Air Sense 10 vs S9

[idamtnboy]

Hi everyone! Haven't been on here much at all for a couple of years. I see a lot of old members and quite a few new ones!

My S9 crapped up my SD card which I figured out only because the AHI and leak numbers on the LCD screen hadn't changed for a couple of days. Don't know yet if it was just a card gone south, or if the S9 has developed a problem. I did several reboots and finally deleted all the data and inserted a new card. I'll see in the morning if things got straightened out.

Anyway, in anticipation of maybe getting a new machine, which I'm now eligible for after 5 years (can't believe it's been that long already!) I decided to do some research here about the differences between the AS10 and S9. I see there's not much difference other than a few extra goodies added to the AS10, some debate about sound level differences, and of course the physical configuration.

Nobody has mentioned, that I find anyway, one minor difference that I'm interested in. To pack up the S9 for travel you have to open the humidifier, dump the tank, put the tank back in, and then separate the humidifier from the blower. Each has to be turned around and inserted in the carry case and strapped in. How does the ease, time, and convenience of putting the AS10 into its carry case compare? The packing up isn't much, I admit, but I find all the steps to be mildly annoying. Is the AS10 less annoying to pack up? And when it comes to carrying the machine with your luggage is there any difference in how well it packs into the trunk, bin, or wherever?

[Physician]

Hi everyone! Haven't been on here much at all for a couple of years. I see a lot of old members and quite a few new ones!

My S9 crapped up my SD card which I figured out only because the AHI and leak numbers on the LCD screen hadn't changed for a couple of days. Don't know yet if it was just a card gone south, or if the S9 has developed a problem. I did several reboots and finally deleted all the data and inserted a new card. I'll see in the morning if things got straightened out.

Anyway, in anticipation of maybe getting a new machine, which I'm now eligible for after 5 years (can't believe it's been that long already!) I decided to do some research here about the differences between the AS10 and S9. I see there's not much difference other than a few extra goodies added to the AS10, some debate about sound level differences, and of course the physical configuration.

Nobody has mentioned, that I find anyway, one minor difference that I'm interested in. To pack up the S9 for travel you have to open the humidifier, dump the tank, put the tank back in, and then separate the humidifier from the blower. Each has to be turned around and inserted in the carry case and strapped in. How does the ease, time, and convenience of putting the AS10 into its carry case compare? The packing up isn't much, I admit, but I find all the steps to be mildly annoying. Is the AS10 less annoying to pack up? And when it comes to carrying the machine with your luggage is there any difference in how well it packs into the trunk, bin, or wherever?

I was in the same position as you, and recently chose the S9, having owed and used an S9 for over five years. Newer is not always better. As contained in other threads, there are some things to be concerned about with the AirSense 10, or AS10.

1. Although the mechanics inside are the same, including the blower, the unit has not been time-tested as much as the S9.
2. I don't care about appearance, larger screen with more color, automatic appearance of a sleep report, or wireless monitoring.
3. The AS10 has had problems with noises and seals. The seals are buried inside the AS10. . . they are not on the humidifier. Talk to your DME and they will acknowledge the issues.
4. I don't use water in the tank, but an S9 is easier to fill than the AS10.
5. On the S9, leak = 6 L/min and AHI= 0.0 to 0.1 . Can't knock success. Why change machines? ResMed guaranties parts and repairs for at least five more years.
6. In sampling two of the AS10s, they made a loud noise on inspiration. My S9 is quiet and has an equal low sound on both inspiration and expiration. LISTEN HERE for a comparison from the back of each machine:

S9 = http://picosong.com/6qWb/

AS10 = http://picosong.com/6q7p/

These six or more points made the decision easy to get a replacement S9. BTW, the size of the AS10 with the humidifier is larger/wider than the S9. Other members will give their opinion here, and most users of the AS10 are satisfied with it.

You can delete and/or format the SD card, and the machine will transfer a year's summary back to the empty card.

Let us know what you decide and why. ResMed makes excellent equipment and are consumer-responsive.

