Customer Reviews

Rabbit Air BioGS SPA-421A (covers up to 600 sq. ft.) Ultra Quiet HEPA Air Purifier - Low Maintenance - Washable Filters!

5 star:		(121)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I just received my air purifier yesterday and had a chance to use it near my bed for one night of sleeping so far. I have mild asthma and I am heavily effected by Ozone (it makes me react badly to it) so part of the reason I bought this brand was it touted "no ozone" It does have an ionizer on it and those produce ozone. However, you can have it turned off at all times if you want. Even with it on my reactions to it are mild, I spoke to a rep at Rabbit Air who have 24/7 phone support and they told me it uses a low power ionizer so its not a smelly and intense Ozone generation. So for those with Asthma and Ozone sensativity you can turn off the ionizer! Also for those who are wondering the size it stands about 20 inches off the floor.

Pros:
-The charcoal/pre filters are washable in sink or dishwasher
-The HEPA filter is coated with antiviral/antibacterial agent to last longer
-1.5 year filter life with continuous use.
-5 year Warranty
-Very clear high tech looking front display
-Body painted with anti electro-static coating to prevent dust build up
-HEPA filter has a gasket on bottom edge perimeter to prevent air leakage
-The Odor and Particle sensors on front actually function accurately. I would have thought it was a cheap gimmick but they actually work! Its a nice extra feature you don't see elsewhere. (when you buy one spray some air freshener or puff powder somewhere in middle of room and watch the odor/particle lights crank up shortly afterward)

Cons: (small gripes, but not enough for me to effect 5 star rating, but if this was a 1 out of 10 scoring system. I'd give it a 9 or 9.5)
-I dont have a problem with this but some people say front panel is to bright to have in bedroom. If you like perfect blank room then find a way to cover the display. No way to shut off front display other then power off.
-The unit requires a remote control to get to all its higher functions. All you can do on the unit itself is turn power on/off. The remote uses over sized watch battery so it wont be something you have laying around the house as a spare backup.
-The Ionizer turns itself on every time you select a new function on the remote (speeds and settings) So, you need to turn it back off everytime you change its settings (not a big deal)
-Some people were surprised by its size. But after getting it its about mid thigh high. You can press it up against a wall if you want.. and since its a somewhat thin profile it takes up less floor space then thise giant square or round designs other air purifiers have.

I am not sure if its worth the price yet. However, so far so good! When you look at the price of the competition and the quality and featurs you get on this. Its a very nice comparable model to put on your shopping radar if you are in the market.

Since moving to Virginia, I spend at least a month every spring feeling like I'm waking up with a bad cold. I had promised myself that this year, I would try a good-quality air purifier. I debated among the Sharp FP-N60CX Plasma Cluster Air Purifier, the Mitsubishi PlasmaPure Quiet HEPA Air Purifier, and this one. In the end, they all had high ratings, and I am sure they'd all have worked well, but I liked the looks of this one. Turns out, it looks even cooler in person. More importantly, I wake up feeling great. Also, it's inaudible on the night setting which is important since it's in my bedroom. The smell sensor really works - drop a new pile of laundry near it and it will go off because of that dryer sheet smell. My room is just so much nicer now and although it can't follow me around and take care of my allergies the rest of the day, it let's me get a good night's sleep, which is all I could ask for. To get into the technical side of it, there are two sensors - one for pollen/dust and one for smells. There are indicators on the front which show the mode the unit is in (such as turbo, pollen, night) as well as levels indicators of smell on one side and pollen on the other. I also need to mention that the distributor, SPARO, is wonderful. I asked them by email before my order shipped to send silver instead of white. They responded quickly that that was no problem. Then I let them know that two buttons on my remote didn't work, and they responded immediately that they were overnighting a new one, which they did. Couldn't be happier with them or the product! You can't go wrong with this.

Clean air and great sleep - what a deal!

Several years ago I purchased a GE HEPA Air Purifier from Wal-Mart for about $100. I have some moderate dust mite allergies and, being a college student with roommates, I this was the best option to contol the dust (the house certainly wasn't going to be cleaned regularly!) The GE unit was very noisy. I simply assumed that all purifiers were noisy. I assumed that this was something I had to learn to deal with. I'm a light sleeper. After a few days of no sleep with the GE Purifier, I began only to run it when I was gone at class or work.

I've since graduated and decided to try an upgrade. The market has a ton of expensive unit. This one I'd say is "middle priced." But don't let that get you down. This unit has VALUE. You can drop a benjamin for a noisy unit from Wal-Mart. Or, you can bite the bullet and make a WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT. The HEPA filter that comes with the unit is hefty. The unit itself is very stylish. The remote is great (it can be stored on top of the unit too so you don't loose it).

I found the most frustrating part of shopping for an air purifier is a lack decibel ratings. I did the research for you - this is the quietest unit on the market. Silent mode really is silent! Low mode is almost inaudible. I would equate the medium mode to sounding like like air coming blowing from any AC vent in your home. High mode is noticeable, but hey, it's moving a lot of air on high mode.

