Do you have a quiet machine?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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magoo
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Do you have a quiet machine?

Post by magoo » Fri Aug 18, 2006 9:15 am

hello all, i'm shopping for a new machine and was considering the remstar m c-flex. a posting on cpap.com by someone said it was as loud as a helicopter landing. does anyone like their remstar m w/c flex? If not, what is a good choice?

(my current machine is a '99 solo lx set on 5, and is very quiet)

thanks in advance everyone for your input !!!

mj


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Offerocker
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Post by Offerocker » Fri Aug 18, 2006 9:41 am

Magoo, I have the Respironics Remstar Auto w/Cflex. It is very quiet. I previously had the cpap pro w/cflex, which was noticeably more noisy, which I really didn't notice until I got the Auto.
Good luck in your search.
I even wonder if there may be a difference among all machines of same type/mfgr, as there are in cars. ???


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greyhound
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Post by greyhound » Fri Aug 18, 2006 10:29 am

My Remstar M Series Auto is very quiet - quieter than my previous PB420G


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Arizona-Willie
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Re: Do you have a quiet machine?

Post by Arizona-Willie » Fri Aug 18, 2006 10:42 am

magoo wrote:hello all, i'm shopping for a new machine and was considering the remstar m c-flex. a posting on cpap.com by someone said it was as loud as a helicopter landing. does anyone like their remstar m w/c flex? If not, what is a good choice?

(my current machine is a '99 solo lx set on 5, and is very quiet)

thanks in advance everyone for your input !!!

mj

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I have the ResMed S8 Elite.

My S/O has very sensitive hearing.

I always say she can hear a mouse fart next door.

She's always saying the television is too loud.

But she loves my ResMed. No complaint from her so it must be vewwy vewwy quiet.

I, of course, hear the air because of the mask.

Aye and sweet music it is.

But she doesn't even complain about the exhaust air.

She was all smiles when I first got it. Reckon any sound it does make is much better than the snoring / gasping she used to put up with.

I would say the ResMed S8's are very quiet machines.

Before I got it I had read about someone who had drilled a hole in the closet door and put the machine in there and put two hoses together.

During my sleep study that machine moaned all night. I called it Mona. It was really really loud. Don't know what brand it was but it made a horrible moaning sound.

I thought I was going to have to do the closet door trick or sleep on the couch and was pleasantly surprised when I got the S8 and it just whispered.




CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap.com, C-FLEX

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imsotired
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Post by imsotired » Fri Aug 18, 2006 10:58 am

I have the Respironics Pro 2 w/cflex and it is very quiet. The ceiling fan makes more noise.


Guest

Post by Guest » Fri Aug 18, 2006 1:12 pm

[quote="imsotired"]I have the Respironics Pro 2 w/cflex and it is very quiet. The ceiling fan makes more noise.


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OwlCreekObserver
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Post by OwlCreekObserver » Fri Aug 18, 2006 3:07 pm

imsotired wrote:I have the Respironics Pro 2 w/cflex and it is very quiet. The ceiling fan makes more noise.
Same here, but there is a significant noise difference when I'm using the ComfortFull 2 mask instead of the ComfortCurve. The machine operates much quieter with the ComfortCurve.

OCO


Guest

quiet machine?

Post by Guest » Fri Aug 18, 2006 6:24 pm

Yes, I have a quiet machine.

I do not understand why this question should not be considered spam though.

Why not look at the decibel level of the machines and have a better and definitive answer.
Just what value is ANY reply to this question?

Should we start a thread for the dumbest question of the day, week, month, year?

I should not post with rum/coke

CollegeGirl
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Post by CollegeGirl » Fri Aug 18, 2006 7:41 pm

Guest,
If you're going to say things of that nature, perhaps you should not post at all. There is no such thing as a stupid question on these boards.

magoo,
Unfortunately, the only definitive answer to your question is that there is no answer (thus the snarky remarks from our previous "guest").

Offerocker is correct - machines vary. We can buy the same model from the same manufacturer, and have two different results. Additionally, factors like different masks, differences in hearing ability, and differences in surrounding white noise can make one person deem a machine "quiet" while another deems it "noisy." It's impossible to say, unfortunately, which is going to be quietest for you.

Really, I think the best policy (in my opinion, of course) is to buy the unit you think is right for you based on what it can do and what you can afford to spend, and then deal with the noise when you get it. If you get it and it seems noisy, try adding white noise to your environment, or try repositioning your mask (sometimes noise we blame on our machines is actually exhaust from our masks). If it's super, super noisy, take it back to the DME (or return it to the website) and let them check it out.

Good luck!


