier light on.
The 560 lets you use the dial to adjust the humidity level when its operating. It seems to adjust the heat level if you have the heated hose. I would love to have that knob adjust the pressure a bit.
Both machines only ramp up. If' I'm on auto 5->11, I want a 10 minute ramp starting at 6 and ramp down to 5 as I relax.
560 and S9 use colored lights to indicate heating status which is fine if you aren't colorblind.
The s9 is N ticked the 560 isn't. A N-tick is like the UL, FCC or EU CE certification. This means the 80 Watt 560 power supply isn't legal to use in Australia.
s9 works with sleepyhead, 560 doesn't (yet).
560 uses 4 gig card which older sd readers may not read.
560 doesn't give as much useful info on its screen. The s9 you need to turn on the useful info since it is off by default.
That average noise on the 560 is higher than the s9.
The exhale buzz on the The 560 is noisier than my s9 but quieter than the rental s9 I had. This is an area that needs lots of work from these two manufactures.

The price of the complete kit for the 560 is 60% of the cost of the s9 at $647 compared to $1072 for the resmed but the 560 is on sale now at about $120 off the normal price.

Once I get a memory card reader that can read the 560 card and install the software, I'll be able to look at the data.

[emeraude]

G'day Tim,

Hope the new machine is working out for you down there!
Thanks for the review, interesting indeed. It has given me a good idea on what I should get next...
By the way, why did you decide to try out the PR?

Cheers!

I know people are asking "which one of these newish machines do I get?" I have a new 560 that I used last night and I've been using a resmed s9.

Both machines are autoset and have humidfiers and have heated hoses. These two machines are considered the top of the line for Auto CPAP machines (except for that very expensive Swiss made machine that I would love to try)

I haven't looked at the data yet but its reporting an AHI of 0.0 after 6.9 hours.

So far on the pros and cons:
s9 easier to clean tank and hose. My resmed hose fits over the kitchen sink so I can flush the hose easily. The 560 heated hose has a clip that is in the way.
s9 has a better screen. Its brighter and has better contrast. Its also color while the 560 has a black and white screen that has a poor backlight.
560 has a much better filter design but still could use some improvement. Its design is far better than the s9 filter design.
s9 has a slightly longer hose but it attaches on the back of the unit so it needs it. The s9 hose also has its coils closer together so I expect its a stronger hose and it may heat better.
560 has a stupid humidifyer door design and needs a warning label to not force it all the way up. Another stupid design. What is it with bad industrial design and cpap machines? Industrial designers aren't that expensive. The s9 lid flips up and you lift the tank out (by putting your finger in the hole -- another bad design) and the 560 had a lid that flips up a bit and then you slide the tank out the front.
The 560 has some back flow prevention to limit how much water can go back into the machine. The s9 has no protection.
560 seems to have a slightly easier use interface based on the same concept of turn the knob and press the button.
s9 can reset the clock from the clinician's menu and I have no idea how to reset it on the 560. Did F&P get a patent on a clock on a cpap device?
560 has a "ramp now" button.
s9 goes full dark - 560 will keep its humidifier light on.
The 560 lets you use the dial to adjust the humidity level when its operating. It seems to adjust the heat level if you have the heated hose. I would love to have that knob adjust the pressure a bit.
Both machines only ramp up. If' I'm on auto 5->11, I want a 10 minute ramp starting at 6 and ramp down to 5 as I relax.
560 and S9 use colored lights to indicate heating status which is fine if you aren't colorblind.
The s9 is N ticked the 560 isn't. A N-tick is like the UL, FCC or EU CE certification. This means the 80 Watt 560 power supply isn't legal to use in Australia.
s9 works with sleepyhead, 560 doesn't (yet).
560 uses 4 gig card which older sd readers may not read.
560 doesn't give as much useful info on its screen. The s9 you need to turn on the useful info since it is off by default.
That average noise on the 560 is higher than the s9.
The exhale buzz on the The 560 is noisier than my s9 but quieter than the rental s9 I had. This is an area that needs lots of work from these two manufactures.

The price of the complete kit for the 560 is 60% of the cost of the s9 at $647 compared to $1072 for the resmed but the 560 is on sale now at about $120 off the normal price.

Once I get a memory card reader that can read the 560 card and install the software, I'll be able to look at the data.

[-tim]

G'day Tim,

By the way, why did you decide to try out the PR?

I needed a spare machine and the price was right on a zero hour "used" machine. The s9 has a number of what I consider design deficiencies so I wanted a different model. I bought the S9 because my parents both have one.

The s9 is mostly a better machine but I'm not sure its worth the price difference. If I had to buy them at local prices, I would say the 560 is the only choice.

[123.Shawn T.W.]

I have a 550, and just yesterday got a 560 ... my wife has theS9 Autoset.

I like the PR's better, they seem sturdier built, and the menu system seems simpler to use!

The PR 12vdc cord is 1/3rd the price of ResMed's too!

[archangle]

If one end of the PRS1 hose doesn't fit the water faucet, does the other end?

I've got and S9 and a PRS1 (not M60) auto. I rate them roughly equal. Both have irritating flaws.

The M60 doesn't work with SleepyHead yet.