Remstar Auto w/A Flex vs S9 Autoset

[Apreski]

I am a new user shopping for a APAP machine. I start tonight w/ a Remstar Auto being pushed by my local DM as a demo. I have the right to exchange for something else. He insists there is some study indicating a better breathing system (pressure gradients, etc).
I am under the impression the S9 is quieter, a better humidity control tubing, and least important improved electronic display. Noise will be a huge issue for my spouse. We sleep in the Rocky Mtns at 55 degrees.
Any informative comments would be greatly appreciated.

[jbn3boys]

When I first read the forums once I found out I would need cpap, and before I got my prescription, I was convinced that the S9 was the way to go. However, when I started calling around to my local DMEs, most carried the RemStar. The DME I went with told me that the System One (Remstar/Phillips Respironics) was a very comparable, and very good, machine. I came home a week or so later with the System One APAP, and I love it! I did spend the extra money to buy the software for it from cpap.com, and am very happy I did so. The display on the System One gives very little info (7 day and 30 day average AHIs, and days of compliance--I think that might be it). If you want to track your information, you will need to get the software. However, some people just want a machine that works, and don't care much about the numbers; in that case, the software would not be needed.

I've had no problem with rainout, as the System One will take into account the room temperature and humidity. Now, I don't sleep with it as chilly as you do, but we have taken it camping, when it did get quite cold, and did not have any problems with it.

The machine itself, when the mask is worn, makes little to no noise. The only noise my husband has ever noticed (or myself) is the "breathing" sound of the mask. I find it soothing as I am falling asleep, and my husband says it is MUCH better than my snoring, which used to keep him up.

That's my experience with the System One. I'm sure there are many others who will chime in with their opinions of both machines.

[el_zorro]

Your experience with the DME is similar to mine from about one year ago when i was getting my first machine. I asked for Resmed but the DME talked me into Respironics. This has been the year of the Resmed S9 on these boards and probably in the CPAP community. There has been a lot of hype as Resmed added a lot of new features (fancy color display, integrated heated hose, reduced rain-out etc). I think the S9 has been well received and there is probably a lot of demand for it. The DMEs are probabIy stocked with more Respironics units than S9s and want to get rid of some. There is a reason they are trying to steer your toward the Respironics. As long as they give you something that is data capable you really cant go wrong but you have the right to ask for an S9 or go elsewhere with your business.

I ended up buying an S8 auto on the auction site before Resmed banned their products from the auction. The S8 is a good machine expect for the humidifier. The EPR feature of the Resmed hiccups every now and then and is not as smooth as the CFLEX+/AFLEX feature of the Respironics.

I totally disagree with Resmeds ban on cpapauction.com, its ridiculous and un-American that they would even ban used equipment from being sold on the site. For this reason alone I will not buy Resmed in the future and will buy Respironics in the future.

I have been very happy with the Respironics PR S1 and it has performed well and my AHI keeps going lower and lower. I have not had a single problem with the machine since I received it 1 year ago. I really like the Encore software and the S1 humidifier eliminates rain out. My S8 humidifier almost drown me a couple of times with rainout. I really cant use it in the winter without a heated hose because i like to sleep in a cooler room. The PR S1 never has a problem with rainout.