Opinion please

[David P]

balanced means that it will breath the same whether you have 3000 psi or 300 psi. Piston vs Diaphragm is just the design. They both have their advantages/disadvantages. I personally dive diaphragm regs as they are sealed and don't let water inside the regs.

 

[Luis H]

I want to thank eveyone for all there help i have one more question what is the difference between a balanced piston first stage and a balanced-diaphragm ?

Here is some good reading:
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/regulators/197974-diaphram-vs-piston-regs.html

Read the post from DA AquaMaster.

As he mentions, not all diaphragm first stages are environmentally sealed. Also several piston first stages have been environmentally sealed and I believe there are still a few that may be (I think Atomic use environmentally sealed piston first stages).

In the past I always liked piston regulators for there simplicity (in particular the Scubapro MK-5), but lately I have been using several Aqua Lung (formerly US Divers) diaphragm first stage for there long term dependability and easy access to spare parts. Most of the first stages my wife and I use are mechanically the same as the Conshelf and the Royal Aqua Master. The design has not changed since around 1965. I mostly dive a Royal Aqua Master (double hose) and my wife uses an Aqua Lung Titan 1st stage with a Scubapro D400 second stage.

Either piston or diaphragm design will perform well. IMHO there are other factors more important than whether it is a piston or diaphragm first stage.