From Joe Mantegna, July/August 2011 The ultimate torture test for anything that calls itself an air cleaner may be the offices of Cigar Aficionado. You’ve seen other products put through their paces by comparable conditions: cars baked in ovens or parked in deep freezes; doors opened and closed a million times; an automatic plunger that presses a button on a electronic device until it breaks. Our smoked-filled confines do the equivalent to air cleaners. Over the years, we have scrutinized virtually every type—air clearers, air fresheners, smoke removal devices—whatever the manufacturer prefers to call them. Machines with the word ion or ionizer in its brand name have always failed miserably, invariably because they left the distinctive odor of ozone, which for some of us is a deal-breaker. Still others have been undone because their fans sound like jetliners revving up on the runway for takeoff. Some simply couldn’t keep up with the daily assault from cigar smoke. So when the Sharp Plasmacluster Ion Generator arrived, skepticism prevailed.

First of all, it sounds like a device that got dropped off from some twenty-third century “Star Trek” episode: “Spock, bring me the plasmacluster…” Then there were the words Ion Generator in its brand name. But our skepticism quickly turned to admiration. The device for a small office is about the size of a twin-pack of wine bottles. Its sleek design is available in colors that include white, black and burgundy. The fan is audible, but does not overpower normal office noises. But what truly amazed us was there was not even a whiff of ozone. And, it seemed to extract all kinds of odors from the room, not just the smoke from our cigars. We’ve left it running nonstop, even over the weekends, so when we walk into the office on Monday morning, the air truly seems crisp. The manufacturer’s handbook says the machine will run for up to two years without replacing the ion generator. It does recommend vacuuming the filter every two weeks or so. If there’s any change in the performance over the next year or so, we’ll let you know.

The suggested retail price is $350. That seems a bit high, but then again you’re getting a compact, truly efficient air cleaner that may keep the complaints down from anyone nearby who doesn’t like your cigar smoke. Search our database of more than 17,000 cigar tasting notes by score, brand, country, size, price range, year, wrapper and more, plus add your favorites to your Personal Humidor.hepa air purifiers that do not emit ozone 16 used & new fromwinix air purifier modelsDetailsSharp FZ-C100MFU Replacement Humidifier Filter for KC-850U - KC-860Ucar air purifier / ioniser / oxygen bar 37.8 x 26.7 x 58.7 cm ; Shipping Weight: 11 Kg Item model number: KC-850U Date first available at Amazon.ca: Nov. 1 2011

#52,310 in Home & Kitchen (See Top 100 in Home & Kitchen) Sharp's new Plasmacluster® Air Purifiers with humidifying function offer a unique combination of air treatment technologies to make you and your family more comfortable, whatever the season. Sharp's KC-860UW Plasmacluster air purifier helps remove these irritants with an ultra quiet fan that draws air through a 3-stage filter system. Humidification Function - adds humidity to the air for improved air quality and maximum comfort, especially in colder weather. It also helps reduce static electricity that results from dry air. True HEPA Filter - captures 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns that pass through it, including pollen, mold, pet dander and dust. The special Antimicrobial Layer provides extra protection against viruses. Plasmacluster Ion Mode - can be switched between Clean Mode / Ion Control Mode and Auto mode automatically. Maintains the natural ion balance in the room. Library Quiet™ - operation is ideal for bedrooms and living rooms.

Silent Mode is as quiet as 28 decibels with humidier on, about the volume of rustling leaves. This is one of the quietest Air Purifiers with a HEPA filter available anywhere. Energy Efficient - operation means it's easy on your wallet. With its advanced technologies, it is 35% more energy efficient than standard models, making it ENERGY STAR® qualified. Plasmacluster + True HEPA + HumidifierLibraryQuiet, Humidification Function and ENERGY STAR rated. Sharp FZC100HFU Filter White Sharp FZ-C100MFU Replacement Humidifier Filter for KC-850U - KC-860U Sharp KC-860U Plasmacluster Air Purifier with Humidifying Function to see all 72 reviews Others of "Electric Appliances" 100V SHARP Humidifying Air Cleaner Plasma Cluster 25000 equipped Premium Model KI-FX100 Sold by {{ seller_details.seller.name}} {{ seller_details.seller.return_acceptable_days }} days easy return {{ item.seller.return_acceptable_days }} days easy return {{ product_variation.package_weight }} g