S8 Vantage Auto and Noise

RobbyRobert · Post by **RobbyRobert** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 2:40 am

I am looking to buy the S8 Vantage Auto APAP, and like almost everything about it. The only concern is the several posts I have read on this forum about the noise or "whine" that it makes when you breathe. I read somewhere that the intake needs to be pointed away from the wall and that makes it a little more bearable. I am planning on putting it on the floor, but I really would like any and all feedback about the noise (or whine), and things that anyone has done to reduce it.

I currently have a RemStar Pro with C/Flex which is very quiet. I have tried out the S7 Auto, and it makes more noise than my RemStar Pro. How does the S8 compare to the S7 when it comes to noise?

My pressure is really low (5cm) and I rarely go over 7cm when using an APAP. I have to make a decision this week as I need to get it billed to my insurance this year, especially since I have met all the deductibles.

Thanks in advance for any and all advice!

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): auto, APAP

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 4:05 am

Make sure the post you read refer to the Autoset Spirit rather than the S8 Vantage.

The Spirit I have is noisy to me but tolerable. The S8 I have is less so but is not an AUTO so can't really be compared.

I will be surprised if any owners of S8 Vantages claim they are noisy.

The RemStar AUTO has a similar whine (up & down) but it certainly has good sound baffling inside. Both my wife & I are very happy with its noise level even when Cflex is set.

Cheers

DSM

sir_cumference · Post by **sir_cumference** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 5:35 am

I have the S7 and S8 autoset spirit, and the S8 is lower noise than the S7, but it is also a different noise! I also use both of them with a humidifier.

On the S7, if you take a deep breath you can hear the fan increase in speed as it matches your breath, so the S7 will give you more of a 'fan' noise, while the S8 gives you more of an 'air' noise ... if that makes any sense. You can hear it blowing, but to be honest I hardly notice it at all.

However, when it was brand-new, it did make a whine which was transmitted through my breeze. I think it was the fact that the fan in the S8 was new and so probably a very close tolerance and 'tight'. But the loudness of that whine quickly faded and was gone altogether within a couple of weeks. I suspect that the noise of the whine is rather amplified by the humidifier, but I can't say for sure.

So now I am a couple of months down the road with the S8 autoset spirit and it has settled in very nicely and combined with my breeze is a very effective treatment. My pressures tend to be in the 9 - 10 range, and I suspect that in the range you are talking about you almost won't know it's there at all!

You will notice a difference when you get the S8, not least because it will be a new machine after using one that you have had for a while, but give it a couple of weeks to bed in and you will be very happy with it ... I know I am!

I keep my S8 (and the S7 before it) on the floor beside my bed. With the S7 I use to pick it up every day and put it away as it was quite large. But with the S8 I just leave it there as it is small enough not to get in the way, even with the humidifier in place. And, if you need a humidifier, the H3i is a huge improvement over the H2i. It is easy to use, fill and put in and take out etc..

So in short, I wouldn't worry about noise with the S8 ... yes you may start with some whining but that is only the bearings bedding in and won't last ... and you may not even notice it anyway with such low pressures.

sir_cumference

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 6:37 pm

Re bearings bedding in, am just going thru that on a BiPap Pro2.

I replaced bearings in the fan motor & then ran the machine for a few hours. I have a RemStar plus with a similar sized fan motor & have been comparing the sounds & behaviour of each.

The BiPap motor spin drops off very quickly after shutdown whereas the well used RemStar Plus fan will spin for about 3 times as long after power off.

There is a bit of fan noise in the BiPap but I was expecting this.

The bearings got replaced because the previous ones had been soaked in water that half filled the motor housing. We believe the machine may have been put in its bag when water was still in the h/h - the water went into the air outlet vent & appears to have got through the air control solenoid & into the fan intake area, from there it seeped into the motor enough to leave a tide mark in there.

The water was then blasted out when the machine started next. The motor had a layer of sprayed rust all over the inside. Being brushless it can run even if full of water (makes it run a bit slower though )

But the damage was done & the bearings put out a massive whine that made the machine unusable.

It is pretty well back to normal now though.

What that exercise taught me is how each fan motor will exhibit a noise related to the stiffness and condition of the ball bearings & the size of the motor.

By comparison a PB420 fan is tiny & so are its bearings - they would make an entirely different sound.

Cheers DSM

jnp323 · Post by **jnp323** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 12:40 pm

I have had my S8 Vantage Autoset for several months now, and it is terrific! It is very quiet (I had a pretty quiet Devilbis 9001D before this and the S8 is even quieter) small, and easy to use, especially with the H3i humidifier. I don't think that you will be sorry if you get it. The autoset works great, and it has been keeping my AHI below 4 every night! The only thing that I haven't tried is the EPR function on straight CPAP.

RobbyRobert · Post by **RobbyRobert** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 1:11 am

Based on your comments, I bought the S8 Vantage Auto yesterday and I am very happy with it! It is very quiet right out of the box. My DME, who is really nice, said that the comment about the bearings was correct. He has sold a bunch of S8s (his best selling model) and has found that some of them are a bit noisier than others at first, but within a few weeks they are all very quiet as the bearings "bed in." Mine seemed to be quiet right out of the box. I am considering buying the software, but I really have to think about it, as my DME is only about 1 mile from my house, and is happy to do it for me anytime. Thanks again for all the advice. I am sleeping great!

Robert

sir_cumference · Post by **sir_cumference** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 5:05 am

Glad to be of help, you have made the right choice - it is a really great product.
sir_cumference