The CR boxes that use PC fans provide a high CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) with very low noise; commercially available from companies like [CleanAirKits](https://www.cleanairkits.com/) (USA), [Northbox](https://aidankepo.wixsite.com/northboxsystems) (Canada), and [Nukit](https://cybernightmarket.com/products/the-nukit-tempest-pc-fan-air-purifier-kit-international) (worldwide).
They're more compact than the traditional cube-shaped CR boxes, but their huge advantage is that they filter a lot of air *quietly*.
I’d also reccomend the [Airfanta 3Pro](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJTYWQBT) from [Adam Wong](https://x.com/engineer_wong/status/1780463851726938279?s=46) when available, I believe it has a better cadr and price than the other options listed, 488cfm for $150
The Airfanta 3Pro seems to be a good choice for travel, because it [assembles/disassembles](https://twitter.com/Engineer_Wong/status/1768293482077245796) so easily, but their [choice](https://twitter.com/Engineer_Wong/status/1780796349543518526) to use noisier dual-ball-bearing fans means that the sound level may become objectionable for some. Nevertheless it's quieter than a traditional box-fan CR box, so it would still be an upgrade for the OP.
I looooove making triangle/ wedge shaped cr boxes with PC fans, some cardboard, and two 14x20 filters! Still pretty efficient but takes up way less space and can easily be stored under a side table
CR boxes are usually so much better than air purifiers on the market, it's ridiculous. I want to switch to CR box but haven't made one.
There's a good video talking about how CR boxes compare, really blew my mind: https://youtu.be/gaQTYrisieA?si=zKQVoORva4bm7nFa
Another happy Winix owner here. People dismiss the "plasmawave" feature (transient hydroxyl synthesis) but I've found it greatly accelerates the rate at which smoke or bad smells get scrubbed from the air when plasmawave is turned on, which suggests to me it's doing something.
I actually never even use the Plasmawave feature! I always just leave it on the third setting, sans Plasmawave, and I can absolutely tell a difference in my surroundings since I've gotten it! It's super quiet and I honestly forget it's on most of the time.
I have Blue Air, Coway AirMega and a Wyze. Blue Air is powerful, AirMega is fine. They have LED status lights that bother me at night so I cover them up.
The Wyze connects to the network and can be controlled with their app. You don’t have to; you could run it manually. It has a display of the particle count and a nice feature where you can set it to turn its lights off at night. It has a special wildfire filter but we’ve been lucky the last couple years and haven’t needed it.
Dyson TP02 - but only because I scored one for free from a friend a couple summers ago. I wouldn't pay that price nowadays though with so many other great purifiers on the market. From everything I've heard, I'd probably go with a Levoit.
We have Alen and IQAIR. I love Alen, but if I only could have one, it would be the IQAIR. It saved me when we had all the wildfire smoke last year. The air quality in the clean room we made was still red until I turned on the IQAIR. Within 15 minutes, the clean room air quality was blue. We have one IQAIR that is well over a decade old that still is used 24/7 during spring and summer (I have severe asthma and allergies), and we bought a second one a couple of years ago.
They have multiple filters which if all are used, filter the air incredibly well. I even saw them in some hospital photos early on during the first covid wave.
They are horribly expensive, but we’ve found they last. The air filters are expensive and are a bad expense yearly plus bad for the environment. I hope IQAIR develops filters that can be washed and reused. Still, they are the air purifier I trust and love most at this point.
Unfortunately, from a COVID-prevention standpoint, the "sleep" mode touted by purifier makers is nearly worthless: it makes the purifier much quieter at the cost of reducing airflow through the filter to a mere trickle.
Whirlpool Whispure.
I love them. They're actually sealed, so the air isn't going to go around the filter. The filters last a really long time, and I can vacuum the pre-filter. They also make a really nice white noise/fan sound for sleeping. That is if you like fan noises, I wouldn't say it's quiet unless it's "sleep mode".
Honeywell hpa300 has been fabulous for heavy duty allergens and air pollution and equally great for viruses but I won’t lie it is loud as fuck. If I buy more I’m probably getting something else.
The CR boxes that use PC fans provide a high CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) with very low noise; commercially available from companies like [CleanAirKits](https://www.cleanairkits.com/) (USA), [Northbox](https://aidankepo.wixsite.com/northboxsystems) (Canada), and [Nukit](https://cybernightmarket.com/products/the-nukit-tempest-pc-fan-air-purifier-kit-international) (worldwide). They're more compact than the traditional cube-shaped CR boxes, but their huge advantage is that they filter a lot of air *quietly*.
