Which is the quietest cpap machine

awakeandhappy · Post by **awakeandhappy** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 7:21 am

Hi
Just got a s8 elite on the weekend and can't stand the noise of it. My husband also has been sleeping on the couch. Please help. It is quiet when ramping but once get's at my pressure of 9 it is very noisy. I thought might be the mask the swift ( as I know it is noisy also but I have read other posts on how to make it quiet and I think it is better) but again I come to the machine thing. Would another machine be better? I am a light sleeper.

WAFlowers · Post by **WAFlowers** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 12:00 pm

There are a lot of variables in this, including the mask you wear and the pressure you are using.

I'm pleased with my 420e and humidifier. Using a humidifier can really help to quieten a machine.

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 1:41 pm

That is a loaded question by this I mean there really isn't a direct answer.

In the past week I have used two machines of the same brand (different models but identical blower motors) and one is noisy & the other whisper quiet.

We have had many discussion here about this 'individual noise signature' issue & I think many of us have concluded the the quietest machine is the quietest one you can find and that crosses brands & models.

DSM

Severeena · Post by **Severeena** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 4:36 pm

I have the ResMed Auto Spirit with Humidaire 2i and it is very quiet as is my ResMed S7 Lightweight with the Humidaire 2i.

I am very happy with my machines. I am about ready to turn in the S7. and I will after I get my new Humidarie 2i in the mail.

Morpheus · Post by **Morpheus** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 5:04 pm

If you dig into the specs on the machines at the manufacturers' websites, you can often find a decibel rating. The Puritan Bennett Knightstar line had the quietest I could find when I last researched this issue 18 months ago.

Good luck with this.

Marie · Post by **Marie** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 6:48 am

My Remstar Plus by Respironics is very quiet.

And I'm a light sleeper. Or was, I believe I sleep better now.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 9:43 am

'individual noise signature' issue & I think many of us have concluded the the quietest machine is the quietest one you can find and that crosses brands & models.

dsm has nailed the right answer, imho.

awakeandhappyIf you could stick your hand down into a bag containing ten S8 Elites and pull out one, it's luck of the draw if the particular one you grab to take home will be noisy or quiet or any degree in between. Luck of the draw.

It's even luck of the draw exactly as to what type of sound any individual machine will make compared to its brothers and sisters of the same model - one can make a decided whine. Another, more of a revving up and down whoosh. Another can groan. There can be slight (or great) differences in each machine's "individual noise signature", as dsm says. Even if all the machines are the exact same model. And even if all of them are within the decibel specs. They can still make different TYPES of sounds within same model. A type of sound that annoys the heck out of one person might not bother another person at all.

This is true not just of the S8 Elite you have, awakeandhappy but also is true of ANY manufacturers' machines. Within the same model by same manufacturer - there can be very different sounds. Take it with a grain of salt when I report having a quiet (or noisy) machine of one brand and someone else describes quietness or noisiness about their other brand. It's still luck of the draw with any machine for each of us.

If you got your machine from a DME (durable medical equipment - messageboard shorthand for the store or the people who sell home health care supplies) and you find the sound of the machine sleep disrupting, I'd take it back and stand my ground until they let me listen to others of that same model, operating at my pressure. It won't be an exact comparison, without using my humidifier and my mask, my bed, my pillow, my room...lol !! But at least you'd get an idea if there is a very drastic difference in sound between your machine and another of the same model.

We have enough to deal with in using this kind of treatment and learning to sleep through the distraction and discomfort of using a mask and machine. Sure don't need a noisy machine disrupting sleep even more. Try to arrange an appointment to listen to both your machine and another one or two of same model at the DME's office. If you determine there's a difference in sound to your ears maybe they will let you swap. Maybe.

Maskedmechanic · Post by **Maskedmechanic** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 12:10 pm

The Trend 110 CPAP is the quietest CPAP sold in the USA. Not even close. https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Somnot ... ifier.html

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 1:35 pm

Following on RG's insights I want to add this confusing result of an experiment I ran last night.

I took an Elite that I believe was very quiet & took a Spirit that I know is noisy & dismantled them & swapped the blower assemblies. These units are identical for this particular set of models.

What do you imagine the result to be. Quiet Spirit & noisy Elite - Nup!

They both sound exactly as they did before the swap, one noisy one not.

Very confusing result but the logical conclusion is the difference in the way the blowers are being driven between the AUTO & the Elite CPAP.

Spanner in the works !!!

Cheers

DSM

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 9:54 am

I would have thought the noise depends on the quality of the acoustical insulation - so the noisier box will remain noisy.

Now - if we could only switch blower between two 420Es.....

O.

ProfessorSleep · Post by **ProfessorSleep** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 2:17 pm

I don't have a lot of experience with different machines, but I will add my 1/2 cent worth that the F&Ps tend to be very quiet as a rule. Of course, every rule can be broken.

Severeena · Post by **Severeena** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 2:22 pm

dsm, do you think the blower hook up could be wrong on the machine causing the noise?

WillSucceed · Post by **WillSucceed** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 2:41 pm

Very confusing result but the logical conclusion is the difference in the way the blowers are being driven between the AUTO & the Elite CPAP.

Might be the result of the way the electronics of the unit is driving the blower or, may be the acoustics of the box. I think that ozij is right about this being acoustics and insulation.

mikemoran · Post by **mikemoran** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 3:01 pm

While you are waiting for a quiter machine you might want to try putting the one you have down on the floor. Moving it off the bedside table from ear level can be a great help. Covering it with a towel or blanket to muffle the sound is okay as long as you don't block the intake.

not sleeepyanymore · Post by **not sleeepyanymore** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 5:17 pm

I agree with the earlier post, the Somnotech Trend110 is the quietest on the market. I have tried the Aura, the S8 and the PB 420. The second quietest is the PB.

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