The automatic function is great. It senses air quality and adjusts. It's one of those "set it and forget it" products. Today is the first day of using the unit so I can't comment on long-term efficacy. From the looks of it though, this is going to be a great product with low maintenance. I'm the king of buyer's remorse. I'm also fresh out of college and not loaded with cash. I feel no regret in purchasing this product. If you're skeptical of my strong recommmendaiton, don't be. I so emphatically support this product because it's one of the few products out there (besides an apple computer) that lives up to its promise. The biofresh is an awesome product.

I bought the Rabbit Air BioGS 421A with the white face plate directly from Rabbit's website, and received it two days later. Unfortunately the unit vibrate at Maximum fan speed, called the customer service and the gentleman said it is not normal and they will overnight a replacement unit for me, and arrange UPS to come pick up the defective unit.

Thanks to Rabbit Air excellent customer service and super fast delivery the replacement unit arrived quickly, and it does not vibrate at Maximum fan speed! In the mean time, I also bought a Sharp FP-P60CX Plasmacluster from newegg so I'll do a brief comparison between them.

SHARP FP-P60CX Plasmacluster:
-pushes more air but slightly louder (maximum 233cfm @52dBA)
-only has one odor sensor
-carbon filter bag contain twice as much carbon, but replacement filter also cost more
-big remote, can't store it on the unit but you can access to all function from the unit without it
-HEPA filter is slightly bigger and thicker, suppose to last 5 year but replacement filter cost twice as much
-More advanced and effective Ionizer, it scrubs the air! (you can read about Plusmacuster technology on Sharp's website)
-Display light can be turn off
-Outside housing of the unit feel more rigid and slightly better construction, no vibration of any kind.
-1,4,8 hour timer
CADR rating: Dust 209 / Smoke 213 / Pollen 205



Rabbit Air 421A:
-Less powerful fan but quieter (maximum 159cfm @45dBA)
-both odor and dust sensors
-carbon filter catridge contain less carbon, cheaper to replace and easier to clean
-tiny remote, can be store at the back of the unit and you NEED the remote to access to most function
-HEPA filter is slightly smaller and thinner, only last 1.5yr, but cheaper to replace
-Display light cannot be dim or turn off
-1,2,4 hour Timer
CADR rating: Dust 145 / Smoke 144 / Pollen 163
-Excellent customer service



Honestly, it's very hard for me to pick between the two, so I decided to keep them both. I paid about the same for both units, and at the end of 5 year mark I believe the total cost of operation will be about the same too. If I have a tight budget and can only afford to buy one unit, I would probably get the Sharp FP-P60CX Plasmacluster because it pushes more air(higher CADR) which mean it can cover a bigger room, don't have to replace the filters for 5 years, and the timer is more useful(8hr instead of 4hr). Fortunately I can afford to keep both, so I'm using the more powerful unit (SHARP) in the living room, and put the quieter unit (Rabbit Air) in the bedroom. I leave them on full time (Auto mode)24/7, the sensors from both units are effective enough to adjust itself as necessary, and trust me....these sensors work as advertised, they are not a gimmick, my daughter farted around the air purifiers and both units kicked into high gear instantly, even before we can smell it!!

I have had this air purifier for about 5 months now and it really does the job. When I moved to Austin TX, I didn't realize that it is considered the worst place in the US for allergies. I had never suffered from hay fever before - I am not allergic to ragweed or goldenrod, but it turns out I am allergic to cedar pollen, which is something Texas has an abundance of. I first went to my doctor with pain in my ears, thinking it was an ear infection. It turned to be allergies. My doctor wanted to medicate me, of course, but I wanted a non-drug related solution. I did a huge amount of research and finally settled on this unit because:

1) it had great technical reviews on allergy websites
2) it is very power efficient to run
3) its pre-filter and charcoal filters are washable (don't pay any attention to the reviewers who say they aren't)
4) it is very quiet
5) you only have to replace the hepa filter every 1.5 years or so
6) it is attractive, at least by the standard of most air purifiers
7) it covers quite a large square footage

I live in a house with three dogs, and the air in my bedroom where I have this unit is significantly cleaner. I was uncertain that it was really working until I had it unplugged one night while the filters were drying after a wash, and I woke in the morning all stuffed up and sniffling. I run it in pollen mode most of the time, due to the advice of another reviewer here, and I agree that that is the mode that works best.

Cons are the cost of course, and also, I think, some past shady behavior by the company that produces it, a least according to some (maybe biased, I don't know) information I have seen on the web. But I have been very satisfied with the unit, and if it lasts 2 years I will count it well worth the somewhat high cost.

When I first turned on the Rabbit Air BioGP to the auto setting, I thought it was not working because I did not hear anything. I placed my ear next to the unit and heard a faint sound from the fan. Yep, it really was working. This unit is quieter on high fan setting than most other units set on the lowest fan setting. For this reason alone, it is well worth buying. After having it on for only one hour I noticed a difference in air quality. The air smelled similar to clean mountain air, but I attribute this mostly to the ion setting. The price is in line with any high quality air purifier. Some reviewers complained about the front panel being too bright. I found that it is actually dimmer than many night lights.

