Travel CPAP suggestions (Not Z1, Mini or Transcend)

Been using a Resmed Airsense AUTO 10 at home and my prior home CPAP, an Intellipap AUTO for travel. The Intellipap is >10 years old and a tad big for travel (I always travel with a bit of photography equipment). Have been looking for a smaller travel CPAP and have tried three so far...the version 1 Transcend, the Z1 and the Resmed Mini. Had problems with the noise with all of these CPAP machines. Earplugs did not help. Much to my surprise, I also had breathing issues with the Resmed mini, even after a two week struggle trying to adapt and suggestions from my supplier and Resmed).

My question is whether to consider additional machines like the Z2, the latest Transcend or the Dreamstation Go..or just get a larger machine (minus humidifier, using humidifier filters instead). I don't want to travel with my Resmed Airsense AUTO 10. Any suggestions? Thanks.

You could just get the side cover for your Airsense 10 and use that. It would allow you to use the Airsense 10 without the humidifier. Or, I like my Dreamstation GO. But you don't save much in size and weight over the Resmed Airsense 10.

Cardsfan wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 27, 2019 4:02 pm

You could just get the side cover for your Airsense 10 and use that. It would allow you to use the Airsense 10 without the humidifier. Or, I like my Dreamstation GO. But you don't save much in size and weight over the Resmed Airsense 10.

Thanks. Yea, I'd gone that route when starting to use the Intellipap as my travel machine..I dropped use of the humidifier. I'd rather have a second small travel machine and leave the Airsense 10 at home.

I'm not particularly optimistic that I'd be happy with the Z2, the latest Transcend or the Go..but hope someone will change my opinion based on their experiences. Of the larger (and presumably quieter) AUTO CPAP machines, I'll probably check to see which one has the smallest footprint/weight (minus humidifier) and the power supply weights vs. the small travel machines.

Consider the ResMed S9 AutoSet minus the humidifier which is a separate unit in the S9 series.

I'm surprised at your experience with the Air Mini. I find it to feel essentially identical to using my Airsense 10 Autoset. It does have a slightly higher pitch and slightly louder noise, but it only bothers me for a couple minutes the first night I use it. It also has a subtle squeak that sometimes bothers me, although I don't recall hearing that last time I used it. Probably my ears going bad.

I hope you find a solution that works for you.

Everybody's needs are different.
My son is sensitive to the slightest sound--I slept through a lightning strike about 30' from the house.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 27, 2019 7:43 pm

Consider the ResMed S9 AutoSet minus the humidifier which is a separate unit in the S9 series.

Pugsy,
Thanks for the suggestion. Does have a brick power supply but the unit itself (minus humidifier) is pretty light/compact. My hope is to assemble a spreadsheet of size/weight/power supply details for machines and then pick one..but already, the Resmed unit you suggest has appeal. I'm not even going to bother to try the new Transcend or the Z2 as I assume I won't like the noise. I'm hoping to cross paths with my sister-in-law within the next month or two..she owns a Go. White noise might be fine but hearing my breathing seriously disrupts my sleep.

rcobourn wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 28, 2019 12:14 am

I'm surprised at your experience with the Air Mini. I find it to feel essentially identical to using my Airsense 10 Autoset. It does have a slightly higher pitch and slightly louder noise, but it only bothers me for a couple minutes the first night I use it. It also has a subtle squeak that sometimes bothers me, although I don't recall hearing that last time I used it. Probably my ears going bad.

I hope you find a solution that works for you.

I was VERY surprised that the Mini did not work for me. Spent two weeks trying to acclimate and used silicone as well as foam ear buds to dampen the noise but found that trying to get through the night with the Mini was a nightmare. After two weeks of use, I was pretty worn out due to lack of good sleep but at least I knew that I'd fought the good fight. The Mini is amazing...small, light, an AUTO machine..I so much wanted it to work for me.

Chunkyfrog sums it up well..everybody's needs are different. Needless to say, I was bummed when I returned the Mini before the trial period ended but the good news is that at least there was a trial period vs reading folks posts where they buy the machine, it does not work out for them but don't have the option for a full or partial refund.

I don't think the Z2 would be much different than a Z1 with the aftermarket muffler installed. I have the Z1.

The "muffler" helps. Some. But not as much as you will want it to.

The problem, as I see it, isn't that the small machines make noise. In fact if they made a steady noise that would be just fine. It is the fact that they have a huge increase in noise every time you inhale. Darth Vader noise is as good a description as I have heard.

The biggest reduction in noise, far greater than the muffler, was buying and using the "travel cpap hose". Been using it over a year and it is still like new ( some wrote that there was no way it would last......). It really packs up small and cuts way down on noise. So I run the travel hose, and the muffler.

But they are still annoying. Two things that help. Best is to put it in the drawer of a nightstand and throw a t-shirt over it, close that up to allow the hose to come out. This makes it easy to live with. Second is to put a t-shirt over it wherever you have to put it. Covering the unit helps a lot. There is still the up and down rhythm of the noise but the volume won't keep you awake.

