Apeks XTX50 or Aqualung Legend LX ACD? What octopus?

[andrethediver]

I know the two regs are very similar. Apeks comes with environmentally sealed first stage while Legend comes with ACD. As I am not doing or planning any cold water diving environmental sealing is not critical to me. In fact, I prefer to have an ACD feature to prevent accidental water entry into the first stage. Aqualung is about $100 more than Apeks. I could go down to the regular Legend but it does not have cracking pressure adjustment and that is one other feature I would like to have.

PS. Also, as I am buying this from my LDS (to get the parts warranty) they are unable to get me a sufficient discount on the octo either (unless I go with the low end Aqualung ABS if I go with Apeks setup). That octopus has got some horrible reviews on LP but Legend octo is another $250 from LDS. Do I have any other options here? Thanks.

 

[FrankPro1]

Both the XTX and the Legend have Environmentally sealed dry chambers. I was going through the same dilemma, but the difference in price was only about 30bucks. In the end I settled with the Legend. My buddy has the XTX and when breathing off both of them, I couldn't tell the difference. I also have the ABS octo and while its a dependable design, it lacks in ease of breathing. I am currently in the market for a replacement and have settled between the Apeks Egress octo and the Legend octo. They are both balanced seconds, with the Egress being low-profile like the ABS.

 

[andrethediver]

Thanks. Did you go with Legend or Legend LX? The difference is cracking pressure adjustment (only LX has that). If you go by MSRP (which my LDS is doing), Apeks XTX50 costs just about the same as regular Legend, while Legend LX is about $100 more. Current legend has an ACD feature that prevents water from getting into the first stage while is disconnected from the tank but I don't think its environmentally sealed first stage unlike Apeks...

 

[SurDo2]

Get two XTX 50's and you won't be sorry. If you need to save some bucks get the XTX 40 or XTX 20 for your octo. Forget the egress style octo's. They are a solution in search of a problem.

Cheers.

 

[FrankPro1]

Thanks. Did you go with Legend or Legend LX?

I went with the Legend LX, but I know that there is very little to know performance difference between the two. My dealer only sold the LX and not the normal one.


Whats wrong with the egress style octo's? They are a simple design, low profile and are balanced. What else could you ask for?

 

[Kevin R]

You are comparing apples to oranges here.

ACD and enviromental sealing are two completely different things. The ACD is a valve on the inlet fitting (where it attached to the tank). Enviromental seals are used to seal out water from the ambient chamber. The ambient chamber is where the 1st stage senses depth in order to compensate for pressure changes by increasing intermediate pressure to the second stage.

The Apeks DS4, DST (XTX50) and FST (XTX200) 1st stages are all enviromentally sealed as is the Legend 1st stage. The Apeks 1st stages do not have the ACD feature.

The egress and LPO share the same case but the similarity ends there. The LPO is an unblanced design while the egress is pneumatically balanced just like all the Apeks 2nd stages.

The ATX and Legend 2nd stages share the same working designs with cosmetic differences. The legend regulator was released shortly after Aqualung aquired Apeks in thier product line.

 

[andrethediver]

Thanks for the info, I did not realize Legend was environmentally sealed reg also - specs on AL site were not clear enough I guess. Is it a good idea to use Apex Egress octo with Legend LX first and second stages? Will it affect the warranty in any way? Thanks!

 

[FrankPro1]

No effect on warranty. You can use any seconds with any first stage, no matter the brand. IT only has to fall with the working IP range of the first. I know that Apeks run at the same relative IP range of the Legend, so no problems there.

 

[snowflake4727]

The AL site says environmentally sealed pretty clear. But I would not use the ABS on the legend or XTX range. As depth increases on these regs the IP increases. This often over powers the ABS octo and causes it to leak starting @ about 60 ft. To solve the problem the octo must be so detuned that it is really difficult to breath.

 

[mike_s]

I know the two regs are very similar. Apeks comes with environmentally sealed first stage while Legend comes with ACD. As I am not doing or planning any cold water diving environmental sealing is not critical to me. In fact, I prefer to have an ACD feature to prevent accidental water entry into the first stage. Aqualung is about $100 more than Apeks. I could go down to the regular Legend but it does not have cracking pressure adjustment and that is one other feature I would like to have.

PS. Also, as I am buying this from my LDS (to get the parts warranty) they are unable to get me a sufficient discount on the octo either (unless I go with the low end Aqualung ABS if I go with Apeks setup). That octopus has got some horrible reviews on LP but Legend octo is another $250 from LDS. Do I have any other options here? Thanks.

I've got the above pictured octo. it's not as smooth of a breather as the Legend LX 2nd stage, but I have no complaints about it.

It's lower profile is nice

as it the fact that you can breath from it with it inverted/upside down.