A Head-to-Head Comparison vs. Sharper Image Ionic Breeze Quadra

Sooner or later someone would have to come along and compete with Sharper Image on their pricey but amazing air ionizers. Considering this is their first product, the Ionic Pro company did a nice job.

First off, you should know the Ionic Pro is a "knockoff" product. It is NOT made by Sharper Image. It is sold to compete directly with the Ionic Breeze Quadra, a runaway bestselling invention by Sharper Image that has sold millions of units for more than twice the price.

The original Quadra retails for $349.95. Other models in the Ionic Breeze line are priced similarly. It is sold through Sharper Image Web site and retail showrooms, Radio Shack, and other stores and Internet sites.

The Ionic Pro sells for $149.95. It is currently only available in one model. It is sold directly from the manufacturer, and at retail and online Best Buy, Target and other Internet sites.


PURPOSE OF THIS REVIEW
This is a head-to-head product comparison, rather than just a description of the Ionic Pro. I have one of each brand, and will compare them for you!


COMMON FEATURES
Both products are made in China based on American design. They both are comparably effective at cleaning/ionizing air and odor removal. Both operate silently, with no moving parts or filters to replace. They both have a plastic external body and a ruggedly designed, removable collection grid with an array of 3 steel panels to collect dirt. They both have hi/lo/med switch and power LED (which is red on the Sharper Image unit and blue on the Ionic Pro). They both come with very well-written manuals. I was especially impressed by the quality of the Ionic Pro manual and the solidity of the removable collection grid, considering it is an imitator product. Both companies offer customer support by Internet and toll free phone.

POWER
The SI unit runs at a maximum of 20W and the Ionic Pro at 15W, however this isn't a meaningful comparison of effectiveness because it does not consider how efficiently the power is used internally. With both models, you can feel a very gentle (but silent) airflow when the unit is on medium or high. If there is any difference in cleaning power between the two brands, it becomes less significant when you consider that these units are usually kept on continuously. Therefore, either model will purify a very large coverage area over time.

COLOR CHOICE
Ionic Pro is sold in black only. The Sharper Image products, however, are sold in all black and also available in black with woodtone, grey, and silver. I would not recommend buying any brand of air ionizer in grey or any color other than black because, over time, a residual buildup will collect on the unit itself and in the grates of the plastic grille, and it is nearly impossible to remove. Black is the best choice because it will help hide this buildup that is inevitable with all ionizers. Black with woodtone would also avoid this problem.

CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN
The construction of both units is very good. However, you are going to be putting this unit in your living quarters, so it will most likely become a piece of furniture in your house. In this regard, the look and feel of the Sharper Image model is a cut above. Sharper Image's Quadra design is slimline, sleek and refined. Its curves and lines make a very aesthetically distinguished statement.

The Ionic Pro shape was obviously inspired by the Sharper Image product (putting it nicely), but it looks like more of a prototype design. I'd put either one in my living room, but I might tuck the Ionic Pro back in a less prominent position next to a chair. It looks a bit more functional, and it is somewhat more bulky, but not objectionable. It's still far more attractive than the majority of HEPA-style air purifiers. A larger annoyance is the oversized Ionic Pro logo which is painted on the unit. It's fine for the store, but not in the home. Take a look at the photo to see what I mean (URL at bottom of this review). I plan to remove it with a chemical solvent.

ROUTINE CLEANING
Routine cleaning of the units is similar. It's very easy. Wipe the steel array with a cloth or paper ever few days, and if any water is ever used, the blade array must be left to dry completely.

When cleaning the Ionic Pro model, it must be laid down horizontally to remove the collection grid. This step seems to serve as a safety reminder that you must turn the unit off before removing the grid. A clip prevents the grid from being inserted when the unit is upright. The clip occasionally gets stuck and can be easily tapped back into place- not a big deal. Also the collection grid does not glide in and out of the unit as smoothly as it does on the Quadra. Later production should improve on these with minor design changes.

DEEP CLEANING
The Ionic Pro has an interesting feature which is a nonelectronic wire-scraper built in to the unit. This helps remove buildup of charged particles from the charging wire after several weeks of continous use. This is necessary to stop a humming noise caused by particles of debris vibrating on the charging wire. However, it does not really clean the wire enough over the very long term. There seems to be some small particulates that the scraper will not get to, but it certainly does help.
The Sharper Image products to date have not addressed this problem at all. I have had some success cleaning the wire on both units with a very long-necked cotton swab, which may be dipped in a drop of denatured alcohol. The problem is getting access to the wire, which must be well-protected because it extremely delicate. The plastic grille on both units is horizontal, but the wire is vertical. I've fangled with attaching Q-tips to coathangers and the like, but it may be easier to disassemble the units and gently swab down the wire and other hard to reach areas inside the plastic grille. Depending on your air environment, this cleaning might need to be done every couple of years of continuous use for both the Sharper Image and the Ionic Pro units. You'll know when you hear the buzzing sound.

WARRANTY COMPARISON
The limited warranty period on the Sharper Image Quadra is a generous 5 years. On the Ionic Pro it's only 1 year limited warranty. This is a distinct disadvantage for the Ionic Pro, but the warranty cost is built into the higher Sharper Image price. If you buy an Ionic Pro directly from the manufacturer, you could get an additional 2 years limited warranty for $29.95. If you buy the Ionic Pro at Best Buy or www.bestbuy.com, you could add on comprehensive coverage with immediate in-store replacement for about $20 per 2 years. Units from either manufacturer sold through individuals on eBay are generally reconditioned or used, considered "gray market" and may be no longer covered under manufacturer's warranty at all, or by replacement only from the seller. Buyer beware.

PROTECTION
With no moving parts, you probably won't use a warranty unless your unit is DOA out of the box. No matter what you decide, I'd invest in a surge protector. I didn't think of this, and lost a Quadra during a summer A/C power surge. A surge is the kiss of death because of the sensitive electronics inside- it is the single biggest threat to the unit over time. Tip: Make sure your surge protector meets UL independent labs test rating 1449 and, if specifications are given, the let-through level should be less than 300V peak, e.g. 80V would be very good. This could save the life of your equipment.

ACCESSORIES
Sharper Image and Ionic Pro LLC each sell spare (replacement) collection grids for their respective units. The grids are reasonably priced at $29.95. You'll probably never need it if you can keep the original one bone dry. Sharper Image also sells a faceplate attachment called OzoneGuard (see below). Ionic Pro does not offer this, and SI's attachment will not fit on the Ionic Pro.

Company Web sites for photos, prices and descriptions:

Ionic Pro
Made by Ionic Pro, LLC : http://www.ionicpro.com/

Ionic Breeze Quadra
Made by Sharper Image, Inc.:http://www.sharperimage.com/

According to an article printed in the Washington Post Health section in 2005, in lab tests the Ionic Pro product released the lowest ppm of ozone compared to the Sharper Image Ionic Breeze Quadra and several other ionizers that were tested. This is favorable, as ozone generation is a negative side effect of the ionization process (too much ozone can cause breathing problems) and does not affect its efficacy. Based on this, and my longer experience with the unit, I am increasing my rating of the Ionic Pro from 4 to 5 stars.

Sharper Image now offers a feature called OzoneGuard, which is intended to convert some of the by-product ozone into oxygen as the unit is being used. It is built in to some models, on others it is a faceplate attachment that costs about $25.

This review (c)2005, 2006 by nulmana.