Local Pawn Shop find: double Xstreams

[randini]

HI there,
Apologies for the vagueness and lack of photos, but a local pawn shop has a set of xstreams set up for doubles and they would not let me take pictures. I have only once before even seen a Poseidon reg so my experience and knowledge with them is very limited.

The first stages are chrome with green trim, one is dated 2013 and the other 2014 (one has and the other is missing a dust cap). The seconds are both black with a chrome colored 9/16th adapter and all around undated braided hoses. The regs look like brand new. They come in reg bag that has a good pinch of sand in it (remember the missing dust cap on one 1st). The employee said that they'd already been in the store for a while when he started there about 4 years ago. They're looking to unload them and are asking $340 for the set.

I'm going back on my way home from work with a full tank and IP gauge. I am used to servicing Zeagle and Aqualung and have done a hand full of other mainstream brands. I don't know yet about servicing, right now I'm just evaluating whether to buy them or not. Anything I should be aware of when I check them out?
Cheers

 

[Snoweman]

HI there,
Apologies for the vagueness and lack of photos, but a local pawn shop has a set of xstreams set up for doubles and they would not let me take pictures. I have only once before even seen a Poseidon reg so my experience and knowledge with them is very limited.

The first stages are chrome with green trim, one is dated 2013 and the other 2014 (one has and the other is missing a dust cap). The seconds are both black with a chrome colored 9/16th adapter and all around undated braided hoses. The regs look like brand new. They come in reg bag that has a good pinch of sand in it (remember the missing dust cap on one 1st). The employee said that they'd already been in the store for a while when he started there about 4 years ago. They're looking to unload them and are asking $340 for the set.

I'm going back on my way home from work with a full tank and IP gauge. I am used to servicing Zeagle and Aqualung and have done a hand full of other mainstream brands. I don't know yet about servicing, right now I'm just evaluating whether to buy them or not. Anything I should be aware of when I check them out?
Cheers

If they won't let you take pictures, I would avoid it. But, that's just me.

 

[grantmac]

If they even remotely hold IP I'd be walking out with them.

 

[rhwestfall]

Get them for $300 ($340 is good enough) and send them to @rsingler to set them up properly, and go from there... they may need some updates, but that is a good price. Do they have the integral OPV (in the bottom of the first stage)?

 

[tmassey]

Servicing them is quite different from traditional regulators, both first stage and especially second stage. I don’t remember off the top of my head for the XStream,but it’s not unusual for Poseidons to need unique/custom tools to service. So know that if you buy these and expect to service them, you’re very much going to need some new education, and quite possibly some new tools.

However, $340 is a steal, and if they’re asking $340, I would offer $300: I’m certain that’s what they expect to get when they have a price of $340! Also, Poseidons are pretty darn bulletproof, so it’d be difficult to imagine circumstances under which they would be in bad shape, and if they are in bad shape there’s probably plenty of visual clues to that.

It would be certainly nice if they have the OPV integrated into the first stage. That is a little round thing that looks kind of like it should be a port, but built into the bottom of the regulator where it would make no sense to have a port. I’ve never seen an XStream first stage (the ones with the wide open cage looking thing at the top that lets you see the spring) that didn’t have an integrated OPV, but it’s entirely possible that one exists.

There’s like three different models of XStream first stage: deep, deco, maybe something else. But my understanding is that internally they are all the same: the difference is the materials they used for the soft pieces. Honestly, for me personally, I wouldn’t worry too much about that. All of them are gonna be more capable than you will probably need.

Now, for the other part: Poseidon regulators feel completely different than typical downstream regulators. The airflow out of them is quite forceful: some people say they feel like the regulator is throwing air at them. It is a noticeably different feel. And for me, I find that they put bubbles in my face no matter what. I have literally bought and sold three different sets of Poseidon regulators because I think the technology in them is absolutely incredible and I so want to like them, but I use them for a while and decide I actually hate using them!

However, for that price, there’s no real question: if you have any interest in using them, buy them. You could flip them for more than you paid for very little effort.

 

[rsingler]

After spending tons of new hours with these regs, it is clear that Poseidon has done its divers and its brand a disservice with its tuning recommendations and diver education.

Quite simply, the Xstream first stage is the best diaphragm reg in the world. Hands down. Having now rebuilt dozens of old regs from the previous training program, there was not a single reg that I couldn't get to lock up crisply with a new service kit, no matter how beaten up.
The gas flow path is smoother than any other design, and there is only one (semi-dynamic) high pressure o-ring, compared to three in a Mk17/19. That means less particulate damage to the components, and a longer lasting lockup. The ruby ball is self-centering.