Features: There are 3 filters: one washable pre-filter, a HEPA filter and a washable charcoal filter. The settings are numerous. Auto uses the lowest Night fan speed. Turbo uses the highest fan speed for 10 minutes then goes back to Auto. Pollen switches back and forth from medium to Auto fan speed every 10 minutes. There are also 4 manual fan speeds plus a Night setting which uses the lowest and quietest fan speed. There are 2 sensors. One sensor detects odors and the other particulates. All of these settings are controlled by a very small remote that can be stored on the unit. The front lighted panel shows you what it going on. For example if the sensors detect anything the bars increase in number from green to yellow to red.

Here is what I found after trying different settings. At first I used the Auto setting. This defaults to the lowest fan speed unless the sensors detect poor air quality. If that happens then the fan speed goes up then adjusts back down accordingly. However, after several hours on Auto the sensors only briefly went into the yellow a couple of times. So, I turned up the fan speed to number 3 and both sensors immediately went into the red. Obviously the higher fan speed works better.

I read several professional reviews and this is what they said. Most of them rate air purifiers, in part, to the amount of air flow the unit can produce and pass through the filters. The more air flow, the more efficient and better job the unit will do. Keeping those reviews in mind and with my own experience, here is my recommendation to get the most out of your Rabbit Air. Use the manual fan setting and turn it up to the highest speed that you feel comfortable with, considering the fan noise. Or, when you leave the house, turn the fan speed all the way on high then turn it down when you get home.

Bottom line: When used properly, this air purifier will definitely improve your air quality.

After dealing with asthma/allergy issues...both myself and one of my cats...we decided to purchase the Rabbit Air Purifier. I could not be happier. I could immediately tell the difference, both in myself and with my cat's asthma. The unit is extremely lightweight and easy to move between rooms (we move it from our downstairs living area to an upstairs bedroom at night); as well as being extremely quiet. I highly recommend this product to anybody suffereing from asthma or allergies.

This is the same exact unit as Sharper Image sells, and $250 CHEAPER!

This thing is great, I use it at work in my office. The smell is wonderfully fresh and I can't even hear it run.

There is mold growing in our bulding at work, and it was casuing me to have asthma attacks (I am not diagnosed with asthma). I could feel immediate relief using this unit in my office. I haven't taken any of the medication for the asthma for a week.

I want to buy 2 more for my home.

Two thumbs up, I would recommend to everyone!

I was pleased to see that they wrapped the retail box with a shipping box and bubblewrap. All too often you get the retail box completely destroyed in shipping, and subsequently damaged goods.

It took me about 10 minutes to open the box, unwrap the filters and plug it in. I was going slow, so you could have yours up in less time. Just one look at the filters and you KNOW this thing is no joke.

The remote is nice. Minimal, small, and just a bit slow to respond. (There will be no quick action button-mashing here.) I DID NOTICE THAT IF YOU LOSE THE REMOTE YOU WILL BE SCREWED. All of the functions are selected via the remote! The only button on the unit itself is the on/off button. BUT! You can purchase a spare remote for $13 through Rabbit Air's website. Not bad.

Quiet! Quiet! Quiet! I can't stress how QUIET this thing is. I cranked it up to the highest fan setting and found that it was quiet enough to sleep with. All other settings are really quiet. I had to put a piece of ribbon in front of the vent in order to check if the lowest setting was even working - it's that quiet!

I agree with one of the other reviewers: the negative ion setting is a default setting that comes on every time you change something. No biggie for me since I leave it on, but I figured this was a little weird to make as a default.

Lightweight unit. If you have trouble picking up a sack of sugar or a really obese cat, you might have trouble with this. Other than that, I feel that this is the lightest air purifier (of its size and function) that I have ever seen.

I like that you can shove it right up against the wall (product pictures coming soon.) The air goes in the front and gets blown out the top toward the back.

Nice display, too. Only a little goofy looking in their choice of colorful icons, but I have seen far worse. Actually, I have seen some units that don't have any display what-so-ever, so this one is nice in that department. The (Replacement HEPA Filter - Flu Prevention) for Rabbit Air BioGP Air Purifier is nicely priced and lasts between 1.5 years and 3 years, depending on usage.

Anyway, I highly recommend this air purifier over ALL of the rest.

The Biofresh is an excellent air cleaner and I think will become as popular as the Sharp Plasmacluster unit. I do not know if the Biofresh actually cleans a 600 sq ft area as claimed but in average sized rooms it is quite effective. Air quality smells cleaner and allergies have much improved. With 4 dogs and living off of a rural dirt (dust!!!) road this is unit excels in improving our air quality inside. Be sure to read the 5 year warranty. The warranty states that if you do not change the filter (Biofresh filter only) every 18 months (no, not every 3 years as filter life is advertised) then the warranty is null & void. I probably won't have to worry about this since there is so much dust and dog in our house we will need to change within the limitations stated in the warranty. I think this limitation is an important little piece of information left out of the product information specs for those of you thinking no filter expense for 3 years. With that in mind I gave this unit a 4 star rating .