Audio Comparisons (MP3) of the AirSense 10 and S9

[Physician]

NEARBY THREAD: viewtopic/t104744/ResMed-AirSense-10-vs ... lease.html

As promised, below are links to the audio made from each of these CPAP machines. The microphone in each case was 8" from the back of the machine. The same tubing (ClimateLine variety) and mask (Mirage FX) was used. There was no leaking. EPR 3 on both. No RAMP. Pressure was at 10 before recording made.

Can you guess which recording is which machine ?


MACHINE: http://picosong.com/6qWb

MACHINE: http://picosong.com/6q7p/


It would be greatly appreciated if other members compared these two CPAP machines with reference to the inspiratory and expiratory sounds.

[SewTired]

Both the S9 and Airsense 10 for Her were dead silent for me. I could hear the HOSE last night because my humidity was too high and I got rainout (through my nasal pillows, it sounded like a toddler snot monster). What it sounds to me like you are recording mask sound, not machine sound. Change of mask is going to reduce that sound, but it may not be practical for you. I use nasal pillows and it is silent unless the mask is expelling into pillow or sheet. Then you get some sound. My brother uses a bipap and his mask sounds very darth vader like, but his respironics bipap is silent.

[Goofproof]

Junk science, to many variables to test. You need a sound lab and software to make a useful test, and then it would only apply to the two units tested.

Ears aren't reliable test tools, neither are people, but if it makes your day, play away. I have tinnitus anyway. Jim

[Physician]

Junk science, to many variables to test. You need a sound lab and software to make a useful test, and then it would only apply to the two units tested.

Ears aren't reliable test tools, neither are people, but if it makes your day, play away. I have tinnitus anyway. Jim

Call it what you want, but TWO AS10 machines were very loud on inspiration compared to the S9 and other people in the room agreed.

Will try a third AS10 machine next week and bring a DB meter.

[PoolQ]

For my ears, both recordings sound about the same-sorry, but noise just does not bother me much. I did have to put my AirSense machine on a thick towel to stop it from using my night stand as a sounding board. I have nothing to compare it with as this is my first machine.

I understand that you noise is coming from the machine and I have heard some breathing noise coming from my machine and also from my mask, not a leak and reseating the mask stopped that.

I do sometimes run a fan in the room to get rid of my mind latching onto the rhythmic pattern of breathings when it does happen, turns out I will focus on ANYTHING that is repetitive.

Of course the A10 and S9 are different machines and therefore have different air paths through them, to not sound different at some level would be impossible and it would surprise me to have them make exactly the same level of noise.

It may be that the A!0 has just hit on exactly the wrong combination of sound level/frequency and matched with your breathing pattern frustratingly attracts your attention when you are trying to go to sleep. Anything that could make even a small change in this could be all you need to no longer be bothered by it: moving the machine a little farther away, putting the machine on something soft, ear plugs or even a chin strap that covers the ear, wearing a pullover hat, a small fan in the room, turning the machine sideways?

Sometimes the little white ball does indeed go into the cup, just because it did. In this case the A10 is just bothering you, because it just is.

Best of luck finding a solution that works for you.

[Physician]

For my ears, both recordings sound about the same-sorry, but noise just does not bother me much.

Suggest a thorough hearing test. There is no way those recordings are "about the same". Have posted these elsewhere and everyone else detects the marked difference, just as others have in person.

Next week will bring an oscilloscope and post the tracings here.

[PoolQ]

well then fine. never mind, hope you have a great day.

okay so I listened again to both and had my wife listen (she is a singer). The first time I just heard CPAP breathing sounds, that like I said do not bother me personally.

Is there a qualitative difference in the recordings, yes there is and surprise they are different machines with different designs. One of these designs bothers you, but that does not mean that one of the machines is broken. If you cannot adjust to the A10 then perhaps it is just not the machine for you.

