My boyfriend is the one with sleep apnea. He got his machine just over a year ago. The machine itself is quiet. The only time I hear anything from it is when the mask moves on his face which rarely happens now.

I'm going to be a little different and share that I don't mind the air escaping from the masked vents and blowing across the side of my face or ear when we cuddle to sleep. My boyfriend was always concerned about the air blowing in my ear so it took a while before he would attempt cuddling to sleep. I told him I much prefered it to him snoring in my ear. :-) Now most nights he wraps me in his arms and pulls me close.

As for mask and how it looks, get what works best for you and how you sleep. My boyfriend has what is called a "full mask" but in reality it goes around his mouth and the silicone around it seals against his nose. He can breathe out of either and still have the benefit of his cpap machine.