Atomic B2 or AL Legend LX Opinions???

[Divedoggie]

I have the B2 and the Apeks ATX 200 which is only cosmetically different than the AL Legend LX.
They are both great.
I use my Apeks in cold water because its environmentally sealed and the second stage is designed for cold water.
The B2 is great for warm water. Its light weight, and the first stage is flush with the tank valve, so nothing ever bangs the back of my head.
I cannot tell which one breaths better. They are both excellent.
Legend for colder water, B2 for warmer.

 

[master_diver_UJ]

Thanks for the feedback.

Divedoggie, while my board name purports me to be a master diver (I am not - just have watched Men of Honor too many times!) you are a dive master, correct? Most of the dive masters that I've heard from have voiced a preference for the AL Legend.....

 

[paulwlee]

To avoid freeflow, don't press the purge button all the way when you are out of the water. Or you can do what you do, putting a finger on the mouthpiece opening.
On the surface, either have the second stage filled with water, or turned such that the mouthpiece faces downwards.
If you don't do this, many high performance regulators will freeflow, not just Atomic.
This will become automatic for you soon enough.

All regulators will breath harder when looking up.

You don't have to adjust the valve constantly. Turn it out fully during the dive, and turn it in fully if you don't want it to freeflow when not being used. (e.g. if it's being used as an octopus.)

If you feel two stages during the inhale, there is something wrong with the tune, or it needs lubrication. I have 6 Atomics (soon to be 8) and none of them do that. One did that for a few dives when I first got it, so I opened it and cleaned/lubricated it and that went away. But it sure is annoying if it does that.

just got back from my Bonaire trip. my wife and i just got the Atomic B2 before the trip. it did NOT breathe as well as i thought. we're new divers and don't have much to compare against, but i was expecting something else. what i noticed was:
-it freeflowed ALOT. i didn't notice anyone on our trip having this problem with their regs.
-swimming horizontally and looking up or down, it felt harder to breathe.
-i noticed both me and my wife adjusting the valve alot. at different depths or positions or something, but it felt like it was giving too much or too little.
-i'm sure the swivels helped alot. it was a comfortable reg (we used Sea Cure).
-on inhale, i can feel the reg have two phases to it. something like mid breath, it clicks or something. definitely not one smooth operation.

again, we're new divers and very paranoid/alert to everything still.

anywho, i don't know if i like the ACD thingy. could it plug the first stage? i'd rather not have it i think.

 

[shellbackdiver1]

Call me lucky B2 owner cause I have not experienced any of the problems mentioned. As of last Sunday I have 161 dives in salt water plus countless hours of pool time since purchased. No free flow, no cracking or gurgling, no twisting of hoses. Just perfect, effortless breathing every time I go in the water.

 

[paulwlee]

The weight is a non-issue as people stated.

One of the two adjustments in the Aqualung second stage is done automatically in the Atomics. That is the venturi adjustment, which you turn down to reduce freeflow on the surface. I prefer having it done automatically. I had the manual adjustment on my Apeks ATX200 and the Scubapro S600 second stages, and rarely used it because it was a hassle.

The ACD is unnecessary. If you can have it for free, sure, but it will only be an asset during the first few dives where you are not used to things. All the cases where I saw people dunk their regulator in the tub without the cap involved new divers.

Both regulators are great.
That said, I personally prefer the Atomics. The second stage body stays squeaky clean forever due to it being titanium, and the seat saver really works. The lp seat looks like new for years.

There are many piston regulators out there. Scubapro's main line is balanced piston, very similar to Atomics. Oceanic and a few other manufacturers have balanced piston regs AND balanced diaphragm regs.
On the other hand, Aqualung, Apeks (now part of Aqualung), Mares all have balanced diaphragm regulators as their mainstays.
They both have their upsides and downsides, which is why they have both been around for decades.

Here's what I've heard/read:
Piston can provide very high volumes of gas.
Diaphragms can be slightly more responsive
Diaphragms are sealed by nature, so barring any special sealing, may be better suited to silty/contaminated water than pistons
On the other hand, I've heard from a few sources that once something does get inside the first stage, diaphragms are more prone to catastrophic failure whereas pistons keep on working albeit maybe leaking slightly etc.

Atomic B2: I like the corrosion resistance of the titanium 2nd stage, swiveling (sp??) 1st stage, articulating joint on the hose, and the low weight of the package. Why do these guys have the only piston first stage while everybody else use a diaphragm? Is this feature catching on in the dive community?

Legend LX w/acd: I like the acd feature and the two-point adjustability of the second stage, but the first stage is heavy & the airlines are getting tighter on weight restrictions. I can always screw an articulating hose on this one.....

Thoughts on serviceability and what works & doesn't in the real world???

Decisions, decisions, decisions......

Thanks !

 

[master_diver_UJ]

Paulwlee:

Great feedback, thanks - this was the type of real-life information I was looking for.

UJ

 

[hydro12]

Just a brief thought about the titanium second - if you ever intend to move further way down the road with diving and end up using higher % of O2 (80% or higher) for deco, the titanium will react and provide combustion fuel. May not be significant for you now, and PP blending of nitrox should be fine since the higher % of O2 shouldn't reach the 2nd stage as it will have mixed in the tank once air has been added, but if you wanted something that may grow with you for quite some time, just food for thought.

Although, by that time, you may be investing so much money into tec diving, another $500 for a reg is nothing =X

 

[Jarrett]

Although, by that time, you may be investing so much money into tec diving, another $500 for a reg is nothing =X

Zactly

 

[Bismark]

HI,

I too have the apex xtx 200 and the atomic B-2. Atomic in warm water, apex in cold water. Love the B-2 for its size, swivel and general comfort. Both breath real well. As for free flowing, like everyone else above has said, just about any high performance regulator will free flow if held upside down. The knob on the side of the B-2 can be turned in and if set correctly (as on my b-2 octopus) the reg won't free flow.

Both regs are great but I like the ergonomics of the B-2. If I was diving cold water all the time, I would just use the apeks.

I am heading to Cook islands tomorrow morning. I will be taking my Atomic B-2..

Cheers,

 

[ronbeau]

just got back from my Bonaire trip. my wife and i just got the Atomic B2 before the trip. it did NOT breathe as well as i thought. we're new divers and don't have much to compare against, but i was expecting something else. what i noticed was:
-it freeflowed ALOT. i didn't notice anyone on our trip having this problem with their regs.
-swimming horizontally and looking up or down, it felt harder to breathe.
-i noticed both me and my wife adjusting the valve alot. at different depths or positions or something, but it felt like it was giving too much or too little.
-i'm sure the swivels helped alot. it was a comfortable reg (we used Sea Cure).
-on inhale, i can feel the reg have two phases to it. something like mid breath, it clicks or something. definitely not one smooth operation.

again, we're new divers and very paranoid/alert to everything still.

anywho, i don't know if i like the ACD thingy. could it plug the first stage? i'd rather not have it i think.

I agree with the other ScubaBoard member. I would take the B2 into your LDS and have them go through it under warranty.

I had my B2 down at 105 FSW in Curacao (Superior Producer) and it was as easy to breath at 105 FSW as it was on the surface. I also did not have any free flows with my B2 whatsoever.

I am quite happy with the regulator.