The second stage has lovers and haters, but as a side exhaust, it just shouldn't put bubbles in your face. I don't get that complaint, Tim.

But this complaint about "blowing at you" is a recurring one. I'm in discussions right now with Sweden about their official stance. But from a personal standpoint, that should be about 80% reduced by using an IP at the low end of specification (109-115 psi), and a dynamic inhalation resistance of 1.1" during a very light breath. There are just a whole host of tuning errors made by the shops. And it's hard to bring yourself as a DIY'er to set your IP at 110. But that's what I do for my personal regs. It meets EN250 at 109, so I'm not even worried with deep dives at that IP. Seventy-two holes in the second stage outflow track makes for great gas delivery.
It's "different" in shallow water, but just a little if tuned light with a low cracking effort. And that disappears at 40 feet.
The other 20% of "blowing at you" is inherent in the design, and frankly is a better way to breathe at high gas density. The valve is on/off, not "barely to wide open" depending upon suck. And that's really only perceptible in the first 40 feet. Below that, increasing ambient pressure really mutes it. But it's better, because it prevents our surface habit of sipping a tiny breath. At depth, that's just exchanging dead space and is not the right way to breathe off scuba gear. It won't decrease your gas consumption.

If I spent most of my time 40ft or less, I might even choose another second stage myself (still attached to an XStream first). I'd have no need of the benefits. But there are not very many regs that meet Norsok standards and are  certified to 600'.

The Deep and Deco difference is just oxygen cleaning and a different service kit and trim color. But the HP seat (Zytel 103) is the same for both.

 

[randini]

Get them for $300 ($340 is good enough) and send them to @rsingler to set them up properly, and go from there... they may need some updates, but that is a good price. Do they have the integral OPV (in the bottom of the first stage)?

Thanks. Yes they do have the OPV on the bottom.

 

[OTF]

One thing to consider - do you need them or are you just buying them for the deal? Do you plan to dive them as doubles regs, reconfigure for another setup, or flip them? If someone offered you $300 to NOT take the regs would you prefer that deal?

 

[randini]

Servicing them is quite different from traditional regulators, both first stage and especially second stage. I don’t remember off the top of my head for the XStream,but it’s not unusual for Poseidons to need unique/custom tools to service. So know that if you buy these and expect to service them, you’re very much going to need some new education, and quite possibly some new tools.

However, $340 is a steal, and if they’re asking $340, I would offer $300: I’m certain that’s what they expect to get when they have a price of $340! Also, Poseidons are pretty darn bulletproof, so it’d be difficult to imagine circumstances under which they would be in bad shape, and if they are in bad shape there’s probably plenty of visual clues to that.

It would be certainly nice if they have the OPV integrated into the first stage. That is a little round thing that looks kind of like it should be a port, but built into the bottom of the regulator where it would make no sense to have a port. I’ve never seen an XStream first stage (the ones with the wide open cage looking thing at the top that lets you see the spring) that didn’t have an integrated OPV, but it’s entirely possible that one exists.

There’s like three different models of XStream first stage: deep, deco, maybe something else. But my understanding is that internally they are all the same: the difference is the materials they used for the soft pieces. Honestly, for me personally, I wouldn’t worry too much about that. All of them are gonna be more capable than you will probably need.

Now, for the other part: Poseidon regulators feel completely different than typical downstream regulators. The airflow out of them is quite forceful: some people say they feel like the regulator is throwing air at them. It is a noticeably different feel. And for me, I find that they put bubbles in my face no matter what. I have literally bought and sold three different sets of Poseidon regulators because I think the technology in them is absolutely incredible and I so want to like them, but I use them for a while and decide I actually hate using them!

However, for that price, there’s no real question: if you have any interest in using them, buy them. You could flip them for more than you paid for very little effort.

Thanks for all that!

I'm not sure about keeping them. I don't really need yet another set of regs right now. I've read enough about them to know that they are special and can be pricey, hence why I was asking. $300 is a great price for ANY pair of regs. Plus if I can get a couple of dives on them just to see for myself how they are that's be great. More than anything I don't want to end up with some $300 paperweights.

They do have that OPV near the serial number on the bottom by the date just like in the picture below (not mine BTW).

 

[randini]

One thing to consider - do you need them or are you just buying them for the deal? Do you plan to dive them as doubles regs, reconfigure for another setup, or flip them? If someone offered you $300 to NOT take the regs would you prefer that deal?

No, I don't need them. I'd like to take them for a couple of dives to try them out for myself, then probably flip them. Since they're already set up for doubles I'll probably just use them that way, but I already have a set of doubles regs.