[Zoopshine]

I've only been on CPAP for about a month, and I was given a 10 to start, so I can only tell what I know.

Yes, it can make a whistling noise which can be quite annoying. Pulling out the humidifier and replacing it usually fixes it right up.

The machine is very small and light-weight. It came with a nifty travel case that is quite small and has padded, secure pockets for each component, including the mask. There are also extra pockets for putting extras, in my case some small bottles of distilled water, for travel. The humidifier comes out to be packed, but the whole thing is so small it can rest on your lap or between your feet and weighs very little.

As to the wireless monitoring, well, Big Brother is certainly watching, and in my case, it's good that they did. I have been suffering with one of my lovely sinus infections and was attributing that to why I was feeling so crappy lately. As I haven't yet been able to get SH to work, I haven't been able to monitor things well, so I had little information to go on, as MyAir doesn't tell you much. Then I checked my e-mail and the company had sent me a message telling me my mask was leaking and have I been noticing a reduction in my quality of sleep? A bit of testing with my mask and I figured out that, as I wear it every time I sleep and am a side-sleeper, I had smashed the gel to the point where it was actually tenting up, creating a significant leak. A quick fix later (Thank you, CPAPSeal!), and here I am, running on 5 hours of sleep instead of my usual 8 and feeling great. The wireless also makes it easy for my insurance company to see my compliance without dinking around with an SD card.

Overall, I'm quite pleased with the machine and would highly recommend it. But there is a saying - if it ain't broke, don't fix it. If you like your 9, why not stick with the 9?

[BanjoPaterson]

I used an Airsense 10 for the previous fortnight. My notes are:

- For me, slightly quieter than my S9
- There may be the same mechanics inside and software, but for whatever reason my therapy seemed to be worse on the AS10. I put that down to being unfamiliar with it more than anything else
-Because I have my CPAP on the floor, I had to lift the AS10 up every morning in one hand while using the other to get the daily stats because of its shape. With the S9, I lean out of bed to see the information. I know it's designed for the bedside table, but (for me) the LAST thing I want on my bedside table is a CPAP. I don't see it as a decorative item.
- Integrated water chamber may be a turn off for some. Some mentioned that the seals are on the CPAP itself, and not the water chamber (design flaw?)
- Some equipment, such as power brick and heated tube, not compatible between S9 and AS10
- Wireless may be seen as intrusive, but definitely the way things are heading (heck, my friend's camera has wireless in it). Apparently can be turned off using "airplane" mode

On the plus side, they have a tweaked algorithm for women, so the "For Her" xPAP makes sense. With the water chamber it is smaller than the S9 with water chamber, but larger than the S9 without water chamber. I also liked the swivel for the heated air tube. I thought that was a small, but good, idea. The heated hose also has an elbow bend, which also makes it, IMHO, much better.

Me - I'll sell my older S9 and buy a new one with 5 year warranty in 2016... pretty much intending to skip the AS10 and see what the AS11 (or AS10 II) is like. If they could make the screen a swivel screen (so it could be seen from the floor) and move the seals to the water chamber, I'd probably be sold.

[CaptainRaven40]

I am new to all of this. Started therapy in August. I got to try the S9 vs the AS10. I went with the AS10. It was quieter and I breathed easier with it. Both had the same settings. I liked that the heated hose had a swivel and I liked how the water chamber removed on it. It also looks better on a side table and that was important to my wife lol. Have to make her happy as well. I got the AS10 Autoset and I love it. All I need now is a wireless sd card so I don't have to keep taking it in and out when I want to check SH. It all comes down to what you want. The S9 looked like a great machine and they will continue to have a warranty with it and will make parts for years. I say go in to your DME and at least test drive the AS10 there and just see what you think.

[Physician]

Me - I went and bought another S9 with 5 year warranty... pretty much intending to skip the AS10 and see what the AS11 (or AS10 II) is like. If they could make the screen a swivel screen (so it could be seen from the floor) and move the seals to the water chamber, I'd probably be sold.

