S8 Auto II Breathing in/Breathing out noise

[Guest88]

We rented an S8 Autoset Spirit II for a few days because it looked nice and small for travel. But compared to the S7, it makes a really loud "breathing in-breathing out" noise. It sounds as if there's a third person (a very heavy breather at that) in the room, which is very disconcerting. So we gave up on the idea.

I'm really worried though about what will happen if/when the S7 fails, as I've read that the new generation of CPAPs (because they are smaller) have a similar problem.
Are there any smallish machines (suitable for travelling) that don't make this noise?

I've read a few times that DeVilbiss makes quiet machines, but they look quite bulky and square (difficult for travel).

Thanks for any suggestions

[sleeplessinaz]

Hi There---I use the S8 Escape by Resmed----it is VERY quiet and also compact for traveling. I came in it's own little travel bag/case and everything --the humidifier is detachable so you could take that off of it and make it even smaller. It is not a data capable machine though but it is quiet and small.

Good Luck!!
SIAZ

[Guest88]

Hi there , that looks exactly like the machine we tried (might be marketed under different names in different countries?). So you don't find that it makes those breathing noises?
Not sure if they might be pressure-dependent or maybe we just got a bad unit?

[billbolton]

We rented an S8 Autoset Spirit II for a few days because it looked nice and small for travel. But compared to the S7, it makes a really loud "breathing in-breathing out" noise.

I previously used an S7 and now use an S8, and find the S8 is significantly quiter than the S7!

The S8 is a GREAT flow generator for travel and mine has been all around the world with me!

Cheers,

Bill

[Slinky]

Actually, correct me if I am wrong, BillBolton, but isn't the S8 II supposed to be even quieter than the S8s? Two impellers or some such?

That being said: my own experience has been, and from reading the various forums, noise level seems to be more individual xPAP related than brand or model related. You just happened on one of the noisier individuals.

And, especially at higher pressures, when the device offers and is set for some form of expiration pressure relief or a pressure range in auto mode, any of the brands and models would tend to be a little more noisy than one at a set pressure w/no variation due to expiration pressure relief.

And the wider the pressure range in auto mode the more likely there is to be some noticeable change in sound when dropping or raising pressure.

[Guest]

Well, the machine itself is quieter, but the breathing noises sound as if there is a third person in the room (it felt pretty spooky). I've come across a few reports on the internet which said the same thing. I'm wondering if some people simply don't mind that "breathing noise", or whether there is a problem with some of resmed's units?

[Guest]

Oops, we must have posted at the same time . The problem is not so much the noise from the machine (which is dead quiet), but the breathing noises which correspond with the actual breathing in and out (only sort of time-delayed, if that makes any sense)...

[billbolton]

Well, the machine itself is quieter, but the breathing noises sound as if there is a third person in the room (it felt pretty spooky).

If EPR (Exhalation Pressure Relief) was turned on for the S8 II Autoset SPirit, then the flow generator sound will vary somewhate with your breathing as it adjusts the flow rate for inhale or exhale.... but its a quite low level variation in the sound level!

Anyway, you can turn EPR off if it disturbs you and the flow generaor should then produce a fairly constant sound level.

Is your S7 an Autoset Spirit model, or a Lightweight model?

Cheers,

Bill

[alnhwrd]

My S8 Elite sits right next to my head and seems very quiet. I do sleep with a fan on in the bedroom to drown out any noise elsewhere in the house ( an old shiftworker's trick!) so I think that helps. The Elite disassembles and has its own travel bag too.

[zorrro13]

I have the same machine and whisper quite so it could be your mask perhaps? lets not forget that its just a machine and a lot of new cars end up as lemons brand new for no apparent reason..

[Slinky]

Nope, its not just a Resmed "thing". There have been similar comments made about Respironics and I read a similar problem w/one Puritan Bennett, tho since PB doesn't offer any expiration pressure relief it must have been the auto.

[Guest]

Hi Bill, the S7 is an AutoSpirit. It makes a nice humming noise...
It's not the generator sound on the S8 I'm talking about (I don't think?? I might be wrong though), but a really distinct breathing noise, like a third person in the room... so this might have been due to the EPR (what happens if you switch it off? does this make breathing out more difficult? the pressure tends to be pretty high at the start of the night).

@zorro - it definitely wasn't the mask... the sound seemed to come from the back of the machine...

So if the problem is indeed the EPR, what are the disadvantages of switching this off?

A fan to drown out the noise sound like a great idea (not sure though what it would be like in the middle of winter - brrrr), though not really practical for travel

[zorrro13]

Where did you buy the machine. Outside the USA?

[billbolton]

Hi Bill, the S7 is an AutoSpirit. It makes a nice humming noise...

The S7 Autoset Spirit did not have EPR, so as you have been fine without it using the S7, you should be able to disable EPR on the S8 without any concerns!

EPR reduces pressure on exhalation, which is useful for some users.

the sound seemed to come from the back of the machine...

Since it was a hire machine, rather than your own, the microfibre filter may have been missing (or replaced with a non-original type) on the air intake at the rear of the flow generator. While its primary purpose is to filter particles out of the incoming air. it will also provide a degree of sound absorbtion in terms of air flow noises the impleller chamber of the flow generator.

I have a vauge recollection, from a couple of years back, that I accidently ran my S8 without the filter one night and the noise difference was enough to make me take a look in the morning and realise that I hadn't replaced the filter when doing a periodic inspect-and-clean the previous day.

Cheers,

Bill

[bigk]

The S8II is quieter than the S8 - 26db