The first group are "allergy shop" marketed premium makes. These are not cheap. I recommend these to folks who have severe allergies or environmental illnesses.
These companies are long-time quality and sales leaders, but are conservative about modernizing their products with electronics and new cleaning technologies. Machines in group 2 are gaining popularity at the expense of group one.
Using an analogy to the auto industry, these are the American and European premium brands; the Volvos, BMWs, Cadillacs, and Mercedes of air cleaning.
Blueair has raised the bar with the automatic dual pollutant-sensor E-Series.
1.IQAIR HealthPro Plus, $899.00, made in Switzerland, the easy winner. A lifetime multiple chemical sensitive, I am a poor boy fer sure, but bought one after months of research for this website.
IQ Air Purifier review: everything about the IQAir HealthPro Plus
2. BLUEAIR 650e: $799.95, Swedish-built Blueair 650E Review: the new automated Blueair flagship
3. Blueair 503, $599.
4. AUSTIN Air HealthMate: Real Value $499.00, made in Buffalo, NY, USA. Austin Air Purifiers HealthMate review: "Heart of Gold". 作者: ROBYN 时间: 2013-1-17 10:08 标题: Group 2 - Asian Invasion Air Purifiers
My second group of recommendations are the "Asian Invasion" brands, made in Japan and Korea by giant electronics firms.
These have big money engineering, sophisticated electronic automation, and lower ownership costs than group one above.
This group is gaining market share, and my admiration, as time goes by.
These have brushless direct current (BLDC) motors, the quietest technology.
They use fewer resources and make far less noise and emissions, running on high only when airborne impurities are sensed.
In the car comparison these are the Toyotas, Hondas, and Hyundais of the air purifier world.. 作者: ROBYN 时间: 2013-1-17 10:08
5. SHARP Plasmacluster Japan's long time market leader.
My old favorites are the "dry" Plasmaclusters.
My 2005 model FP-N60CX is actually my all-time favorite air cleaner, still running the original "5 year" HEPA since 2005.
Sharp Plasmascluster FP-A80U New for 2012, is a very strong air cleaner for $300.
The new FP-A60U sells for just $228. Sharp Plasmacluster FP-A60U Air Purifier Review
Humidifier Sharps require water tank filling daily. I own a KCC150U, but consider it slightly inferior to previous models.
Folks who live in dry climates, and might need the humidifier function, should consider the "wet" Sharp Plasmacluster line.
Sharp Plasmacluster KC-860U is the top humidifier/purifier:
Sharp Plasmacluster KC-860U Air Purifier Review
6. RABBITAIR is a successful California importer selling rebranded Mitsubishi and Coway air purifiers. These are Japanese and Korean designs with the latest bells and whistles including BLDC motors and sensor driven quiet/economical operation.
Note: RabbitAir 421A/582A BioGS models are temporarily off the market for obscure reasons.
Rabbit customer service says they will be back "soon."
First time air cleaner buyers, with medium to small rooms, who feel a bit overwhelmed by all the tech info should consider the $330 Rabbit Air (Mitsubishi) 421A. The folks at Rabbit are very good at new-customer hand holding and are real Americans, experienced enough for the customer service new users may need.
Of course, buyers are paying for this service with the purchase.
Here is my review;
Rabbit Air 421A
7. WINIX The Koreans copy Japanese market leaders at reduced prices, and are beginning to take market share. Using the car analogy, think "Hyundai."
The Winix Plasmawave air cleaners have done a good job of underselling the Sharp Plasmaclusters with similar technology.
Winix Plasmawave 5000 sells for under $300.. 作者: ROBYN 时间: 2013-1-17 10:08 标题: Group 3 - Low Cost Air Cleaners
Air purifiers under $200 are recommended primarily for mild allergies or housekeeping purposes.
In this category there are many inexpensive products, but watch out for loss-leaders - low priced machines with high-priced replacement filters.
In the car industry parallel, these are the Fords, GM products, Isuzus, Suzukis, Kias, and Chryslers.
As with the cars, these economy class air cleaners have higher manufacturing defects and warranty claims than upscale products.
8. WINIX 6300: This is the 5000 series stripped of its filter cassette tray and fiberglass prefilter screen to cut costs and hit big-box retail price targets. Users who are just a little bit mechanically inclined can rework this unit with prefilter materials and score a bargain.
The 6300 is an upgraded of 5500, without the "washable" HEPA filter fantasy. 6300 is far from perfect, but at around $200 the Winix 6300 remains an attractive budget alternative.
Winix 6300 Plasmawave Air Purifier Review
9. Honeywell 50250S $170: Good Value, Heavy Duty, but noisy. My 50250 still runs after 10 years, but I no longer run it 24/7 due to noise. Honeywell 50250
10. The $46 Honeywell HHT-011 - only for the extremely cash-short and as an alternative to the Hunter and Holmes brands at Wal-Mart. Honeywell HHT-011 Air Purifier with Permanent HEPA Filter Review. 作者: jiangming-emma 时间: 2013-1-18 11:03 标题: 回复 24楼ROBYN 的帖子