Question Scubapro S620 X-Ti - behaviour, service and vs. G260

[lexvil]

Afaik the pricing situation between brands is a bit different in the US, but here Atomic (and Halcyon as well) is so absurdly overpriced that it's laughable. Scubapro is just the same price level as everyone else apart from the titanium stuff.

TFX; To F’n Xpensive but worth it, I only have the second stage because I prefer the MK 17 over any piston reg but while the 620 is fine once you dive a center balance like the TFX it’s hard to not spend the money on one

 

[Geo7]

As Lex said, the S620ti has a barrel like the G250 and G260. There is a titanium pin locking the adjuster knob assembly. So much nicer to service than the S600 with the C-clip and the spring loaded affair, BUT the S600 adjuster knob is immune to salt and sand (like Atomics). The threads of the adjuster knobs in the G250, G260, and S620ti need some cleaning and care. I think only California Beach divers notice this though.

This video shows how the 620 is built. Servicing it is straightforward, and it's a fun reg to service.

 

[Mobulai]

BUT the S600 adjuster knob is immune to salt and sand (like Atomics)

Is that inclusive of the 1st gen knobs (the pneumatic balanced/seat saver ones)?

 

[Duglum]

The threads of the adjuster knobs in the G250, G260, and S620ti need some cleaning and care.

Hm, if it's like on the G250 and G260 that would be totally fine.. i've had several of those completely gunked up with corrosion (salt? lime? grime? who knows) when taking them apart. But 1-2 rounds in the ultrasonic cleaner and a nylon brushing later and they were like new.

Did anyone use a S620 Ti/X-Ti in the water though? How did they behave and breathe compared to a G250/260? Shallow and at 40m+?
(Lets assume all of them were well tuned)

 

[Mobulai]

@Duglum just as an aside; if you end up disliking the 620xti I might be open to „splitting it up“ with you on the deal (depending on how good is that deal)?

My interest comes as a matter of completeness (just got my 2nd CE 156 and I’m feeling lucky rolling the dice on the 620)

Also, there’s an (ok) deal on a blue Ti mk25E/s600 on Kleinanzeige; if you eventually don’t feel it — I can link you

 

[Duglum]

Also, there’s an (ok) deal on a blue Ti mk25E/s600 on Kleinanzeige; if you eventually don’t feel it — I can link you

I've seen the one on Kleinanzeigen, but be careful.. That's a regular brass Mk25 EVO and regular S600 from all that i know. Maaaybe the S600 actually has a titanium barrel, but i'd ask Scubapro before i'd buy that.

I'll try the S620 i guess and send you a PM if i end up hating it.

 

[Mobulai]

I've seen the one on Kleinanzeigen, but be careful.. That's a regular brass Mk25 EVO and regular S600 from all that i know. Maaaybe the S600 actually has a titanium barrel, but i'd ask Scubapro before i'd buy that.

I'll try the S620 i guess and send you a PM if i end up hating it.

Oh I thought that was anodized Ti — mybad (and that’s super overpriced then)

I got me 2 og 25Ts (not evo) already from KE last year for about half that price so I’m good on the 1sts anyways

Let me know

 

[Geo7]

Hm, if it's like on the G250 and G260 that would be totally fine.. i've had several of those completely gunked up with corrosion (salt? lime? grime? who knows) when taking them apart. But 1-2 rounds in the ultrasonic cleaner and a nylon brushing later and they were like new.

Did anyone use a S620 Ti/X-Ti in the water though? How did they behave and breathe compared to a G250/260? Shallow and at 40m+?
(Lets assume all of them were well tuned)

The S620ti has clever use of materials and fouls up much less with regards to corrosion. Much easier to live with. It's just that salt and sand can built up there.

I had the S620ti in the water, and also had the X-Ti titanium jam nut on it. It breathes great, but I compared it against Atomic. I suspect that some might prefer the good old G250 as the 250 (can) have a stronger venturi. Rsingler showed in a video and some posts how modern regs are designed to not cross over into positive flow too much, so the modern ones tend to breathe smoother and are better behaved at higher flow rates. It's a subjective thing, but I had zero complains about how it breathed...

 

[Geo7]

Is that inclusive of the 1st gen knobs (the pneumatic balanced/seat saver ones)?

Yes, the pneumatic ones (originally in the G500 and then G250HP and early S600) were designed by Dean Garraffa and/or Doug Toth (aka Atomic founders), and it also is immune to sand and salt. I love the simplicity of servicing a G250 the most. Followed by G260 and S620ti. But I came to realize that the G500, S600 knobs do not care about sand, salt and corrosion. They actually last forever, and if one scratches the adjuster knob, it's a 7-ish $ part, as opposed to "not available" for the G250, or almost 50$ for the S620ti adjusting knob (comes in an integrated assembly). The S620ti adjusting knob is rubberized and feels great in hand though.

Damn, do we sound like reg nerds, don't we?

 

[Mobulai]

Damn, do we sound like reg nerds, don't we?

I’m still studying for that cool badge

A friend of mine in Dahab has quite a few 2nd gen 600s and swears by how low effort it’s to maintain/clean them — now I understand that lore a bit better