Rabbit Air MinusA2 Ultra Quiet HEPA Air Purifier with WiFi - SPA-780N Black | Germ Defense & Odor Elimination | Perfect for Bedrooms, Offices & Allergy Relief

I purchased then received the MinusA2 on June 5th (2019) and installed it immediately thereafter. I purchased an Air Purifier after months of health issues, which I couldn't determine the cause. Aside from hacking (coughing) which seemed to also originate in prior years, this past January I got sick with Flu like symptoms, which lasted for about three weeks. After recovering, I strangely had a relapse every few weeks, and eventually started having symptoms almost weekly, which oddly only lasted a day (coughing, fever, body aches, etc), knocked down with over the counter meds. Had 3 different doctor visits during those months, two different antibiotics (which knocked it down for for a few weeks after completion, but relapses again thereafter), two chest X-rays (each clear), and though never having any allergies, have been prescribed and tried different allergy meds with no difference. I travel for work, but never seemed to have issues abroad. When not traveling, I office from home, so spend the majority of time there. Also, my other half occasionally started to get the single day symptoms (oddly at the same time I did) in April/May, but works in an office so isn't home as often. So during the last few weeks of May, I started doing detailed investigation at home.What/How I tested:First checked air quality constantly throughout the house with a tester (PM2.5/PM10/PM1.0 Micron Dust and Indoor TVOC and other sensors). Since it seemed the issues were related to chest symptoms, felt they were most likely the issues, but nothing resulted in out of ordinary levels. I then tested our water sources, though knowing we've always had poor water quality in San Diego, we've been buying/using Carlsbad Alkaline Artesian Mineral Water for years. I checked that water, our bottled water dispenser (to see if any contaminants through the system) and did a thorough cleaning of the dispenser, though found no suspect ppm levels or other detected issues on any of the sources. We have pets which are very clean, and were already vacuuming constantly (robot vacuum and manual). Did visual checks throughout the house for potential issues (mold, A/C system, filters, fans, etc) which should have been detected with the tester anyways. Still suspecting the air quality, I decided to try an air purifier. Aside from the thorough filtering and good reviews of the MinusA2, I chose it over others for the unique wall mounting capabilities (very few out there), auto-detection, and degree of filtering for the room & adjacent kitchen area I spend the majority of my time, which is approximate 730 sq. ft. (unit advertises coverage up to 815 sq.ft. with 2 air changes per hour; allergy sufferers rated for 408 sq.ft. w/4 air changes per hour). I selected the Germ Defense filter model over the other three customized filter options.First Use:Installing on that Wednesday on a living room table to the side, I unfortunately had another relapse on Friday, but chalked that up to already having been affected. Immediately after installation, the sensor immediately shifted to "red" for high detection (checked with the tester at the same time, and still saw minimal/acceptable levels) and eventually shifted down to "purple" then "blue" over the next few hours. It would shift between levels at different times during the past two months, increasing filtering as it did. You could see it shift to red when cooking certain things in the kitchen for sure. I circulate the air in the rooms with ceiling fans, so it gets a good degree of overall conditions. I think it very helpful to have an auto-detection unit, rather than manually determining when you might need better filtering. I can happily report, after that initial relapse, I haven't had another recurrence since, during the following two months, with very minimal coughing issues, if at all. I did the first pre-filter & sensor cleaning a month later as directed, and all seems to be working well (will clean at the start of each month).Opinion:The unit has been about 6 feet away from where normally sit (until I mount it). The noise level is minimal, even when the sensor goes red and the airflow increases. Silencing the room and setting the unit to the higher levels, the highest Turbo was only 60dB from that distance, High was 54dB, and medium fluctuated between 50db and below (my meter just reports LO when below 50 so didn't test Low and Silent settings). I didn't mount the unit yet, as I wanted to make sure it was making a difference (which it is, in my opinion), so I probably will within the next month. I purchased the WiFi model to see and control elements of the unit. I've left the sensor set to default medium sensitivity level rather than