Excellent points. A proposed AS 10 Version Two or AS 11 might incorporate the best features of each machine. Hope ResMed officials read our threads and track with DMEs. Several DMEs admitted that the AS10 noise and seals are a problem, and one DME said they were instructed to remove the seals completely when they are an issue. Given the extreme importance and time spent with CPAP therapy, it would be worth paying for a new machine without insurance contribution, and perhaps selling your unit as used.

BTW, my new S9 shows different sleep report values than the five+ years of my old S9. Leak is slightly up from 6 to 8, titrated pressure dropped form 12 to 9 (I never had 9 with the first S9), and AHI is still fine at 0.1. Perhaps the software has changed.

I adore this S9 auto set machine… it so damn quiet and faithful. S9 price is dropping, now $724: http://www.thecpapshop.com/new-low-price

[40 Winks]

I moved from the S9 to the 10 coming up on a year soon. They are both fine machines. I feel the 10 is a bit quieter than the S9, slightly smaller footprint so I keep in on my nightstand rather than the floor as I did my S9. Depending on your situation the wireless my save you a trip to DME or doctor to validate compliance or change pressure. I feel the water chamber is easier to manage, slide out-fill-slide in. Like any all-in-one machine you have the risk of a humidifier malfunction and the whole machine is then down. I've noticed no change in my therapy.

Regarding you concern about packing, it still gets packed away in two pieces. The water chamber and blower each have their own separate section. I think the case is better designed and thereby slightly easier to pack, but for me - I wouldn't base a decision on that.

[Physician]

I moved from the S9 to the 10 coming up on a year soon. They are both fine machines. I feel the 10 is a bit quieter than the S9, slightly smaller footprint so I keep in on my nightstand rather than the floor as I did my S9. Depending on your situation the wireless my save you a trip to DME or doctor to validate compliance or change pressure. I feel the water chamber is easier to manage, slide out-fill-slide in. Like any all-in-one machine you have the risk of a humidifier malfunction and the whole machine is then down.

That last sentence is not correct. It's true only if one uses the humidifier. With both the S9 and AS10 the machines can be used without the humidifier. The AS10 has a cap, and the S9 units simply pull apart and the hose attaches to the main unit.

[idamtnboy]

All good comments but what about what I really asked about, the differences in packing up for travel?

[CaptainRaven40]

All good comments but what about what I really asked about, the differences in packing up for travel?

I honestly don't think there is going to be a whole lot of difference. I think the bags footprint is going to be relatively the same. The process of putting it in the bag is probably going to be about the same. I have never had an S9 before though.

[englandsf]

I use the non dishwasher safe tank on my travel S9 so I can wipe it out before packing. Whole things takes a few minutes, never tried the A10, but it looks like form over function to me.

[Cardsfan]

Hi- I can't compare the two, but I can tell you about packing up my Resmed AS10. We just did a 2 week trip and was in 7 different hotels. So I can give you some tips. It only takes a few minutes to pack the stuff up. That machine comes with 2 different hose options. I would suggest for traveling, you pack the Slimline basic hose. It is 7 inches shorter than the climate line hose. So it takes up less space in the case. The slimline basic hose is easier and faster to get into the case.
The case has a compartment for the blower and the humidifier tank separated by one divider, no straps. Just pack a paper towel in the case and use it to wipe out the water tank.
There is a compartment for the hose, mask, with zipper.
The compartment for electric cord has velcro closure.
I also found it faster to put the hose and mask, still assembled together, in my carry on suitcase, where there was enough room that I could just spiral it around itself in 2 seconds. You almost have to take them apart from each other and carefully fit them into the Resmed case. I traveled with the Climateline hose and it had a fleece snuggle hose cover on it. That was not going to easily fit into the Resmed case with the hose cover. So I put it in my suitcase.

There is also an optional side cover. It makes it possible to use the machine without the humidifier tank attached. It also makes the unit smaller lengthwise when the humidifier tank is left off. I think it was about $15.