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Reviewing the Low-Priced Home Oxygen Concentrators
Reviewing and Ranking Home Oxygen Concentrators ~ The Low Price Leaders
The current low price leaders for home oxygen concentrators are the Optium, the Solstice and the Perfecto 2V. The Optium is manufactured by John Bunn and distributed by Graham-Field. The Optium is the market low price leader priced at $585 (found at Vitality Medical). The Solstice Oxygen Concentrator is manufactured by Drive Medical and is just behind the Optium in price at $618.00. The Perfecto 2V is a new economy version of Invacare's Perfecto 2. The economy version is significantly discounted from its sister product by $222.00. The current price for the Perfecto2V is $742.00. It is important to point out that the new Perfecto 2V Oxygen Concentrator includes the oxygen sensor as standard equipment. Both John Bunn and Drive Medical provide the oxygen sensor as an optional accessory to their oxygen machines. Factoring the oxygen sensor in the comparison of the three oxygen concentrators, the price difference is $52 between the Optium and the Perfecto 2V and $31.30 between the Solstice and the Perfecto2V. This puts the leading low priced oxygen concentrators in very close proximity to each other in price. However, the Optium Oxygen Concentrator stands as the low price leader.
Other comparison factors to consider are size, weight, noise, power consumption, oxygen output, maintenance and warranties. The chart below displays the comparative data between these leading oxygen generators.
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| Concentrator Size |  Optium |  Solstice |  Perfecto 2V |
Width | 14.2 | 20 | 13 |
Height | 21 | 14 | 23 |
Depth | 13 | 12 | 11.5 |
Weight | 33 | 36 | 39 |
| Oxygen Concentrator Operating Specifications | |||
Noise | 45 | 45 | 43 |
Average Power Consumption | 300 | 300 | 325 |
Oxygen Output Capacity | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Compressor Output Pressure | 8.5 | 8.5 | 5 |
Maximum Operating Altitude | 7,500 | 300 | 8,000 |
| Oxygen Concentrator Sensors & Maintenance | |||
Oxygen Sensor | Optional | Optional | Standard |
Oxygen Sensor Cost | $105.00 | $92.70 | Included |
Scheduled Professional Maintenance | 1 yr | 1 yr | 3 years |
| Manufacturer Information | |||
| Manufacturer/Distributor Name | Graham-Field | Drive Medical | Invacare |
| Location of Manufacture | China | China | United States |
| Limited Warranty (yrs) | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Oxygen Concentrator Pricing | |||
| MSRP Price | $1,220.00 | $1,300.00 | $1,060.00 |
| Vitality Medical Discount Price | $585.00 | $618.00 | $742.00 |
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Comparing Oxygen Concentrators
Each of the three oxygen concentrators has a maximum oxygen output of 5 liters per minute (LPM). As displayed in the chart above, the Optium has the least weight while the Perfecto 2V produces the least amount of noise. The Optium and Solstice require an average of 300 watts of power to operate while the Perfecto 2V requires an additional 25 watts. The Perfecto 2V has a long term lower cost benefit of requiring a professional technician to service the concentrator only once each three years, while its two competitors require service annually. The Perfecto 2V has only a 3 year limited warranty while the other two oxygen machines come with a 5 year limited warranty.
Review of the Rating Factors
In reviewing the three discount oxygen concentrators, we used 17 factors displayed in the previous comparative chart. Our comparison found that the Optium and Solstice are evenly matched, leading in five of the comparative factors. The Perfecto 2V however leads in 9 of the rated factors, nearly doubling the rankings of the other two concentrators. A summary of the ratings are provided below:
Size Ratings
- Smallest Width: Perfecto 2V
- Smallest Height: Solstice
- Smallest Depth: Perfecto 2V
- Overall Smallest Profile: Solstice
Weight Rating
The Optium has the lowest weight at 33 pounds.
Noise Rating
The Perfecto 2V operates with the lowest noise. If noise is a primary concern for the user, Invacare manufactures another version of the Perfecto2 oxygen concentrator called the Perfecto 2W. This version produces only 39 dBA at normal operating levels.
Average Power Consumption Ranking
The Optium and Solstice tie with an average power consumption of 300 watts. The Perfecto 2V would cost an additional $21.60 to run over a period of 4320 hours (6 months of continuous use) with a kilowatt rate of 2 cents.Output Pressure
The Optium and Solstice have the edge with 3.5 psi over the Perfecto 2V.
Operating Altitude
The Perfecto 2V has the highest altitude operating level at 8,000 feet above sea level.
Maintenance Requirements
The Perfecto 2V requires maintenance by a professional technician every three years while the other two oxygen concentrators require annual maintenance. The cost of this maintenance varies greatly upon local service rates.
Warranty
The Optium and Solstice have an additional 2 years of limited warranty over the 3 years of the Perfecto 2V.Price
The ability to purchase the Optium without an oxygen sensor for only $585 beats all the current competition. Factoring in the oxygen sensor, each of the oxygen concentrators in this review are within $52 of each other.
Ranking the Oxygen Concentrators
- 1st Place: Perfecto 2V (leading 9 rating factors)
- 2nd Place: Optium (leading 5 rating factors)
- 3rd Place: Solstice (leading 5 rating factors)
Although the Optium and Solstice were equal in rating factors, we give the edge to the Optium for having the lowest price and the lowest weight. Toting heavy items around the house is a significant concern for many oxygen therapy patients.
Another important consideration that was not a part of this home oxygen concentrator reveiw and ratings is product availability. Both the Optium and Solstice are manufactured in China and have experienced manufacturing delays and shipping delays. The Invacare Perfecto 2 oxygen concentrator is manufactured in Florida and so have has not experienced any delays. More details about manufacturing delays can be found at Reviewing the Low-Priced Home Oxygen Concentrators.
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