raise it, though it's nice to have the option to change as needed (attached a screen shot of the app from today as I type this). The app is decently rated on Android with a 3.1 as of today, though only a minimal 16 reviews. Most of the issue reviews were problems getting the app and/or WiFi working, of which I had no issues, or wanting to see detection level history, since it mainly shows current levels and provides control. I will say, Rabbit Air responded to every single review (good or not), which is nice to see (I haven't posted a personal review yet). Aside from the manual cleaning of the pre-filter, the 4 filters are advertised as only needing replacement annually, and a complete set is about $95, which I don't think is bad (good to figure annual costs). You can see the details of the 6 stages of filtering on the product page. It's nice the unit has covers available with different colors and designs to fit the decor of a room, though I purchased the plain white cover model, but when mounted, plan to attach my own artwork. I also purchased a recessed outlet box for where I'll mount the unit, so the cord is hidden behind the unit (the back is flush without a recessed area for a plug behind; also plug is straight, and not 90 degree). I haven't used the timer (since it's been on auto since installation), and have left the mood light off (though when first installed the auto mode nicely shifted things off at night).My Pro vs Cons:Pros: Wall Mountable (flush behind, no recessed area behind unit), 6 Stages of filtering, large area air filtering/air recycle, Auto-detection sensor, Ease of filter changes & annual cost, Mostly flat front cover with designs available or possibly own designs (some con below), Overall very quiet, 5 year manufacturer's warranty, actual performance difference it made (for me).Cons (most minor personal wish-list things): Straight outlet plug - I purchased a recessed outlet box so won't be an issue but would be nice to have a 90 degree end, Front cover LED area is raised but flush would have been nice for designs, App needs detection history (at least for some duration; 24 hours, 7 days, etc), at 7-inches pretty thick mounted (filters box about 2.75in of it) but not bad considering performance needs.OverallI'm very pleased with the design and performance of the MinusA2, with some very minor criticism which wouldn't prevent me from buying the unit again. Hope this info was helpful to those making a consideration.I wanted an air purifier for my living room where I have some electronics that need protection from smoke and dust. I also needed a unit that could realistically and reliably clean the air sufficiently in this 250 square foot area and help remove the odor and particulate matter from occasional cigarette smoke that may drift into the room. It's a large volume area because of the high cathedral ceiling and open design. While that may not sound too difficult to accomplish with many mid to large air purifiers, I also wanted a unit that was as silent as possible, and that's not so easy to find.I spent several weeks researching air purifiers and came away with the conclusion that IQ Air, Austin Air and Blueair are probably the best that the industry has to offer as far as big and powerful air purifiers go these days (IQ Air has a carbon filter with 5 pounds of charcoal and Austin Air has 15 pounds of charcoal ... 15 pounds!). So why didn't I choose one of those? Price, noise level, size and looks were the determining factors (although Blueair has good noise ratings and they look attractive, but are a bit on the pricey side). Excluding any of those models wasn't easy. Nor was it easy to cross off less expensive mid-power sized units from Sharp and Winix. I also had a difficult time choosing between several models of Rabbit Air. Decisions ... decisions....In order to educate myself in the murky waters of outrageous air purifier claims, I turned to the internet, but at first I found no real help (not many websites review air purifiers). I had recently purchased a small, one-room air purifier from Alen and didn't do enough research. Turned out that I wasn't exactly thrilled with that purchase (although it's really not a bad unit per se ... I rated it 3 stars). Fortunately, I eventually found a website that took reviewing and testing of these products very seriously, which gave me more confidence when I decided to go for a more powerful (and expensive) unit in the living room. I highly recommend Air-Purifier-Power as the one and ONLY source (at present) to help shed some light on this less than stellar industry. Personally, I wouldn't rely on Consumer Reports as far as air purifiers go. I found them to be of little help and their testing methods for air purifiers have been under fire for years, and I can see why. What they rated highly gave me a good chuckle.So now