elan
Contributor
I do not believe that current FH6 is an Apeks clone, I think they are remade
Are Zeagle regulators worth considering?
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I do not believe that current FH6 is an Apeks clone, I think they are remade
OP
andrethediver
Contributor
Would you say AL Titan is in the same category as Zeagle regs we discussed? I know of LP heavily discounting Titan, but given Aqualung policy with respect to online purchases, I'd rather get one with lifetime warranty...
OP
andrethediver
Contributor
elan
Contributor
define what is older. FH VI was just few month ago replaced by 7, I might be wrong but I was under impression that current VI was remade by them. On the back of my head I have a date of year 2000 when they started making their own. I think the parts from apekses will not work on the current FHVI. If someone tells me I'm wrong and can use Apeks parts and tools to service my FHVIes I will be very happy.
Again I might be wrong,
If I were you I would not even think twice and bought FH VI for that price
I actually got my second one for that price, the same day I have heard about promotion. 
LeadTurn_SD
Contributor
In the same way an Atomic reg is really a re-branded Scubapro reg
.... so, short answer: No. My understanding (and please, someone who knows for sure correct me if this is totally wrong) is that Zeagle took the Apex designs (which they had been producing for Apex under contract) and altered/improved them when they lost the Apex contract.
Other companies do use direct "clone" 1st stages that are produced overseas to the manufacturer's specs, but not Zeagle. Zeagle is designing / producing their own regs, and it is indeed good stuff
.So no, a recent Zeagle (including the Flathead VI) is not an Apex with a different sticker on the outside. But there are a lot of shared design features and close similarities. At least that is my unexpert opinion
And finally, some dealers will give you accurate purchase info... but many (like car dealers) will steer you to the products with the most mark-up (read: profit) that they carry. It is a business for them, so if you are not sure what you want, they will "help" you in that direction
Finally: Any of the brands you listed (that your LDS carries) will make you exceedingly happy. Just pick the one that make your heart go "pitter patter" and have fun!
Best wishes.
Flathead 6 is not in anyway based on the Apeks XTX. It was Zeagles first completely in-house designed regulator. Granted- there are really only 2-3 regulator designs on the market so they are all very similar. As far as I know the XTX didn't even exist until Aqualung took over production a couple of years after Zeagle separated.
Prior to 1998 (??) Zeagle's were re-branded Apeks, then Apeks went under and Zeagle broke away as an independent company with US based production and design. They took the Apeks DS-4, that they were selling as the DS-IV and then modified it some, improved performance some and added and LP port making it the DS-V. The FH6 came out a couple of years later, its a great reg buts its heavy. The FH7 thins down the amount of metal on the body and some changes to the internals making it a better reg overall.
Warrantee, never had an issue, so long as you have them serviced every year (+/- 1 month), no problems with different shops and so long as you bought from an authorized dealer, no problems with internet sales (Scuba.com for example).
Here's the thing. Any dive shop that will not service your regulator, regardless of where you purchased it, is full of idiots. It's none of their business where you got the regulator, it's their job to service it. A good service with parts should be no more than 80 bucks. Anything you buy from Leisurepro they warranty themselves, regardless of whether or not the manufacturer does. AFAIK you still have to pay for annual service, even if you have the factory warranty.
I guess the short answer is that if you can get a heckuva deal on a Titan or Legend, then that's what I would dive. That regulator has existed in one form or another since about....1944 or so. I could service a titan or legend on a rocking diveboat with a leatherman and an old c02 cartridge if I really needed to do so. You can see the great grandfather of the titan and legend, the venerable DA aqua master, around my neck in my avatar picture.
I normally don't post to these types of threads because of my limited experience but I thought I would pass on something that I was told by 2 different shop owners and member of this board who seems to know quite a bit about zeagle regs. "you will not be able to notice the difference between the DS-V and the Flathead until you go below 150 feet"
On a different note my DS-V breathes for me but if the Flathead VI's would have discontinued and selling for the same price when I bought it I would have gone for it instead.
On a different note my DS-V breathes for me but if the Flathead VI's would have discontinued and selling for the same price when I bought it I would have gone for it instead.
Dude, I'll let you in on a little secret. I cannot tell the difference between most regulators if they are tuned well (and I have TONS of regulators). If the IP and cracking pressure are set where they should be, the reg will breathe well. Even though the ANSTI machine (ala ScubaDiving.com | Scuba Diving Magazine) may say "5" or "4" I would be amazed if most people could tell the difference. Some of those RMV tests on the ANSTI machine would be a genuine challenge to hit. You could literally go down to 100 feet and do jumping jacks on the bottom and probably not hit some of those test limits.
For reference I usually dive an Aqualung conshelf XIV. It has not changed since around 1978. It breathes every bit as good as my Atomic Z1s did. Most regulators will not stutter or breathe poorly until well below recreational limits. Again, if you dive air deeper that 120 (or so) feet, and you are not in the military, then you are a nitwit.
Generally if you have a reg that breathes like microwaved dog doo doo it is because of one of two reasons:
-Your intermediate pressure is too low.
-You cracking pressure is too high (which also relates to IP typically).
I am being a little tongue in cheek here, but you get the idea.
Apeks and Scubapro are NOT what I would call top shelf brands, sure they are well known names, but their top shelf status is based on either a former life as a great company (Apeks) or massive retail markups meaning high profit margins for the retailer(SP). But... in the last many years, Apeks went under and was sold off to Aqualung, the dealer support network went in the toilet and many shops no longer carry them do to this issue. SP... well I have never been a fan of their equipment, not because it was bad, but because I could find better equipment at lower prices.
The top shelf regulators in my mind are, Zeagle, Posiedon, DiveRite, Oceanic and now Sherwood and Aeris are adding in with some great performers. Of course we all know that the Palegic Group owns Hollis, Oceanic, Aeris, Sherwood and Genesis. Even though each designs there own regs, I am sure there is some significant cross pollination of knowledge that they all learn from.
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