F30i Darth Vader Inhale Noise

Hello, i'm a newbie CPAP user and opted for the AirSense 11 Autoset with F30i mask as I prefer sleeping on my side (and even front).

Immediately first thing I noticed after strapping it on was the volume of inhalation breaths coming from the mask even with a good tight fit that is definitely preventing any air leaking. I find it so distracting its hard to sleep. The AirSense machine itself is extremely quiet.

All I want to know is, is this normal for this mask or is it faulty somehow? Do I just have to get used to this or alternatively resort to using earplugs? Are there any other full face masks that don't generate this darth vader inhale noise?

isquealatnight wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 28, 2023 5:18 am

All I want to know is, is this normal for this mask or is it faulty somehow?

That noise is normal and a common complaint with some masks.

isquealatnight wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 28, 2023 5:18 am

Do I just have to get used to this or alternatively resort to using earplugs?

I don't know if ear plugs would help or not. Give them a try but the Darth Vader noise is most likely conductive noise and ear plugs might make it worse.

isquealatnight wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 28, 2023 5:18 am

Are there any other full face masks that don't generate this darth vader inhale noise?

Don't know because I don't use full face masks but I did try the nasal pillow version of the F30i which is the P30i,
and the Darth Vader noise was a deal breaker for me.

You would need to just try different masks to see if they were noisy or not.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 28, 2023 5:35 am

I don't know if ear plugs would help or not. Give them a try but the Darth Vader noise is most likely conductive noise and ear plugs might make it worse.

Thanks for your reply! Ok that's good to know. I have just now realised as well my frame size is incorrect (using a large instead of medium) so I have a new conduit frame ordered. No idea if that'll effect it (it might as i think it moves the pipes a bit further away from the ears)

I'm fairly sure ear plugs would totally resolve it as when I stick my fingers in my ears it more or less fully blocks out the inhale noise.

I disagree. It might be your machine. I have used an F30i with my AirSense 10 for a couple of years now, and it is so quiet that I often have to break the seal just to check to see it the machine is on. The funny thing is that I bought an AirMini the other day for traveling, and I am using a third party adapter that allows me to plug a standard 20mm hose into the AirMini so that I can use it with my F30I mask. The machine is quiet enough, but the mask is making a loud noise when inhaling when connected to AirMini, but not when connected to the AirSense 10. I have no explanation for why the F30i mask is noisy on one machine, but not the other. I would love to know why the machine would affect the mask noise.

I ventured, I gained
I was able to machine some existing CPAP connectors so that they could be permanently attached to the HumidX HME housing. Now I'm able to use the standard hose that fits most CPAP machines. See what they look like via the link:

https://bushcraftusa.com/forum/threads/ ... st-6776648

During the course of experimenting I was able to determine what might be the REAL cause of the Darth Vader sounds coming from the HME Housing. Tomorrow I'll try to post some photos at another link for you to see the probable cause.
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I'm not sure if I experienced the same thing as the OP; however, my F30i was also making loud noises when inhaling. I later discovered that if I removed the V Com attachment, it seemed to completely remedy the problem. I'm not exactly sure why, but it was a dramatic difference. My only remaining complaint is that the air that jets out from both the front vents and the elbow can be noisy if the air is hitting anything nearby (like my pillow or headboard).

For me the F30i, n30i, and p30i all have one issue - I can hear the air going through the tubes as they pass near my ears. It is not a huge thing and is barely audible when I am sitting up before bed, but once I lay down and turn on my side it is noticably louder.

Earplugs do help it since the noise isn't conducted through my bones. I generally turn from one side to the other a couple of times a night so I had to use plugs in both ears.

Currently I am using the standard F30 so I get the benifit without the noise.