that I have the Rabbit Air 700A, what do I think? As the title indicates, this is a very quiet air purifier, perhaps one of the top two or three in the industry (of the ones that have fans ... I won't go into what I think about those that don't have fans). This unit has five different fan speeds (silent, low, medium, high and turbo). To me, noise level was as critical as cleaning ability. What good is an air purifier if it interferes with your daily living? I didn't want to have to turn up the TV to drown out a fan. Of course at the two top speeds (high and turbo), one can easily hear the 700A throughout the house. Still, its high speed is quieter than many products at mid speeds. So do yourself a favor and check out fan output (CFM) and the associated noise level (dBA) on any model you may want to purchase. The Rabbit Air 700A is about 46 dBA on turbo speed (@ 187 CFM) and under 21 dBA on silent speed (@47 CFM)! BTW, some products are even quieter than this, but check the CFM to see if they are putting out as much air at that noise level.I chose the 700A over the 780A for a couple of reasons, even though I would have preferred black over white (not too impressed with the looks of this white model). The two reasons were value and noise level. These two models are virtually identical except the fan is revved up a bit on the 780A, making it a tad louder, but has the ability to suck in and blow more air and cover a little larger area. The first three speeds on the 700A (silent, low, medium) are indeed quiet, and the silent speed is aptly named. I have to get within 4 or 5 feet to begin hearing it. The CADR (clean air delivery rate) rating on the 700A and 780A is the same (except the 780A has a slightly better Pollen rating). As far as square footage is concerned, divide any number that these manufacturers spew out by two (normal ceilings) or three (high ceilings) and you will get a closer idea of what is realistic. If you assume the manufacturer's claims are legit, you may be in for disappointment (I'm pretty sure they calculate all these numbers based upon normal ceiling height and maximum fan speed, which is unrealistic in the normal home environment). I'd like to see a CADR rating at each fan speed and the use of volume in addition to square footage as far as coverage specification, but fat chance that these will ever be implemented.What separated the Rabbit Air products from each other (the 700A and 780A vs their other models), as well as other manufacturers models, is the ability to choose a custom filter (they have four to choose from at present: germ, toxin, pet allergy and odor). This is a great idea, and one can order a specific filter type depending upon one's needs. I find this makes perfect sense. And installing and changing filters is simple and painless (pealing off the cellophane wrapper on these filters is a bigger pain than installing them). It also has a permanent pre-filter one can vacuum and/or wash, which I find a very important feature. Pre-filters pick up the biggest particulate matter, and I will no longer buy an air purifier without a cleanable pre-filter. Live and learn.The ad states that it is a six stage purification system: anti-microbial pre-filter (read silver), anti-bacterial medium filter (additional dust catcher, which is unusual in the industry and helps not to overtax the HEPA filter), BioGS HEPA filter (I guess it gets that name because they added some anti-viral agents ... yeah, whatever), custom filter (not many companies I know, if any, have this option) and carbon filter (although I doubt there is much more than a pound of charcoal in it, but I haven't measured the weight). I guess the mysterious sixth stage is a negative ion generator (the good kind, but who knows these days?). I like the fact that their filter kits, which include the four changeable filters, are reasonably priced and are one of the better values I have found.This model comes with a decent set of electronics and lights for giving you information, plus it performs automatic cycling (changes fan speed depending upon the air quality that the particle sensor reads), but it doesn't come with an odor sensor. This probably isn't too big of a deal since these sensors are hardly reference quality to begin with. However, even knowing the limitations of these sensors, I like the idea of having them included and thought for the price I paid for the 700A an odor sensor should have come with this unit. At least the particle sensor gives me some feedback (accuracy not withstanding) and a baseline to go from.Rating air purifiers may not be too accurate unless one has used their particular model for a full filter cycle (anywhere from 6 months to a year depending upon the environment it is in). I've only owned this product for a little over 2 months now, and during that time I found the quality