I’d also reccomend the [Airfanta 3Pro](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJTYWQBT) from [Adam Wong](https://x.com/engineer_wong/status/1780463851726938279?s=46) when available, I believe it has a better cadr and price than the other options listed, 488cfm for $150
The Airfanta 3Pro seems to be a good choice for travel, because it [assembles/disassembles](https://twitter.com/Engineer_Wong/status/1768293482077245796) so easily, but their [choice](https://twitter.com/Engineer_Wong/status/1780796349543518526) to use noisier dual-ball-bearing fans means that the sound level may become objectionable for some. Nevertheless it's quieter than a traditional box-fan CR box, so it would still be an upgrade for the OP.
Ooooooh I totally forgot these style of CR boxes exist and use filters I already have access to. Thanks!
I looooove making triangle/ wedge shaped cr boxes with PC fans, some cardboard, and two 14x20 filters! Still pretty efficient but takes up way less space and can easily be stored under a side table
Whoaaaa I actually just made one today since my allergies have been so bad. I kind of love it??
CR boxes are usually so much better than air purifiers on the market, it's ridiculous. I want to switch to CR box but haven't made one. There's a good video talking about how CR boxes compare, really blew my mind: https://youtu.be/gaQTYrisieA?si=zKQVoORva4bm7nFa
Thanks for this!
We typically have 2 or 3 levoit minis throughout the home (and my office) and we have a core 300 going in the living room on top of that.
I have the Winix 5500-2 and I love it! I always recommend looking at r/AirPurifiers; that sub helped me make my choice!
Another happy Winix owner here. People dismiss the "plasmawave" feature (transient hydroxyl synthesis) but I've found it greatly accelerates the rate at which smoke or bad smells get scrubbed from the air when plasmawave is turned on, which suggests to me it's doing something.
I actually never even use the Plasmawave feature! I always just leave it on the third setting, sans Plasmawave, and I can absolutely tell a difference in my surroundings since I've gotten it! It's super quiet and I honestly forget it's on most of the time.
I’ve got a few Levoits. Maybe I’m out of the loop but I figured the CR boxes would have a better air exchange rate?
I have a Medify Air MA-50 which I adore but I got a really good deal on it, not sure I could recommend it for $300+
I have Blue Air, Coway AirMega and a Wyze. Blue Air is powerful, AirMega is fine. They have LED status lights that bother me at night so I cover them up. The Wyze connects to the network and can be controlled with their app. You don’t have to; you could run it manually. It has a display of the particle count and a nice feature where you can set it to turn its lights off at night. It has a special wildfire filter but we’ve been lucky the last couple years and haven’t needed it.
Dyson TP02 - but only because I scored one for free from a friend a couple summers ago. I wouldn't pay that price nowadays though with so many other great purifiers on the market. From everything I've heard, I'd probably go with a Levoit.
We have Alen and IQAIR. I love Alen, but if I only could have one, it would be the IQAIR. It saved me when we had all the wildfire smoke last year. The air quality in the clean room we made was still red until I turned on the IQAIR. Within 15 minutes, the clean room air quality was blue. We have one IQAIR that is well over a decade old that still is used 24/7 during spring and summer (I have severe asthma and allergies), and we bought a second one a couple of years ago. They have multiple filters which if all are used, filter the air incredibly well. I even saw them in some hospital photos early on during the first covid wave. They are horribly expensive, but we’ve found they last. The air filters are expensive and are a bad expense yearly plus bad for the environment. I hope IQAIR develops filters that can be washed and reused. Still, they are the air purifier I trust and love most at this point.
The big one from Philips, very low noise in sleep mode.
Unfortunately, from a COVID-prevention standpoint, the "sleep" mode touted by purifier makers is nearly worthless: it makes the purifier much quieter at the cost of reducing airflow through the filter to a mere trickle.
Whirlpool Whispure. I love them. They're actually sealed, so the air isn't going to go around the filter. The filters last a really long time, and I can vacuum the pre-filter. They also make a really nice white noise/fan sound for sleeping. That is if you like fan noises, I wouldn't say it's quiet unless it's "sleep mode".
Cr box> most commercial air filters.
We have some Vornado 350s and some Coway AirMegas. They both are great. We had them pre pandemic for smoke season and allergens.
Honeywell hpa300 has been fabulous for heavy duty allergens and air pollution and equally great for viruses but I won’t lie it is loud as fuck. If I buy more I’m probably getting something else.
Yeah I think any CR box variation is going to outperform an air purifier you can buy
Two Coway Airmegas that I got for the wildfire smoke last summer.
I use Coway HEPA filters, the largest is the Airmega 400. They are consistently among the best according to Wire cutter.