Choosing ScubaPro 2nd stage to go with MK17

[Homunculus]

hi all,
I'm looking to buy a 2nd regulator set (1st and 2nd stage) to be used by my wife for warm water diving (primarily) and occasional cold water diving by myself. I have my own reg (poseidon xtream) that i'm happy with. for a change, i'd like to get a different brand. I'm pretty sure we'll go with ScubaPro MK17 1st stage but i'm not sure about the 2nd stage. Does anyone have experience with different 2nd stage SP regs so that an opinion is based on a direct comparison rather than just saying "i have mk17/s600 and i love it, but i did not try other ones".
A700 / G250V / S600 - any opinions?

diving will not be deeper than 40 meters.

 

[Zung]

G250V anytime: it's one of the very best design, great breather and bullet proof. I wouldn't trade mine (G250 no V) against anything.

 

[Fishpie]

Any of the 3 you've mentioned will have indistinguishable level of performance. The 700 and G250 maybe better freeze resistance. 600 the lightest.
Pick one that appeals on a looks level.

 

[Fishpie]

Any of the 3 you've mentioned will have indistinguishable level of performance. The 700 and G250 maybe better freeze resistance. 600 the lightest.
Pick one that appeals on a looks level.

 

[Hunter76]

Well I just put the first five dives on my Mk17/G250V and pretty much forgot about it underwater. I can tell you its beat all of the rental gear I've used recently.

 

[BlueWaterDiving]

G-250 or the G-250V are the best that is all I dive just look at my avatar

 

[a22shady]

I won Both the G250V and S600. MyG/F has her setup MK17/G250V S600 as her back-up. We dive in the Northeast so colder waters and the G250V is a better cold water reg then the S600. and both are great breathers. The G250 has been around a long time and is a solid performer in all waters and very reliable and best coupled with the Sealed MK17 it's a cold water beast.

My Girlfriend Just got the S600 and has not done a good comparison on them yet under the water. On land she said it felt like the S600 delievered a little more Air easier then the G250V but not a huge notable difference. She swapped for a min underwater and said she liked the G250V and wanted it for now as it felt Identicle. But we will get a better comparision this weekend and do a better dive a little deeper and get a solid comparision.

 

[halocline]

I'd be really tempted to get the new A700 if I were buying a new SP reg. I have zero experience with it, I don't even know what it's like inside, except I believe it uses a shorter poppet than the G250. The A700 is a nod to the old balanced/adjustable, which is one of my all time favorite 2nd stages.

The G250V is a universally loved regulator, based on one of the most proven designs ever. The problem is, you could buy an old-style G250 on ebay for 1/2 the price or less and you'd have basically the same reg. That's what I would do. Come to think of it, you could follow that logic and just buy a balanced/adjustable or 109 and convert it. A good friend has 15 of them, although hopefully next time I see him he'll only have 14.

Either way you'll be happy. I'm not as much of a fan of the S600; it's all plastic which means more dry mouth, to me it's overly complicated. But it has a great reputation.

 

[Belce]

I love my A700, it is outstanding.

 

[Homunculus]

I love my A700, it is outstanding.

have you dived with g250V as well? if so, how does a700 compare with g250v? the design of A700 is very slick. if i went based only on looks (as someone said earlier) than it would be my 1st choice.