Time to choose my machine

[Stanley56]

Since restarting my CPAP therapy I have been using a loaner machine from my DME. The machine is a PR REMstar Auto 550P. I like it much better than my old ResMed S8 brick. It is now time to purchase a new machine for myself and my prescription has been written for an APAP of my choice.

Based on my research I think I would best like the ResMed S9 AutoSet with H5i Humidifier and ClimateLine Tube. The other choice would be the PR System One REMstar AUTO 560 Auto with A-Flex with heated humidfier and heated tubing.

Both my doctor and DME seem to slightly prefer the PR machine, but both have said it is my choice. The doctor said she preferred the PR because it provided them with "a little better data". I'm not sure why the DME prefers the PR, but it probably concerns $$$.

It seems as though either of these machines would be a good choice. Can I get some opinions please? Which machine of these two do you prefer?

Thanks

[Sheriff Buford]

You can't go wrong with the Resmed S9 Autoset. Sheriff

[Pugsy]

The PR System One 560 does collect a couple of data points that the ResMeds S9 doesn't and present things visually a little different but none are deal breakers.

Both are excellent machines. You can't go wrong with either. Each has a few minor pros and cons but these are very minor.

ResMed users will tell you the ResMed is better...PR S1 users will tell you that theirs is better.
Most have not had a chance to actually use both to compare.
There are a few of us here that have had a chance to use both brands. I actually own both brands in the bilevel model line.
Until the 60 series with the heated hose came out I would tell you that the S9 was better because of the heated hose.
Now they are pretty much equal.

The algorithms are different between the two brands and there are probably a few people who would do better with one algorithm over another but I think that the majority of the people would do well with either brand.

Since you have used the PR S1 550...and like it...and your doctor likes the data it collects...You can't go wrong with the PR S1 560 machine.
The S9 Autoset is nice but not twice the price nice but your insurance will be paying for it....so that really isn't a concern because they most likely pay by billing code and not model name.

The PR S1 machine collects RERA data that the S9 doesn't. Now I don't know just how critical having access to that data is but it's there. RERA Respiratory Event Related Arousals.
The PR S1 machine records Flow limitations and snores as actual flagged events which makes it super easy to evaluate.
ResMed S9 just uses a graph line and maybe isn't quite as easy to evaluate.
These may be what your doctor is referring to.

Both are great machines...it's really a toss up.

[chunkyfrog]

If power supply flexibility is important, you may bear in mind that Resmed S9 machines are 24 volt;
requiring proprietary equipment, which is not inexpensive.
If you camp, travel, or live in an area likely to have power outages, Respironics machines may be easier to get powered up.
I really like my Autoset, but have invested in an Intellipap Autoadjust for travel, emergencies, and camping.

[Sheriff Buford]

Both are excellent machines. You can't go wrong with either. Each has a few minor pros and cons but these are very minor.

Both are great machines...it's really a toss up.

Ok... if you had to choose or drop dead, if your life depended on it, if you could only buy one machine, if you were looking at both and they were the last machines on earth-forever, if there were a million dollars underneath only one of them... or if the whole world balanced on your decision....

Which one would you choose... mmm?

Sheriff

[Pugsy]

Ok... if you had to choose or drop dead, if your life depended on it, if you could only buy one machine, if you were looking at both and they were the last machines on earth-forever, if there were a million dollars underneath only one of them... or if the whole world balanced on your decision....

Which one would you choose... mmm?

Glad the fate of the known world isn't resting on this choice.

If buying out of pocket but money was still no object. The PR S1 560.
I prefer the slight inhale noise vs the bird call on exhale of the S9. My husband says he can't ever hear the PR S1 but he does faintly hear the S9...I am talking very faint here.

There really isn't that much difference between the 2 brands. They each take a different road to preventing OSA events but they both get there. They each have different forms of exhale relief for those that need it. They go about it differently but both are quite effective and comfortable.

If using pressures in the teens...EPR offers the most dramatically felt reduction in exhale pressure feeling a lot like the bilevel pressure reduction. So the S9 in that situation maybe.

I do prefer the data that the PR S1 collects and the way it is presented. PB is obvious and a person has to go looking for maybe PB in the S9. These are very minor pros and cons though.

