Apeks MTX-RC - Back Ordered Forever

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as the legend elite was also a rental, the issue is that most rental regs are not tuned "hot" for the maximum performance because the shops don't want complaints about freeflowing. if you were comparing against the newer Zeo or Delta 5 oceanic regs, you won't see much of a difference if they are tuned down to similar specs as they have a similar balanced 2nd stage design.
I think this is the essence of choosing from whats out there, something you can (get) tune(ed) hot (enough) for effortless breathing
a reason I really love the g260 (regardless of 1st stage, besides cold requirements); it has a micro adjustment to further enable good cracking effort

A dunk test is a good skill to pickup to keep 2nds at peak (even if you don’t wanna go the diy route)
 
The Apeks TX/ATX/XTX is as common in the UK as the British cup of tea. I always thought the ATX/XTX was a brilliant regulator, especially for cold water. I sold all my gear a few years ago and just getting back in to it.

I've never tried the MTX-RC but a friend has them.

I recently picked up some Mares XR regs, with the 28xr first stages. I like them, so if you can't wait for the Apeks you could look at the Mares XR options.
 
I ordered a spare MTX-RC 2nd stage last Thursday from Germany, and received it on Monday. Product seems to be easily available from EU stores as I ordered 5 items and 4 shipped the next day, just didn’t get the RK-4 fins in size super as they are not in production.
 
Diving in Monterey isn't cold, so if you really like and want a diaphragm reg fine, but don't think that you absolutely need one for 50 degree water or even down to low 40's. A lot of people in Norcal use unsealed open piston regs.
If you want deep performance then Scubapro MK25 is the grand Kahuna for uninhibited flow. Most of your performance and ease if breathing will be in the second stage anyway. Any first stage that's worth it's salt should provide 135 av. constant PSI and any decent balanced second stage should adjust for any minor discrepancies in IP. The second stage doesn't know what's feeding it as long as the IP is in spec and the second stage is adjusted to the IP, it doesn't matter.

Apeks? like was said earlier, you might want to avoid a brand that's circling the drain (lol!)
Self service? Deep 6, DGX, Hog used to be but decided to get stupid and became a pain in the ass to get parts from. There's a few others.

Letting a shop do the service? Scubapro, Atomic,
But pricey.
 
I ordered a spare MTX-RC 2nd stage last Thursday from Germany, and received it on Monday. Product seems to be easily available from EU stores as I ordered 5 items and 4 shipped the next day, just didn’t get the RK-4 fins in size super as they are not in production.
Yes, grey market I can do. But I prefer to support my LDS.
 
I agree, but a 40% discount is hard to refuse. In the US we pay higher prices to get “free parts for life”, and then they don’t have the parts when you need them. I have off shored to get the service and prices as I can only be as loyal to my LDS as he is to me!
 
Diving in Monterey isn't cold, so if you really like and want a diaphragm reg fine, but don't think that you absolutely need one for 50 degree water or even down to low 40's. A lot of people in Norcal use unsealed open piston regs.
If you want deep performance then Scubapro MK25 is the grand Kahuna for uninhibited flow. Most of your performance and ease if breathing will be in the second stage anyway. Any first stage that's worth it's salt should provide 135 av. constant PSI and any decent balanced second stage should adjust for any minor discrepancies in IP. The second stage doesn't know what's feeding it as long as the IP is in spec and the second stage is adjusted to the IP, it doesn't matter.

Apeks? like was said earlier, you might want to avoid a brand that's circling the drain (lol!)
Self service? Deep 6, DGX, Hog used to be but decided to get stupid and became a pain in the ass to get parts from. There's a few others.

Letting a shop do the service? Scubapro, Atomic,
But pricey.
Agreed. Monterey isn't terribly cold. But I do want to do the Great Lakes and they can be pretty cold not to mention the adventure of ice driving down the line. So I want to be prepared and only drop that kind of cabbage once.
But I will definitely look into the Scubapro.
Thank you for your input!
 
Another vote for the Mares 28XR (or 82X) as an alternative to the MTX-RC. It's got a turret, an innovative environmental seal system (they call it TBP), and it looks great (so maybe not the 82X}.

Mares also has a long military history, although I'd go with the 28XR over the approved Navy II. They haven't been able to update the Navy II to the new environmental seal system because the old one is what was approved for inclusion in the USN "Authorized for Naval Use" list.

You can also pair the 28XR with Mares balanced adjustable second stages instead of the classic, but unbalanced Abyss that comes with the Navy II. They have the HR in the XR line or the metal-bodied Atlas Adj in the regular line.
 
Either a Dive Rite XT or a Deep 6 Expedition would work just as well as any Apeks, would be cheaper and would also keep you away from a brand with questionable longevity. I own both of them and they are excellent regulators. Both are popular with cold water divers as well and would perform without issue in Monterey, Seattle, the Great Lakes or even under ice.

If you like the AL/Apeks comfobite mouthpieces, which I do, you can easily swap the mouthpieces. That is what I've done on both my DR XT and Deep 6 Expedition.
 
In all y'alls humble opinion, would this be something I should be concerned about once my rig actually arrives? Perhaps it's time to think of a different manufacturer?
Yes.

Providing divers regulators and the parts that keep them going for 60 plus years now.

 
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