and performance has been very good. If things change during the year, I'll report back. So, between 1 and 10, I rate the Rabbit Air MinusA2 SPA-700A (that's a mouthful) an 8, or a solid 4-star rating, but this is assuming it will give me years of untroubled service (it does come with a 5 year warrantee, which is a big plus). Other than thinking it should have included an odor sensor (one of their cheaper models include this), I wish it had a more hefty carbon filter, say 3 pounds of charcoal at minimum, but it is what it is. This marginal carbon filter is the reason I selected the custom odor filter option (although I may opt for a different custom filter later on and swap them whenever I choose). I also felt that they should have provided a wall mounting bracket since they advertise it being wall mountable. Now if this bracket was an expensive to make add-on, I'd understand. But it's a bracket they make for a buck and sell for 10, so I consider this wringing out every cent they can from the consumer. I also had to laugh at their ridiculous claim concerning their "mood" light. Still, I'm pretty happy with this unit, but for the life of me I don't know where I can put it so it will be unobtrusive (but that would be the case for any of these devices).Update 03/10/13: Well, it's been three years since I bought this machine and it is still going strong and is just as silent. I put in my third set of filters last month. I suspect that ripping out carpet, cutting several rooms of drywall as well as sawing wood flooring reduced the life of the second filter set by quite a bit. While it is obviously pulling out dust particles from my home, one has to wonder how much it really makes a difference in the long run.Update 04/20/14: Another year (the 4th) and all is well. The price of the filter kit went up 10 bucks, however.perfect , everything went better than my expectations , the design and the options are so modern unlike other purifiers...ONE YEAR UPDATE IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!the purifier stops filtering, changed the filters but no use, the fans sounds weird!!!tried to contact their customer service but it feels like they're helpless.... useless...wasted another 110 on a new set of filters NOT RECOMMENDED AT ALLI guess I was expecting a superior machine which this isn't. It's supposed to clear smoke from the air and for that it has to be on max speed for days and even then I can still smell smoke in the room, the auto function doesn't even pick up the smell. Mind you, I am dealing with a class A ignorant heavy smoker below me. There might not be a machine out there to help me. Just be aware, it's not as powerful as advertised.Edited to add that it worked much better in a smaller room.This product is very well built and runs like a dream. High-quality construction and filters. Looks fantastic... don't mind having it out in the open. The only issue is the cost (initial and filter packs). You pay for the quality... but I'd buy it all over again. Top-notch product. (One thing though... really pay attention to the filters and the order they come in... especially if you are using the activated charcoal filters as it is hard to tell the front from the back and they need to be installed in the correct order/direction for optimum effectiveness.) I wouldn't advise trying to clean/wash the filters and re-using them... too finicky and I doubt it would work as well afterward.We ordered this product due to the smoke that was in the air here in BC due to forest fires. Our daughter in Edmonton had bought one last year due to smoke. The unit arrived in perfect shape, there was a quick start guide that was easy to follow an 100% correct. We set it up and within an hour it was so much easier to breathe and the air smelt clean. Liked it so much, ordered another one for our son.POSITIVES: I bought the Rabbit Air Minus A2 because it had excellent reviews, it has a long lasting fan/motor and long lasting (and in some cases, washable) filters. It's a beautifully made machine that appears to work well and is attractive to look at. It passed its first test: one of my cats, who sneezes and coughs in the dusty bedroom, was breathing normally it last night when the unit was first turned on. I will update this review after three months, when I check and wash the prefilter. IMPROVEMENTS: Please, PLEASE, make the control labels read better. Grey on black does not read at all, especially in microscopic type. This minimalist design has long outlived its trendiness. Secondly, please ship your products in standard, brown boxes. The first order was in a bright blue box with the Rabbit Air logo and a description of the contents. It never reached me (most likely stolen by the delivery person) but the filters, in their plain brown wrapper, did. The second machine arrived, sent by a different shipper.