I'll second Zeagle. My wife and I use them. I decided to get the DS/V instead of the Flathead. It's a bit cheaper and you won't notice the performance difference until around 200 feet or so. It's a solid performer. In reality any of the major brands will be fine. For the most part all $500 regs are equal. Go with what can be serviced locally or handled by the dive shop that you would use.
Help me pick out my 1st reg setup
- Thread starter StreetDoctor
- Start date
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v--Locke--v
Guest
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ge...s-fdx-10-w-delta-4-alpha-8-octo-wet-once.html
go on and jump on this now
Well it seems to me that most places that rebuild regs will do it regardless of the aurthorized purchase, and Dive Rites you can even service yourself.
go on and jump on this now
Well it seems to me that most places that rebuild regs will do it regardless of the aurthorized purchase, and Dive Rites you can even service yourself.
alexp206
Registered
I will also wave the Dive Rite flag. And if I hadn't just bought my regs last year I would be all over the sale over at diveriteexpress.com !
OP
StreetDoctor
Contributor
Alright after about 20 (seriously) hours of reading different things all over the internet on regulators I broke down and went to my LDS. My initial intentions were to buy 2nd hand as I've done for the majority of the rest of my gear, but after the prices I was seeing and calling around to see what service rates were at LDS' it came within $100 or so of a brand new setup.
I actually had a really good experience. Spoke with the manager of the store and he highly recommended an Apeks. Specifically the ATX50. The price is $550, now I understand it's discontinued.. What do you guys think about buying a discontinued regulator? He said there was really no difference between the ATX50 and the new XTX50 and I'm a firm believer in "if its not broke dont fix it". Should I go ahead and get the XTX (for $20 more) just because it's the newer model? He said the ATX50 is the regulators he uses for his technical dives along with most of the divemasters at that shop. He spoke very highly of Apeks. Opinions?
edit: I forgot to mention, I'm going there thursday to demo it in the pool.
I don't know how receptive he'll be to bargaining but he said he had 5 or 6 of them. I didn't see any XTX50's on the shelf, I could always try and get him to lower the price on the ATX or just order the new XTX for the same price...
I actually had a really good experience. Spoke with the manager of the store and he highly recommended an Apeks. Specifically the ATX50. The price is $550, now I understand it's discontinued.. What do you guys think about buying a discontinued regulator? He said there was really no difference between the ATX50 and the new XTX50 and I'm a firm believer in "if its not broke dont fix it". Should I go ahead and get the XTX (for $20 more) just because it's the newer model? He said the ATX50 is the regulators he uses for his technical dives along with most of the divemasters at that shop. He spoke very highly of Apeks. Opinions?
edit: I forgot to mention, I'm going there thursday to demo it in the pool.
I don't know how receptive he'll be to bargaining but he said he had 5 or 6 of them. I didn't see any XTX50's on the shelf, I could always try and get him to lower the price on the ATX or just order the new XTX for the same price...
shoturtle
Contributor
Pretty much all reg by all the manufactures in your price range of 500 bucks are great reg. It really comes down to availability of parts and service. Oceanic, Apeks, Sherwood, Aqua Lung, Mares, and Scubapro all have excellent products. For some it comes down to brand loyalty, other the price, some the fit of one reg is better then another. I would take your time and look at all your options.
greenmoray
Guest
StreetDoctor:
I'd go with the new XTX. There are two main differences:
1. XTX first stage now has all 3/8" medium ports. Not much a big deal.
2. XTX has an interchangeable wide exhaust tee. This is a BIG deal here.
Your quoted cost for ATX50 is rather high for a discontinued model. The XTX can be had around $500 plus taxes. Hope that helps.
I'd go with the new XTX. There are two main differences:
1. XTX first stage now has all 3/8" medium ports. Not much a big deal.
2. XTX has an interchangeable wide exhaust tee. This is a BIG deal here.
Your quoted cost for ATX50 is rather high for a discontinued model. The XTX can be had around $500 plus taxes. Hope that helps.
OP
StreetDoctor
Contributor
Can you explain more the benefits of the interchangeable exhaust tee? If he offers to come down in price on the atx what would be a good deal?
greenmoray
Guest
XTX comes with 2 bubble deflectors: standard and wide tee. The standard is what the ATX already has. The new wide exhaust tee allows to deflect bubbles further away from your face, hence less bubble interference in your face.
Another difference is the XTX 2nd stage can be hose configured for right-handed or left-handed.
$350 would be a good price. For me personally, I'd still go with the new XTX, which shouldn't be higher than $500.
Another difference is the XTX 2nd stage can be hose configured for right-handed or left-handed.
$350 would be a good price. For me personally, I'd still go with the new XTX, which shouldn't be higher than $500.
OP
StreetDoctor
Contributor
So I'm a little pissed off.
If you read a couple posts up I talk about how great of an experience I had at the LDS. Well for fun I decided to call today (and not tell them who I am) and ask how much the XTX50 was (since they quoted me @ $550 for the ATX50). He told me they weren't in stock but if I were to order one it'd be $565 + tax. He then informed me that they have some ATX50's in stock and ready to go. I told him I wasn't very interested in a D/C'ed model but go ahead and give me a price quote. NOW this is the good part..... He quotes me @ $450. So when I was in the shop yesterday and he knew I was a new diver he was trying to sell me for $550, that's a good way to encourage newbies to get into the sport- take them to the cleaners! :no
No worries though I found another shop that is very local that will sell it to me for $509. They also have a much lower price on the Gekko I was looking at.
Looks like I found a new place to do business with. What scares me is the first shop has been in business for 30 some years
If you read a couple posts up I talk about how great of an experience I had at the LDS. Well for fun I decided to call today (and not tell them who I am) and ask how much the XTX50 was (since they quoted me @ $550 for the ATX50). He told me they weren't in stock but if I were to order one it'd be $565 + tax. He then informed me that they have some ATX50's in stock and ready to go. I told him I wasn't very interested in a D/C'ed model but go ahead and give me a price quote. NOW this is the good part..... He quotes me @ $450. So when I was in the shop yesterday and he knew I was a new diver he was trying to sell me for $550, that's a good way to encourage newbies to get into the sport- take them to the cleaners! :no
No worries though I found another shop that is very local that will sell it to me for $509. They also have a much lower price on the Gekko I was looking at.
Looks like I found a new place to do business with. What scares me is the first shop has been in business for 30 some years
shoturtle
Contributor
So I'm a little pissed off.
If you read a couple posts up I talk about how great of an experience I had at the LDS. Well for fun I decided to call today (and not tell them who I am) and ask how much the XTX50 was (since they quoted me @ $550 for the ATX50). He told me they weren't in stock but if I were to order one it'd be $565 + tax. He then informed me that they have some ATX50's in stock and ready to go. I told him I wasn't very interested in a D/C'ed model but go ahead and give me a price quote. NOW this is the good part..... He quotes me @ $450. So when I was in the shop yesterday and he knew I was a new diver he was trying to sell me for $550, that's a good way to encourage newbies to get into the sport- take them to the cleaners! :no
No worries though I found another shop that is very local that will sell it to me for $509. They also have a much lower price on the Gekko I was looking at.
Welcome to a very common LDS experience that allot of new divers have been through. There are may post reflecting this same issue. Look around there are a few good ones out there. Good luck on the new LDS. Hope they treat you better.
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