I've purchased both the Brondell Swash 1000 and the AMDM Intelliseat offered here on Amazon but also from Costco:
AMDM IntelliSeat - The Ultimate Bidet Electronic Toilet Seat w/ Remote ISB200 - Washlet White
The Swash 1000 and the Intelliseat have similar features, except the Swash has a few more. However, the Swash 1000 costs three times as much as the Intelliseat. Here's a brief comparison between the two bidet seats based on my experiences. Please bear with me as the review is very lengthy, but I hope it'll help you make an informed decision if you're stuck between the Swash and the Intelliseat.
Installation: The installation process was very similar between the Swash and the Intelliseat, and shouldn't take more than 30 minutes. Both use a T-valve hooked onto your toilet's water supply to feed water into the bidet, but there are differences. The Swash's T-valve is a 7/8" connection that fits between the fill valve connection under your toilet tank and the water supply hose. This greatly eliminates the probability of needing additional adapters because fill valves connections are almost always 7/8", and you simply hook up the water supply hose to the T-valve, and the T-valve over the fill valve connection. The Intelliseat's T-valve fits between the water supply hose and the water supply valve from your wall. The Intelliseat's T-valve is made to fit over 3/8" or 1/2" if you use the included conversion nut, but I ended up having to shop for another conversion nut because the one that came with the seat didn't fit. Also, the Intelliseat's T-valve bottlenecks the water going to my toilet, so now the toilet fills a little more slowly. Not that big of a deal, but Swash's connection is well thought-out and much less of a hassle. Winner: Swash 1000
Nozzles: Both have two nozzles, one for back wash (for your butt) and one for front wash (for your lady parts). However, the Intelliseat has one plastic wand with both nozzles, while the Swash has separate stainless steel wands for each nozzle. Stainless steel is generally accepted as being more hygienic and resistant to bacteria than plastic, and the separate wand for front and back wash also seems more hygienic. Winner: Swash 1000
Nozzle cleaning: The nozzles on both seats have a self-cleaning rinse before and after each wash cycle, and you can also run the self-cleaning rinse manually. However, the Swash boasts a "silver oxide nanoparticle treatment" when you hit the "Sterilization" button on the remote. I'm not really sure how it works or what it does because it just looks like a self-cleaning rinse when I activate it, but I do know that silver oxide has antibacterial properties, so that's comforting. Winner: Swash 1000
Adjustable spray strength and position: Both seats have adjustable spray strength and position. The Swash's spray covers a wider area, is aerated, and the spray width can be also be adjusted. It feels like a showerhead spray. The Intelliseat has a more concentrated and powerful single stream, but the spray width cannot be adjusted. The Intelliseat is also capable of probably giving you an enema on its strongest setting, and in general I find that the Intelliseat sprays much stronger than it needs to. Winner: Swash 1000
Sweeping spray function: Both seats have a mode that sweeps the spray back and forth to cover more area, except on the Swash, it's called "Move", and on the Intelliseat, it's called "Oscillate". Both work about the same. Tie: Swash 1000, Intelliseat
Adjustable water temperature: Both have adjustable water temperature. The Swash 1000 has a tankless ceramic on-demand heater, which means the Swash won't run out of heated water, and you won't have to wait for the water to be heated. The Intelliseat has a heated reservoir system, so it is possible to run out if the seat is being used a lot, and it'll use up power to keep the reservoir warm. I'm fine with the room temperature setting here in Southern California, but some people like warmer sprays. Winner: Swash 1000
Heated seat: Again, being in SoCal, I don't really need a warmed seat, but the option is nice and both the Swash and the Intelliseat can either keep the toilet seat warm at all times, or warm it up as soon as it detects someone's butt on the seat. Tie: Swash 1000 & Intelliseat
Slow-closing seat and lid: Both models perform pretty well, with extremely silent closing. However, when the seat and lid are closed, you can sit on the Swash's lid, but you can't on the Intelliseat's. Not a big deal for me, since I don't sit on my toilet unless I need to poop, but the option is there. Winner: Swash 1000
Heated air dryer: Both seats have a heat-adjustable air dryer, and they're more or less the same on both seats. You'll still need a few squares of toilet paper to pat dry, so it won't completely dry your butt for you. Tie: Swash 1000 & Intelliseat
Remote: Both have battery-operated remotes. The Swash uses two AAAs, the Intelliseat uses three AAAs. I've read that the Intelliseat chews through batteries really quickly, but the Intelliseat has a more informative remote. Both seats have LED indicators for seat temperature and water temperature, but only the Intelliseat has spray strength and position indicators. It's a tough call, but the Intelliseat's remote seems more useful, even though you'll have to change out the batteries more often. Winner: Intelliseat
Deodorizer: The Swash sucks up air from the bowl and passes it through some carbon filters. It actually works pretty well at keeping poopy smells at bay, as long as you remember to hit the deodorize button on the remote when you're sitting on the toilet making poopy smells. The Intelliseat has no such feature. Winner: Swash 1000
Appearance: The Swash is 15" wide, 20.8" long, and 5.66" high. The Intelliseat is 19.4"wide, 20.6" long, 7.28" and high. Both are pretty bulky add-ons to a toilet, but at least the Swash is a little more compact and sleeker. Winner: Swash 1000
Price: This will probably be the deciding factor for most people. The Swash 1000 currently retails for $600 here on Amazon and at most places on the web, and the Intelliseat retails for $200 at Costco (though I got mine for $150 because of a promotion at the time) and $240 here on Amazon. Costco also has an amazing lifetime return policy. The Brondell only has a three-year limited manufacturer's warranty, and costs at least three times as much as the Intelliseat. Winner: Intelliseat
Overall, the Swash 1000 wins out over the Intelliseat in terms of features, but if you're on the fence about getting a bidet, I would recommend you go to Costco and get an Intelliseat. The Intelliseat is only 1/3 of the Swash 1000's price, and Costco backs you with a lifetime return policy in case you don't like it or if it breaks. If you have a little more to spend and want more features, go with the Swash 1000. But in any case, getting either seat will bring you to a whole new level of post-poop freshness and hygiene.
UPDATE 6/02/2014: After using both units for a good amount of time, I wholeheartedly recommend the Swash over the Intelliseat if your budget permits. The Swash 1000's spray is much more comfortable, and I've been having inconsistent spray strength issues on the Intelliseat, though I haven't had a chance to see if there is sediment somewhere in the Intelliseat's water connections. In addition, the slow-close seat on the Intelliseat doesn't close as slowly anymore, but it doesn't quite slam the toilet yet. One more important addition is that Costco.com currently offers the Swash 1000, which means you can get the Swash AND be backed by Costco's return policy.
| Color | S1000- Standard Profile |
|---|---|
| Brand | Brondell |
| Material | Plastic |
| Style | S1000 |
| Shape | Round |
| Product Dimensions | 19.4"L x 16.2"W |
| Item Weight | 14.3 Pounds |
| Operation Mode | Automatic |
| Manufacturer | Brondell |
| Part Number | S1000-RW |
| Item Weight | 14.3 pounds |
| Item model number | S1000-RW |
| Batteries | 3 AAA batteries required. (included) |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Size | Round |
| Power Source | corded-electric |
| Voltage | 120 Volts |
| Wattage | 1200.00 |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Certification | certified frustration-free |
| Special Features | DeodorizingHeatedSlow Close |
| Included Components | Installation parts |
| Batteries Included? | Yes |
| Batteries Required? | Yes |
| Battery Cell Type | Alkaline |
| Warranty Description | 3 Year Limited Warranty |
