Choose Micro Plus when the required microcurrent controls are the priority; compare the original InTENSity Select Combo when the plan also calls for TENS, EMS, or interferential stimulation. The deciding question is whether the exact unit can provide the prescribed program—not which device advertises more modes.
We carry the BioMedical Life Systems Micro Plus, KMICP, and the Richmar InTENSity Select Combo, DI8195. Both provide a microcurrent option, but their controls, programming, and accessory systems are different.
This is a comparison of published product information reviewed and is not a head-to-head clinical trial or electrical-output test. Both models are prescription devices. Follow the instructions supplied with your unit and the treating clinician's plan.
First, confirm the model: Select Combo, not Select Combo II.
The original Select Combo DI8195 lists TENS, EMS, IFC, and microcurrent. The Select Combo II DI2195 is a different product: Richmar lists TENS, NMES, IFC, and Russian stimulation, not microcurrent.
Do not approve a replacement from the words “Select Combo” or “four modalities” alone. Compare the reference on the device, the supplied manual, and the order confirmation. A later model name does not guarantee that it retains the treatment mode you need.
Micro Plus vs. InTENSity Select Combo at a Glance
The table focuses on differences that affect selection. Full specifications and current purchasing options remain on the individual product pages.
Scroll the table sideways on a smaller screen.
| Buying question | Micro Plus KMICP | Select Combo DI8195. |
|---|---|---|
| Main design | Analog microcurrent-focused device with a separate milliamp range. | Digital combination device with four selectable modalities. |
| Microcurrent controls | Manual controls for output range, amplitude, pulse rate, pulse-train duration, and polarity. | MIC programs P1, P2, and P3, selected with buttons. Confirm the available adjustments against the manual edition. |
| Polarity selection | Positive, negative, and bipolar positions. | No equivalent three-position polarity selector is documented in the reviewed 2024 manual. |
| Channel controls | Two outputs with separate intensity knobs. | Two outputs with channel intensity buttons and an LCD. Two channels do not mean two independently selected modalities. |
| Additional stimulation choices | A separate low-milliam range, not a four-modality TENS/EMS/IFC system. | TENS, EMS, and IFC in addition to MIC. |
| Session timing | No adjustable session countdown is documented in the reviewed specification sheet. Pulse-train duration is not session duration. | A 1–60-minute session timer or continuous operation is documented. |
| Power | One 9V battery. | One 9V battery or the specified AC adapter. |
Control information is based on the BMLS Micro Plus specification sheet, Rev. G, the manufacturer-authored DI8195 manual, DI8195_UM_D_240709, and the Richmar Select Combo quick reference guide. The two Richmar documents are distributor-hosted copies.
The key difference is access to the required microcurrent settings.
A dedicated control can be useful when a clinician needs to specify polarity or adjust a pulse parameter directly. A combination device can be useful when several modalities are required, but that does not mean every setting is freely adjustable within every mode.
BMLS documents a 0–1,000 µA range and selectable polarity for Micro Plus. For a purchaser, those are reasons to examine whether the controls match the plan—not reasons to select a maximum output or copy another user's settings.
The 2024 DI8195 manual describes P1 with fixed frequency and pulse width, P2 with programmed pulse-width variation, and P3 with programmed frequency variation. Selecting a program is not the same as independently choosing every pulse parameter. Have the prescribing clinician compare the required pattern with the documented program before accepting a substitute.
For the wider question of which stimulation type is appropriate, use our microcurrent, TENS, and NMES comparison. This article addresses the narrower equipment choice once the required modality is known.
Published manual editions do not describe identical programming.
The 2019 Select Combo manual, Rev. V2, describes adjustable microcurrent parameters, unlike the programmed characteristics described in the 2024 edition. That documentation difference does not establish which hardware is in a particular shipment. Confirm the supplied manual and actual controls rather than combining specifications from different editions.
Our Micro Plus operating guide also identifies differences between its operator manual and specification sheet. A required very-low-frequency setting or output range needs confirmation before purchase, not an assumption based on a familiar product name.
Why 105 mA is not a microcurrent comparison
Do not compare Micro Plus's microamp range with the Select Combo's headline 105 mA specification as though they describe the same operating mode. The 2024 DI8195 manual assigns the higher range to TENS and EMS; its MICRO section instead lists 0–0.8 mA, equivalent to 0–800 µA.
Those are published specifications, not treatment targets or measurements we performed. Confirm the applicable manual edition and test conditions before comparing a required output. Matching a current number alone does not establish matching waveform, polarity, timing, or clinical effect.
Little or no sensation can occur in microcurrent use. BMLS specifically notes that microcurrent may not be felt. Neither a quiet sensation nor a higher maximum setting demonstrates better treatment. Do not increase output simply to imitate the sensation of TENS.