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Goofproof
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Post by Goofproof » Fri Aug 18, 2006 9:22 pm

Also most of the replies came from those not using the Magic "M", They had full sized units, as do I the Pro 2 and Auto, both quieter than the masks.

As far as Guest, they can't be compared with a DB Meter, because the many different DB Meters aren't Lab quality, and aren't Calibrated to a universal standard. Add in the factor, no two things are the same when built, and sound spec would not apply. Also no two people hear sounds as being the same, some people would be bothered by some sound, someone else would fine soothing. Jim

Use data to optimize your xPAP treatment!

"The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." Voltaire

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magoo
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Post by magoo » Fri Aug 18, 2006 9:52 pm

thank you all for your input. the reason i was asking about the "m" was someone on cpap.com remarked it was extremely noisy. everyone seems to like the non m version so i might go with that one. i'm interested in c flex primarily, but i also like the compact footprint of the "m" version.

i appreciate and value everyones opinion, as i dont want to spend a grand on something i cant live with. this is a great resource of info, far more than my DME can provide !!!

good night and good air

matt


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byront
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Post by byront » Fri Aug 18, 2006 10:29 pm

Well I am using the 'Magic M' and have no noise issues with it whatsoever. When I first turn it on it comes on at 9 and seems a bit noisy because it is trying to calibrate and synch with my breathing pattern. I just hit the ramp button and the noise dissapears. Every time that Iv'e ever woken up during the night it's so quiet I can't tell it's on because it has synched in to my breathing pattern. There have been many times when I have broken the mask seal just to make sure the machine is still on, and when I check the pressure it's almost always on 10. I know that I have read a couple of posts where someone thought it was a bit loud, I personally have not experienced that. Judging from the posts I have read it's seems that the standard RemStar may be a bit quiter, if so I can only imagine that it is neglegable. Whichever one you get I believe you will be getting one of the quietest units out there. Best of luck. -- BT


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magoo
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Post by magoo » Fri Aug 18, 2006 10:37 pm

thanks for your post, byron. i really want a smaller machine as i have limited space on my nightstand. one other question is you dont mind: can you switch between the auto variable pressure feature and one continuous pressure? my doctor has me running at a constant 10, but i've read many positive things about variable pressure and want to give it a whirl.but if it doesnt work out, i'll need go back to a constant pressure.

thanks for your help!!

MATT


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Offerocker
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Post by Offerocker » Sat Aug 19, 2006 6:38 am

CollegeGirl wrote:Guest,There is no such thing as a stupid question on these boards.

magoo,
...Really, I think the best policy (in my opinion, of course) is to buy the unit you think is right for you based on what it can do and what you can afford to spend, and then deal with the noise when you get it. If you get it and it seems noisy, try adding white noise to your environment, or try repositioning your mask (sometimes noise we blame on our machines is actually exhaust from our masks). If it's super, super noisy, take it back to the DME (or return it to the website) and let them check it out.
EXCELLENT ADVICE!
magoo wrote:i'm interested in c flex primarily, but i also like the compact footprint of the "m" version. i'm interested in c flex primarily, but i also like the compact footprint of the "m" version
Have you thought about getting just the unit without the integrated heated humidifier, then purchasing a separate HH, which you could place somewhere else (floor?)?? That would give you a smaller footprint for your xpap w/cflex machine. I did that, and am very happy; I have the HC150, which has integrated ambient tracking.

Good luck, thanks for posting, and let us know what you decide, and how you’re making out with it. Ooooh, sorry about choice of words!!
We do have fun here, too!


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tomjax
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cpap noise

Post by tomjax » Sat Aug 19, 2006 9:15 am

To better understand the perceived noise level of a PAP, it may be helpful to consider the various sources of noise.

To get a baseline level for the MACHINE, you should disconnect the hose and turn the machine on and listen.. Since the open position will cause all leak correcting machines to run at maximum, it may be helpful to gently put a wash cloth to the opening to slow it to that of a hose and mask.
This will give you a fair idea of the machine noise only.

The main noises we hear likely comes from the air coming through the hose and mask and involves some very complicated fluid dynamics and acoustic vibrations beyond my math level.

Suffice it to say that harmonic vibrations will occur and may be amplified by whatever the hose is touching. Yes, air is a fluid as is glass.

If it is under a pillow or touching the headboard, then these can amplify and be perceived as varying noise levels.

Our skulls will pick up these vibrations and it will transmit through the ear structure in addition to the waves picked up by the eardrum. It is likely the bone transmitted noise will be greater than the ear drum.

I hope the engineers can add to this in that noise levels sometime are totally different than that simply provided by the machine and the hose and mask likely are the bigger culprits.

It then becomes a problem of dampening the hose or configuring it so this is dealt with.

It is innacurate to attribute most noise levelt to the machine only.