If you refuse to even try to get the situation to bother you less and insist that the machine is somehow defective because a properly working machine should never bother anyone, well good luck with that. You may need to get another S9 which are still available or try a Respironics CPAP machine and see if that difference is more palatable.

[Physician]

well then fine. never mind, hope you have a great day.

I shall and have, and wish the same for you. The solution is obvious and stated before, is to stay with the S9. Absent this big inspiratory noise differential, I would have gone for the AS10.

BTW, in polling several DMEs, they agreed that among all the CPAP machines, ResMed has the absolutely the most reliable blowers.

[chunkyfrog]

I can tell the difference, not so much loudness, but different pitches contained within the sound package.
Of course I am not bothered by the sound, (Lucky me) but I know people who are very sensitive to sound.
It is a curse, but there are solutions.
If physics is not effective, white noise or yoga might work.
I hope you find your peace, without sacrificing your health.

[Pugsy]

I listened.
Definite difference but it sounds like my breathing sounds when I am masked up and I have already determined that those breathing sounds are in my head because when I plug my ears with my fingers the breathing noise actually gets louder. It's conducted noise.

How far away from the microphone were you and the mask?

I had a handy little app that I put on my phone to test sounds like that and it gave decibels I think.
Called Sound Meter.
I was comparing a bipap asv to another bipap asv that someone said sounded like a train.
He was getting 60 decibels and I was getting 40 which was just barely above ambient sound levels with mine. Clearly his machine was a lot louder...same brand, same model, same settings. We were scratching our heads a lot on that one.

You know you don't have to convince us why you want something or don't want something.
Out of all the people that I have heard from here on this forum I have only heard of one unhappy person that went from a S9 to the AirSense....and I don't remember the reasoning for the unhappiness.
There have been a very large number of people with the new AirSense that are totally happy with what they have even though they were also happy with their S9. We won't/can't really count the newbies who have never used both. ...they don't know any difference.

The S9 machines were known for the "bird call" noise on exhale....LOTS of people complained. We called it the "bird call" because we got comparisons to hoot owls and various birds.
I had a machine that did it but I could tone it down by lessening the force of my breathing...so it was something related to pressure and force of breathing intertwined.

[Physician]

I listened.
Definite difference but it sounds like my breathing sounds when I am masked up and I have already determined that those breathing sounds are in my head because when I plug my ears with my fingers the breathing noise actually gets louder. It's conducted noise.

How far away from the microphone were you and the mask?

I had a handy little app that I put on my phone to test sounds like that and it gave decibels I think.
Called Sound Meter.

Excellent post, Pugsy. I did use two db apps on my phone (Sound Meter and Decibel Meter), and they verified the marked inspiratory difference behind the machines and a level unchanging background near my face. I was far behind the directional microphone in each case, and none of what you hear was from my mask.

My S9 at home is very very quiet, and makes no change in sound with respiration.

Will research further.

[Black Shampoo]

I think they're both loud as hell in real life. I have no idea why people think they're silent machines. They're pure Darth Vader all the way. Of course I'm 30 or 40 years younger than most people on here so maybe I have better hearing?

[FlashC4]

My S9 with my P10 Airfit mask is completely silent for me. With my Mirage Quattro or my Swift FX it was a LOT louder.

[CaptainRaven40]

I have and Airsense autoset and I don't think it is very loud at all. I have asked the wife and she said it just sounds like someone breathing normally as they sleep. She can tell the difference in sound level in different masks. When I tried the Wisp she didn't like it at all because she said it was a little loud but it also blew her out of the bed with the exhalation ports. When I tried the Pilairo Q she said it was very quiet and didn't sound much different than regular breathing. My main mask now is the P10 and she says it's fine. So if the machine doesn't bother me or my wife nor the level of sound from the mask or the air being vented I don't give a damn about a recorded study. The main study for everyone is if it is silent to them and their bed partners if they have them and they are comfortable. All the other science that goes along with it all with every maker saying their brand is the best and quietest. It's all bull shit. It's all relative to the person using it and the people it affects while in use. Ok. Rant over.