Which device belongs on your shortlist?
| Your priority | Start with | Resolve before ordering. |
|---|---|---|
| Direct microcurrent and polarity controls | Micro Plus KMICP | Whether the exact pulse characteristics and documented range meet the prescription. |
| Microcurrent plus separate TENS, EMS, or IFC use | Select Combo DI8195. | Whether each required mode is suitable, including the specific MIC program. |
| A displayed session timer and outlet-power option | Select Combo DI8195. | The prescribed session length, correct adapter, and ability to operate the controls. |
| Replacing a device used successfully in an established plan | The exact existing model first | Whether a change preserves the necessary program and approved accessories. |
For the EMS portion of a combined plan, our prescribed-NMES-settings guide explains why contraction timing and channel behavior also need to match. It is not enough for a replacement to list “EMS.”
During a demonstration, ask the intended user to identify the active mode, read the units, change only the permitted setting, and show how to stop output. Our analog-versus-digital controls guide discusses that interface decision in more detail. Knobs and screens each need to suit the person using them.
Compare leads, power, and replacement supplies before switching.
Micro Plus is supplied with BMLS Touch Proof leads. Richmar lists WW3005 leads for DI8195; our WW3005 45-inch replacement lead-wire pair is the relevant product reference for that system, not a claim that the same cable fits Micro Plus.
Check the device connector and electrode connector separately. Our electrode-connector guide explains this distinction. Do not order a cable merely because its pad-end pins resemble the ones you already have, or modify a connector to make it fit.
The DI8195 AC adapter provides an outlet-power option; its inclusion is not a promise of in-device battery charging. Use the specified power supply and follow the supplied battery instructions. Do not assume that an accessory for Select Combo II also fits the original Select Combo.
Compare the complete kit, not just the unit price.
| Purchase detail | Micro Plus KMICP | Select Combo DI8195. |
|---|---|---|
| Displayed device kit price | $119.95 | $134.95 |
| Listed basic accessories | Four reusable electrodes, two BMLS leads, a 9V battery, a pouch, a belt clip, and instructions. | Four reusable electrodes, two leads, a 9V battery, an AC adapter, a carrying case, and instructions. |
| Published manufacturer warranty | Two-year limited warranty. | One-year warranty. |
Prices are a dated snapshot, not automatically updated figures or a checkout quote. Check the linked product page and selected order for current price, availability, and contents. Warranty coverage is not a guarantee of treatment results or a comfort-return policy.
The displayed difference is $15. Ask whether the additional modes, timer, and power option are relevant to the approved plan, rather than paying more simply to obtain a longer feature list. Equally, do not choose the lower-priced device when it lacks a required capability.
We offer free standard U.S. shipping with no minimum order. Compare the current complete order, including any prescribed accessories and future replacement supplies. Do not assume the leads from an existing setup can be reused.
Confirm the treatment plan before changing equipment.
The Micro Plus device record identifies prescription use, and Richmar labels DI8195 Rx only. Buying either kit does not provide the electrode placement, settings, or treatment schedule for an individual condition.
Read the complete contraindications and precautions for the chosen model. Implantable cardiac devices, pregnancy, and damaged skin require attention to those instructions, not an assumption that low current is automatically suitable. Switch off before connecting, disconnecting, or moving electrodes. Stop use and seek clinical advice for pain, burning, or a skin reaction.
This comparison does not recommend use across the head, with ear clips, or for cosmetic facial treatment. Do not transfer such uses from unrelated microcurrent equipment. We can help identify published features and accessories; the treating clinician determines whether a change is appropriate.
Questions about replacing one device with the other
Can Select Combo replace a prescribed Micro Plus?
Not automatically. Confirm the required waveform, polarity, pulse characteristics, current range, timing, and electrode setup. Having a MIC mode makes DI8195 a product to evaluate, not an equivalent prescription in a different case.
Can I run microcurrent on one DI8195 channel and TENS on the other?
The reviewed instructions select one modality for the device; the separate channel buttons adjust intensity. Do not buy it on the assumption that two outputs provide two independently chosen modalities.
Does Micro Plus's milliamp range make it an EMS combination unit?
No. The additional range does not add a documented contraction/rest EMS program or an IFC mode. Use the actual modality and programming requirements to decide whether a combination device is needed.
Which one is more effective?
This documentation-based comparison does not establish a clinical winner between KMICP and DI8195. A larger current ceiling, a digital display, or additional modes cannot answer which treatment is appropriate for a particular person.
Match the program, then choose the equipment.
Review the Micro Plus KMICP kit for its dedicated controls, or the original Select Combo DI8195 kit for its combined modalities. Browse our microcurrent equipment collection for other documented options.
Before substituting a device, contact our product-support team with the existing model, proposed replacement, manual edition, and required settings with units. Identify any leads or accessories that need confirmation. A complete equipment question helps us check the order without guessing at the treatment.