I think that ResMed's policy of price fixing is doing exactly what they wanted it to do....everyone thinks that more expensive is better. People think that because the Respironics is less expensive that it just has to be inferior or cheaply made and that simply isn't the case.

But the mind is a powerful little tool. The seeds are planted that Resmed is better and will offer the miracle and people think that anything else is inferior and "they would just do better" with ResMed.

If someone gave me a choice right now today....free...I would pick the PR S1. The heated hose has evened out the playing field. I have had a chance to try a 60 series with the heated hose. It works great.

But if someone just has it in their mind that they just have to have the S9...then get the S9 because that's what they want.
Wanting is as good a reason as any other.

[patrick_a]

[quote="Pugsy"] I think that ResMed's policy of price fixing is doing exactly what they wanted it to do....everyone thinks that more expensive is better. People think that because the Respironics is less expensive that it just has to be inferior or cheaply made and that simply isn't the case.

But the mind is a powerful little tool. The seeds are planted that Resmed is better and will offer the miracle and people think that anything else is inferior and "they would just do better" with ResMed.
[/qiuote]

hahaha... this exactly whay happened to me a couple months ago while searching for a new mach. I really wanted the S9, but couldn't spring the $$.

[mfignewton]

So the respironics has a little more and better data than the Resmed? Are they both auto to where they would make up for leaks and etc... I'm in the same boat still want to move up to a nicer machine.

[Pugsy]

So the respironics has a little more and better data than the Resmed? Are they both auto to where they would make up for leaks and etc... I'm in the same boat still want to move up to a nicer machine.

I suppose "better data" is going to depend on perspective.
Respironics PR S1 machines will flag RERAs....ResMed S9 do not flag them. Now how critical is it to have RERAs? Not the end of the world if you don't but if someone were leaning towards a UARS type of diagnosis I think the RERAs might be of benefit.

Respironics flag snores as individual flagged events shown on the Events graph...very easy to spot on the graph flow rate line and zoom in on.
Respironics flag Flow limitations (auto adjusting mode only) as individual flagged events shown on the Events graph. Again super easy to see on the flow rate graphs.

ResMed only offers a flow limitation and snore graph line and it's a bit more difficult to evaluate just how bad they are based on the graph line because there is no standard available to compare to unless you compare to someone else's graph line.

So yes...a little more data but how crucial is that little more data? I don't know. It certainly is not the end of the world one way or the other.

It's not like we are comparing a Ford Focus to a Lexus here....we are comparing a Lexus to an Acura. Both are very fine machines. If money is tight....get the PR S1. No way is the S9 worth nearly twice the price. I am sorry but it just isn't.
We are talking minor differences in features and different algorithms.
I have used both brands and in regards to therapy being delivered they are both effective and if I didn't have the bird call on exhale with the S9 to tell me that was the machine I was using last night...I can't tell the difference. Not from my reports and not from how I feel during the day.

[mfignewton]

Good advice. I just called my DME and he said I have to have a prescription for the auto machines. But he did say insurance would pay for it. I would go with the respironics for the price.

[chunkyfrog]

My first DME only sells Re$med. After 9 months on the Elite, I bought the Autoset out of pocket--
simply because I already had the humidifier and heated hose for it, and cpap.com has a good price.
But my hearing is just bad enough I don't hear the "hoot".

[archangle]

I consider them to be almost a toss up.

The S9 somehow "feels" better to breath into.

The official ResMed ResScan software is a quantum leap better than the official PRS1 Encore software. It gives you much better detail in airflow waveforms.

The free SleepyHead program gives you basically the same waveform display with either machine, but it's not official and does have a few bugs still.

[SleepyInIndy]

I'm in the same boat. My M series auto is 5 years old and I can now replace it. I am getting some 'feedback' from the spouse that my machine is becoming noisy to her. So of the two, is there a significant noise difference an actual use?

[raptor5150]

I have both in question, I sleep great on either one...both are quiet and i can only tell a small difference in breathing which is no big deal. You can't go wrong with either one. Only complaint i have is that i cannot seem to get the clock correct on the s9.