On paper, both are worlds apart when moistening power. I can not absolutely confirm because of Steba fogs really good. It "blows" a mist fountain from its 2-way adjustable nozzle and looks like a small geyser. Stadler Jack contrast produces rather thick fog that billow out of the machine, as a little witch sit in there that is brewing a great witch's brew.
The biggest difference is in fact the internal humidistat. The in Steba shows always exactly to the local humidity, which in this case is, however, unfavorable because the measuring point is too close to the moisture source. The humidistat in the Jack considered and always shows some percent less. The result is that the Jack is not as fast off, thereby bringing even larger rooms on time to the desired humidity. The Steba on (almost) always starting too early. The larger the room, the less accurate. So I just put it a little higher still, then it works. Plus 5-10% higher than the desire should be enough. We noticed there is actually because currently the Jack and the Steba should also dampen a large office. In parallel operation, the differences in the control of fall immediately. Two independently established hygrostats prove the fact.
Otherwise, the unit value for money is really good. The daytime and night not very readable battle switchable blue indicator ... ok, the mess a lot of manufacturers. Simply stick or make away with the display of the machine bed. Rather bother me but then the humming during operation. Jack is quieter, but also a good corner expensive. If you are not very sensitive, you can stand the noise of Steba also in the bedroom.
Super is the big tank, the high wetting power, the ceramic filter in the tank (against any germs in the water) and the switchable water preheating (again a function against germs to get the room temperature and ultimately it increases slightly the humidification capacity) , The "ionizing", however, has not been noticed. I know this feature of our air purifier, whether at Steba so the fog is particularly fresh or this then attracts dirt particles from the air, I can not say. Is nice that they are there and that you can turn it off at will on or.
The point deduction, there is ultimately due to the sum of several small things. The hardest weighs the matter of the Hyrostat. The Steba runs reliably in automatic mode to get though on his "wish-humidity", one must know the trick. They are joined by the smaller quirks, such as the (more expensive compared to Jack) louder operating noise, the bad-read and not switchable display and, ultimately, something that really ugly design.
For just 50 Euros you but gets quite a lot of room humidifiers here.
Another tip at the end: against limescale simply use only filtered water. For example, from the BWT table or Brita filter. I've never had lime in the house!
Best Regards.
Update 21:08:14: I take a star off. The LB 5 must now do his work here in the office alone. The Jack is (after the air-conditioning phase for this year is probably over) again went home, where he also performed his original service reliable. Now falls in LB 5 on the botched increasingly humidistat control. 20% above the desired value is the setting now, otherwise it does not make it and "clocked" as goofy. In addition, its volume is simply too high for a humidifier. He is now 2m next to me, because where was until recently the Jack and its operating noise is significantly higher than the Jack. For domestic bedroom of Steba LB 5 would be with us definitely not.