D420! How about that?

[buddhasummer]

The scootering issue was decided as a non issue later in the thread.

 

[lexvil]

I'm slowly reading through this thread so I might end up replying to more than one comment in close succession as I go. Apologies in advance.

@rsingler (and other non-MK25 fans)... where and how are you diving to get so much grit/trash in the MK25 that the MK19 is so preferable? I know it's not the case as you're all no doubt very seasoned divers, but the visual I get is you diving inverted with your 1st stage dragging through on the bottom through the sand. LOL
I'm not trying to come off as a d*ck or a troll. I'm genuinely wondering. I'm pretty limited in experience in terms of locations. Pretty much exclusively warm Pacific locations with minimal contamination unless I'm inside a wreck.

I was on board for the D420 initially, but the farther I read the more I'm not entirely sure it's something I need over a G260. I dive sidemount more than single tank these days and I rarely invert myself. But I also do a lot of scootering. Rob (can I call you Rob?), you mentioned some concern in I think unboxing video 3 about the D420 freeflowing while scootering. This may have been discussed already and I just haven't gotten far enough into this discussion to see it, but that's definitely a key factor for me.

Also curious if there's any performance differences at 130 fsw and greater compared to the G260.

I'll probably respond more later.

Thanks again for all the great information so far.

I’ll be diving both a new D420 and a C370 today, have only don’t a quick adjustment to the 420 as it just arrived yesterday, the 370 so far in dry testing is pretty amazing, I have it tuned pretty hot.

The shore diving here in California in in a normally pretty active ocean, there is always something stirring into the soup. The MK 25 is a very good regulator, one of the best made but it will get micro grit into the part of the reg where the piston seals, it will take many many years before it would be unserviceable but with a sealed reg nothing will get exposed as far as the working bits go, a quick spray rinse will get the salt off but I still stick mine on a small pony and soak, no grit to work loose is nice, I use the MK 17 starting to work with MK11 which is unsealed as far as the mainspring goes but no place for grit to cause damage. Atomic pistons can be sealed and those that have been sealed will generally look new inside with no scoring on the piston sealing surface. The 25 EVO is a great reg, most here want to try the 420 but know we will never bother to dive the 25.

 

[Father]

Thank you for your comment. All good info.
my dive buddies were surprised I was even considering anything over the G260, especially something that is new. I get that it’s not necessarily new tech but it’s obviously not something that‘s been around and run like the 260.

does SP make a sealed 1st stage with a turret like the MK25? I’m not an SP loyalist, I’m just a cheap ass who can get a Keyman deal so I’m not straying. Not sure if other companies offer a similar deal but for the price they can give they will get all of my business.

You certainly don't "need" it over a G260. I dive both and if I had to choose right now I'd chose the G260 no question. But, I'm still hoping it's just because mine was badly tuned out of the box, another member here experienced the same issues as me out of the box but I'll let him post more on that.

Having said that I've never bought a SP reg that has been operating properly out of the box, 8 and counting, seems they have issues correctly tuning second stages out of the factory, perhaps another days "training" is needed.

I'm hoping that my trial and error attempts at tuning it properly will yield sea parting spectacular results. I'll find out tomorrow.

As for piston regs my main reason for not liking them is consecutive bad experiences with them. For me a sealed diaphragm reg is just easier. I don' need to be so careful with post dive rinsing and don't need to worry at all about it "freezing", I dive a wide range of temps. Apeks 1st stages are very simple indeed and can be serviced in a very short time by me on a rocking boat with no specialized tools, save a C scanner if you can call that specialized. Is any of it a big deal? No, personal preference only, they suit my personality better. YMMV. Cheers.

 

[buddhasummer]

Thank you for your comment. All good info.
my dive buddies were surprised I was even considering anything over the G260, especially something that is new. I get that it’s not necessarily new tech but it’s obviously not something that‘s been around and run like the 260.

does SP make a sealed 1st stage with a turret like the MK25? I’m not an SP loyalist, I’m just a cheap ass who can get a Keyman deal so I’m not straying. Not sure if other companies offer a similar deal but for the price they can give they will get all of my business.

Yes, the yet to be released in the US MK19.

 

[buddhasummer]

My prediction is the D420 will run like the original D series, it'll develop its own following but I don't think it will ever hit main stream popularity like the G and S series. Better stock up on spares, I've heard thus far it's not been a big seller, although I imagine that's due in part to the, stupid IMO, "sales strategy".

 

[tridacna]

The only people that seem to have bought them are hardcore old-timers. The Gs and As look much sexier to newer divers. Hard to beat the MK11/C370 combo in terms of value. Selling as a stand-alone would certainly help sales and coupling with a 19 would be cool.

 

[Angelo Farina]

The D420 is already available for online ordering coupled with the MK19, and also at a good price:
Buy Scubapro MK19 / D420 Diving Regulator online - Alvarez
This is the set I would like to try, if I had some 1000 bucks spare (which I don't have)...

 

[grantctobin]

The D420 is already available for online ordering coupled with the MK19, and also at a good price:
Buy Scubapro MK19 / D420 Diving Regulator online - Alvarez
This is the set I would like to try, if I had some 1000 bucks spare (which I don't have)...

In Europe. US release is scheduled for May as a 1st and 2nd stage pairing.

 

[Angelo Farina]

???
I buy online a lot of things from US. I do not see what would be the problem for people from US to buy online from Europe.
Or mr. Trump is blocking this possibility?
Of course, buying form the LDS is another matter, but I am not doing so since many years in any case.
Online is online, and the apparent location of the seller should be substantially irrelevant (often he is another country from what appears on the internet).

 

[Jcp2]

Warranty coverage questionable for grey market items.