I hate my new 420e!!!

Janelle,

Welcome back! Haven't heard from you in awhile, unless I missed your posts. Just wanted to say hello and I hope everything is okay with you.

BP:

There is a phenomenon known as the"occlussion effect" which occurs in some but not all people when you block the ear canals. I encounter this with my hearing aid patients all the time. It causes their voices to be over amplified and to sound abnormal. In your case it may be making any "head" noise such as swallowing, breathing etc much louder. You actually proved this point earlier when you said the exhalation sounds were softer when the earplugs were out of your ears.

You can try altering the depth of insertion of the plug (less effect when plug is not as far in) and / or you can try other types of plug material. Either or both of these might help you. Alternatively, you may simply find that your brain gradually becomes accustomed to the "new or different" sound it is hearing.

Hope this is helpful.

I do think there can be a lot of variation in the sound that any one model of machine from same manufacturer can make. Luck of the draw off the assembly line.

The first 420E I used for almost a year made a decidedly noticeable up/down revving sound of the motor as I breathed. A whine, if you will, but one I was luckily able to get used to, although it always caught my attention for a minute or so when I turned it on each night.

The 420E I have now (different one) makes almost no sound. Just the faintest up/down rev. No whine sound, as I'd define a "whine." Much, much quieter than my first one. I don't think my hearing has changed enough to account for the difference in the year since I used my first 420E.

I noticed a difference (but the other way around) in two REMstar autos I've used. The older one (without C-Flex) was almost silent. The next one (with C-Flex) was considerably louder even with C-Flex turned off...loud for the first several months like a sick cow moaning in the distance. I got used to that, too...hey, I'm easy! lol The "sick cow" sound eventually went away, but that second REMstar still was louder than my very quiet first one.

Luckily, the 420E I have now makes practically no sound, since the 420E is what I plan to stick with for a long, long time to come.

I confess, I've been neglecting the forum for several weeks, due to other committments and going into one of my reading stages, and just generally spending less time on the computer.

I have had 3 420Es. First one was very quiet, that's the one that broke down on me. It was replaced by PB with a totally new one. I also bought in the interim between sending the first one in and getting the replacement another one. Now, I'm not sure which is which, but one is VERY quiet and the other is a bit on the noisy side. I think it is the replacement but I'm not completely sure. But there is a definite difference. Since their literature says it has a certain decible level at a pressure of 10, if there is someway you can test that, and it is higher, you might have grounds to make PB replace the unit, since it does not meet their claims.

The decibel level in a specification can be somewhat misleading in the following way. A given dB level of white noise is far less objectionable to most people than that same dB level of a "pure tone" (not unlike finger nails on a chalk board). A thorough audible noise spec specifies dB level and pure tones not exceeding some value (or no pure tones at all). Something perhaps to keep in mind for CPAP or other instruments where audible noise is specified.

Just my $.02 worth.

I cannot hear my 420E at all, because I'm sound asleep!

Interestingly, I have used an F&P that to some would sound louder than my RemStar, but because the F&P noise is in the low register of frequecies I do not get disturbed by it at all but my RemStar does creep into my conciousness as its softer noise is of a higher pitch which for me intrudes.

I have often said the F&P is 'so quiet' but on a db scale it isn't as quiet. The tone & pich of the noise can make all the difference.

Cheers

DSM

[quote="sleepyinsunnyvale"]The decibel level in a specification can be somewhat misleading in the following way. A given dB level of white noise is far less objectionable to most people than that same dB level of a "pure tone" (not unlike finger nails on a chalk board). A thorough audible noise spec specifies dB level and pure tones not exceeding some value (or no pure tones at all). Something perhaps to keep in mind for CPAP or other instruments where audible noise is specified.

Just my $.02 worth.