I have a Z2 Auto unit for Travel. I originally had a Z1 Auto.
While there is a significant improvement in the Z2 unit itself vs. the Z1, there is still a fair amount of that pulsing noise, especially in the mask.
I can sleep with it, but I can understand that other's may not be able to.
My wife complained about the Z1, but not about the Z2.
While the Q Tube muffler does help, it's not totally effective. Also for reference, I had the Q tube both the Z1 and Z2, and the Z2 is quieter regardless of using the Q tube.
Also, IIRC, I read a review on one of the seller site, where the user claimed better mask noise mitigation using one of the collapsible travel tubes. I never tried that, but I did observe different levels of mask noise depending on the different tubes I used.

I actually had to use the Z2 for a couple of months during the summer when my Resmed unit was in the process of being repaired, and eventually replaced.
I did two things to help with the noise.

1. Mask it with the room Air Conditioner, a portable unit.
2. I put the unit inside my night stand drawer, left slightly open for good ventilation. This placed it lower than the mattress, which also helped with the noise.

There is still some noise in the mask itself. I could adapt, but I do understand that this is a deal breaker for some folks.

The board sponsor offers a trial period:
Try it Risk-Free for 30 days! If you're unhappy for any reason, you can return it for a full refund!

The portability, ease of set up and even the data available are very good with this machine. The phone app sucks, but at least you can get some decent stats.
Hooking to your PC and using that reader offers even more.
The unit will work with standard tubing and masks.

You could give it a go, and return if it does not meet your needs.

realshelby wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 28, 2019 10:24 am

...
The biggest reduction in noise, far greater than the muffler, was buying and using the "travel cpap hose". Been using it over a year and it is still like new ( some wrote that there was no way it would last......). It really packs up small and cuts way down on noise. So I run the travel hose, and the muffler.

..

I had not seen this when I replied, but you are confirming what I had read about the travel hose.
Can you post a link to this hose. I'd like to check that out. Thanks!

I use my Airsense 10 Autoset for her all the time.
If packing space were a problem, I would leave a pair of shoes home.
Cheaper to buy new shoes--better not to suffer with the wrong machine.

I recently purchased the new Transcend365 and I'm pretty happy with it. I love what they have done with the humidifier and I don't think it is too loud. I purchased it as a backup and for occasional travel. As of yet I have only used it for napping but I was pretty impressed with it.

jsmit86 wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 28, 2019 7:18 pm

realshelby wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 28, 2019 10:24 am

...
The biggest reduction in noise, far greater than the muffler, was buying and using the "travel cpap hose". Been using it over a year and it is still like new ( some wrote that there was no way it would last......). It really packs up small and cuts way down on noise. So I run the travel hose, and the muffler.

..

I had not seen this when I replied, but you are confirming what I had read about the travel hose.
Can you post a link to this hose. I'd like to check that out. Thanks!

CPAP travel hose
In my review of the HDM Z1 there were a couple posts about this hose not being durable. They didn't own the hose.....so I don't know what their purpose in posting that was about. There were posts claiming there was no way a hose would change the noise level. Again, they didn't own or use one. The difference is substantial, and I am pretty sure I know why it works that way. But that isn't important. It works. I packs up small, but getting used to packing it back onto the tube takes a couple tries to get right. You have to really compress it from the beginning to fit it on!

Sadly, I feel like the search for a good travel machine is like the wild wild west of CPAP.
1) Everyone has their own tolerance to noise re sleep, with an incredible amount of conflicting comments found online as a result. The experience is so subjective..
2) People have different definitions of what constitutes a good travel machine, for some a large footprint or weight is not an issue
3) There are really no good head-to-head comparisons re noise. Unfortunately, many people measure the sound coming from the machines but do not measure mask noise (which is the bigger problem for me)
4) Different people use different masks, which intrinsically have mask-specific levels of noise
5) What constitutes travel weight...machine, machine+humidifier, machine+humidifier+power brick, machine+humidifier+power brick+battery or any combination of these components
6) There are no retail shops where one can in person review the machines and DME shops don't usually have many machine options available for comparative purposes

I do think that a small, quiet machine (Airsense Mini/Transcend/Z2) that is considered quiet by the masses is the holy grail of CPAP for travel. The good news is that for some, the current crop of small machines available is acceptable. The bad news is that relative to bigger machines, there are still many complaints about noise. I can only assume that companies like Resmed and Respironics are hustling to solve the noise issue that prevents them from having a bigger share of the market. Maybe the Mini II or the Dreamstation Go II will be solutions if/when they are released.

I have been reviewing machine sizes re travel. Pugsy, you are spot on re S9 AUTO as a potential travel machine (small/light) but it does have a huge power brick. My hope is to get the opportunity to try my sister-in-laws Dreamstation Go early next year prior to making a decision. Happy holidays all!

https://www.sleeprestfully.com/CPAP-Comparison-Chart/
https://www.cpapwholesale.com/info/auto ... ison-chart
https://www.cheapcpapsupplies.com/cpap-machines/travel