AL Titan LX vs. SP MK25/G250HP

[claymore]

I recently purchased an LX Supreme and have been very happy with it.
I have used several different regs and the LX seemed to breath as well or better than the others. I've had mine below 100 ft sw and could not notice any change in breathing.
I have tried every position I can think of, upside down, vertical head down ect. and have not found a position that the reg breathes wet. It breathes a little harder when you are facing up but that is common to all or almost all regs.

The price for the LX Supreme is a very reasonable price from a LDS.

 

[Isaac-1]

Scubapro strongly discourages their dealers from marking down prices on individual pieces gear, therefore if your looking at scubapro, ask the dealer what sort of deal they will make you on a complete set of gear even if some of it is not scubapro brand.

Ike

p.s. I would vote for the Mk25/G250, although I have never used a Titan, and for that matter have not used a Mk 25, but have used and owned a number of other scubapro piston first stages

 

[TSandM]

My two reg setups are the Titan LX and the MK25/S600s. There is no question that the latter breathe smoother and easier, but the former breathes awfully darned well, down to 130 feet, which is as deep as I've had it. If the difference is $150 or so, I'd buy the Titan. If the difference is $40, as you originally posted, I'd buy the Scubapro. Either is going to be safe and reliable; the breathing differences are subtle, and only most noticeable at maximal recreational depths.

 

[deepocean]

Not trying to say titan or SP are bad but why not get an Apeks or an Aqualung or a zeagle regulator or Beuchat or even an oceanic regulator. They all have a dry sealed system. They are cheaper. Apeks is as cheap as you can go. They breath really well at all! depths are easy and cheap to maintain and to buy. And to top it up: they are very reliable and have a good reputation in demanding, cold and deep, conditions.

Many technical and high demanding divers use and swear by these regulators. That says something about the reliability of these regs!

$500 is a total ripoff for a good regulator.
I live in Europe but here I found a regulator dealer in US. Apeks is very reliable and anyone, reliable and knowledgeable, can service it for you every 2 years. If you dive in cold water make sure you put the intermediate pressure to below 9 bar. And make sure you get the DIN version that goes deeper into the cylinder valve than the INT version. Good luck!
http://www.leisurepro.com/Prod/Cate.../DescSort_0/Filter_1=707/SQTAXTX40.html?Hit=1

just my 2 cents.

Thank you all very much for extended responses and analisys. Sounds like i can't really go wrong with either one. May come down to what kind of deal I get with the rest of the setup.

a couple of more things, if anyone has time...
do these prices sound like a decent deal? Would prefer to buy from local shop, so i'm guessing i pay some for that too.

I tried to get a price quote for MK17/G250HP but they told me it only comes with G250 V which kicks up the price to $540 (USD) or with MK17/S550 to ~$500. Wasn't looking to spend this much, but if difference is that big, maybe I would. While I am a beginner and will stick to recreational limits and nice conditions and >50F water, i would like to get something for the next 10 years.

they also offered these deals in sub 400 range:
MK16/G250 HP $300.
Titan LX supreme is around $30 more than LX (395).

anyways, sorry to bother you with details, but any thoughts are appreciated.
Thank you.

 

[Nemrod]

Not trying to say titan or SP are bad but why not get an Apeks or an Aqualung or a zeagle regulator or Beuchat or even an oceanic regulator. They all have a dry sealed system. They are cheaper. Apeks is as cheap as you can go. They breath really well at all! depths are easy and cheap to maintain and to buy. And to top it up: they are very reliable and have a good reputation in demanding, cold and deep, conditions.
Apeks XTX40 Regulator from LeisurePro.com

just my 2 cents.

The Titan LX is an Aqua Lung product. It is at least as good as the Apeks and has a smaller and lighter second stage and parts avaialble everywhere.

N

 

[John_B]

Not trying to say titan or SP are bad but why not get an Apeks or an Aqualung or a zeagle regulator or Beuchat or even an oceanic regulator. They all have a dry sealed system. They are cheaper. <snip>

For the OP, from the same source you can get the Aqualung Titan LX Supreme which also has the dry sealed chamber in the first stage for less money (the non-Supreme version isn't sealed BTW), and for less money than the Apeks linked to above.

John (ironically, an Apeks owner)

 

[myScubaLogin]

Thanks guys. Lot's of good input. I'm not dead set on one of these two regs, but sounded like those two were good deals for under $400 at this shop. As i was reading the thread, i remembered this store having sale and offering xtx50 w octo for $500. not sure if that's still available, i'll check that out too...
newbies, what can you do

appreciate all the input.

 

[keyshunter]

DA,

Great analysis, as usual. Just one thing. I was sure that Al uses a metal air barrel. But, with my geriatric memory, I thought that I would check. So, I popped open the newer of my 2 Titan LX seconds, sn5038xxx, and the air barrel is metal.

In this same vein, I did some further research, and found that the air barrel in a Titan LX, (which is identical to the regular Legend) is exactly the same as the one in the Apeks ATX series without adjustment knob. And, except for the adjustment knob itself, that the Legend LX air barrel is the same as the Apeks ATX with adjustable second. All of the part numbers are identical.

The Apeks XTX series uses most of the related barrel parts, but, because of the new reversibility, has some slight changes in the air barrel and the venturi lever. The exhaust diaphragm has also been changed, but I don't know if it can be retrofitted to an ATX. I have heard of some problems with the old exhaust diaphragm, (I had to have mine changed very early on), but I doubt that the problem was very widespread.

 

[Nemrod]

In this same vein, I did some further research, and found that the air barrel in a Titan LX, (which is identical to the regular Legend) is exactly the same as the one in the Apeks ATX series without adjustment knob. And, except for the adjustment knob itself, that the Legend LX air barrel is the same as the Apeks ATX with adjustable second. All of the part numbers are identical.

The Apeks XTX series uses most of the related barrel parts, but, because of the new reversibility, has some slight changes in the air barrel and the venturi lever. The exhaust diaphragm has also been changed, but I don't know if it can be retrofitted to an ATX. I have heard of some problems with the old exhaust diaphragm, (I had to have mine changed very early on), but I doubt that the problem was very widespread.

Yes, that is what I have been trying to tell you guys. Thank you.

If you take a Legend and a Titan you will find all sorts of similarity between the first stages including the same HP seat etc. If you take various Apeks, Titan LX and Legend second stages you again find all sorts of parts commonality. When I hear this one breaths way better than that one, what can you say, these regulators are so similar they are virtually the same units. Yeah, there are minor physical differences that lead to minor performance differences, minor is the operative word.

N

 

[myScubaLogin]

thanks all again for all the input.

I think i'm down to Apeks XTX50 (status) + AL Legend octo (this combo is $500 at LDS).
or
Atomic Z2 + slimline octo

these are the only two comparable deals, apeks being $50 cheaper. What would you do? I didn't ask for xtx50 status, but that deal includes the status type reg. The SP MK25+g250hp deal isn't available any more.

Seems like XTX deal + legend octo is a screaming deal...any downsides?
thank you. Really appreciate all of your input.