Reg for twin set?
- Thread starter IanMalta
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The OP did ask for any suggestion.
TEK 3 is costing a lot more than DST and with no added improvement. Why did you pay something more expensive but with no added advantage?
It is not the case that the TEK3 costs more. Maybe in some parts of the world, it is cheaper to buy 2 DSTs + 5th port but certainly not in all locations. From DRIS...:
TEK3 - $1,250
XTX50 - $595 x 2 - $1,190
5th Port Upgrade - $43 x 2 = $86
Cost is $26 more and you still need a long hose (Tek3 includes that).
So cost is not an advantage between the DST and TEK3 and as many are aware, cost is not always the driving factor in purchase decisions. If the decision is 100% cost related, then the Apeks (any model) and Scubapro need to come off the list.
FLEXIBILITY is an advantage of the DST over the TEK3 should you want to use the regulators for sidemount or single tank diving. That still does not make the TEK3s "terrible for doubles". My TEK3 set is only used when diving BM doubles. I dived them yesterday. At no point during kit assembly, the dive, or kit disassembly did I think "These are just terrible regulators to use with doubles, I wish I had swapped the hoses on my sidemount DST set and used them instead."
There are cheaper regulator sets that can be used for doubles. There are Apeks regulator sets that provide more flexibility for non-double tank diving than the TEK3s. None of that makes the TEK3s unsuitable or terrible to use with doubles. If the OP is looking for a dedicated double regulator set, there is nothing wrong with the TEK3s.
I noticed a reference to "biggest name in xxxx" and what regulator set is used. So for those who make a decision based on what others use...I will drop the "Shadow Diver" card...
Dive Locker | Shadow Diver | John Chatterton
In a typical, standard BM doubles configuration, they require some hoses to make a 90 degree bend just after they come out of the reg. You may think there is nothing wrong with that, but I wouldn't want my hoses to have that.
If I used Tek3 regs, my LP hose for my wing inflator would have to make a 90 degree bend immediately out of the right post reg to come across behind my neck. And, the LP hose for my secondary 2nd stage would also have to make a 90 degree bend immediately out of the left post reg to come across behind my neck in the other direction.
That is why I specifically shopped for regs with a 5th LP port on the bottom for use with my BM doubles. By having that bottom port, the two hoses I mentioned came straight out of their respective regs, instead of making a sharp bend. I think that is better. It puts less stress on the hoses.
As far as I can tell, a good quality, sealed, balanced, diaphragm 1st stage with a swivel turret and a 5th low pressure port on the bottom is a first stage that can be used with optimal hose routing for any type of OC diving one may do. It can be setup optimally for back mount single tank, back mount doubles, side mount, or for use on a pony bottle, deco bottle, or stage bottle. And can be used in any conditions, from low viz in extreme cold water to clear, warm water. I don't see any downside to this type of 1st stage and it is now the only type I really want to buy. The Tek3, having ports on only one side, and no bottom/side port, is a 1st stage I would not buy for any kind of usage I can think of except, maybe possibly on a CCR.
I would suggest the OP consider the Apeks DST, instead of the Tek3. ScubaPro doesn't make a 1st stage that I would really recommend. Their 2 best 1st stages are the Mk 25 and the Mk 17. But, the Mk 25 is a piston design and the Mk 17 does not have a swivel turret. If the OP never plans to dive in really cold, dirty water, the Mk 25 should be fine. But, if really cold, dirty water is possibly in the future, I personally would choose a seal, balanced diaphragm reg instead.
I dive mainly in the Maltese waters, in winters sometimes the water temperatures drops down to 14 degrees centigrade, in summer months it is around 27 degrees.
Our waters it's not dirty at all. From what I'm seeing I think the sealed diaphragm is more for dirty cold waters, which I don't think I'll ever dive in.
Our waters it's not dirty at all. From what I'm seeing I think the sealed diaphragm is more for dirty cold waters, which I don't think I'll ever dive in.
If you can get them, I would also suggest to at least consider:
Dive Rite XT1/XT2
Deep6 Signature series
Hollis DCX/LX200
HOG D3/Zenith
Those are all the same basic design. A 1st stage that is sealed, balanced, diaphragm with a swivel turret and bottom LP port. And a 2nd stage that has a Dive/Pre-dive venturi switch and a diver-adjustable work-of-breathing knob.
The Dive Rite XT2 is also a reversible 2nd stage, to have the hose come out the left side of the reg. I only know that because I have the DR regs and I like them. I'm not sure if any of those others are reversible.
I also have the previous generation of those Hollis regs, for my back mount single tank diving. I like the previous gen as well, so I would expect to like the DCX/LX200 setup.
I have been shopping for an additional reg set for myself. I have heard great things about the Deep6 regs and would love to try them. But, they are more expensive than the DR regs*, so I am very likely to get myself an additional set of the DRs.
*Comparing:
Deep 6 Signature Double Tank Regulator Package - Regulator Packages - Regulators
to
DGX Custom - Dive Rite XT Doubles Reg Package
However, the Deep6 regs do come with a service kit. That may or may not even up the cost, depending on your situation. For a doubles set, that is a $75 value. My shop charges $35 per reg (1st or 2nd stage) to do a service and the parts are included, so it doesn't really even up the cost for me.
I don't think that sealed diaphragm are FOR dirty cold water. It's just that they are generally BETTER for dirty cold water. But, they are just as good as an unsealed piston for warm, clean water, too. That's why I am only shopping for sealed, diaphragm 1st stage regs. I don't see any real downside and there is a potential upside, depending on what you do down the road. Who knows what you might want to do in your diving in 3 or 5 years time?
What I have been told (cue the actual knowledgeable folks to come and correct me) is that if you dive in salt water (even warm and clear), if you use a sealed diaphragm first stage, you can give it a fairly short bath in fresh water afterwards and that's all it really needs for maintenance. But, if you use, for example, a ScubaPro Mk 25, you should make sure to give it a much longer soak in fresh water afterwards. Especially if it has time to dry with the salt water in the balance chamber before you get to soak them. That is to make sure you re-dissolve any salt that may have crystallized inside, and then get it out.
That is why I am avoiding piston 1st stages. It seems to be generally agreed that they do take a little extra care after use in dirty OR salt water, as compared to a sealed diaphragm reg. And there is really nothing about them that makes them better, even in warm, clear water. They are good. Some of them are really good. But, a good sealed diaphragm 1st stage is just as good.
Last edited:
ams511
Contributor
I believe the OP is in Malta, so US prices are irrelevant. Aqualung likes to price gouge their U.S. customers. Apeks regulators sold in the E.U. are much less expensive than in the U.S. The OP could buy 2 DS4 ATX 40 regulators for around $450 US and convert them to ATX 50s for around $40, if he wanted to go cheap.
The only thing the TEK 3 brings to the table are less failure points because of the lack of a turret and less ports. Some people are willing to pay extra for this while others prefer the flexibility of a 5 port turret design.
1. The retail price for TEK 3 must have gone down substantially over last few years.
2. It does has one less port than DS4 but nothing else. DS4 is a lot cheaper.
The ONLY Specialist Apeks Site in the UK. In stock for fast despatch.
DS4: GBP 127.00
DST: GBP 215.00
DST +5th port: GBP 243.00
TEK3(set): GBP: 415.00
Cheapest way is to get UST(non-sealed but with turret) for GBP85.00(2012 version). Just make sure to rinse the inside of that opening thoroughly. US4(non sealed but no turret) costs a bit more(GBP92.00).
I wonder if Maltese entitle the 20% VAT refund.
2. It does has one less port than DS4 but nothing else. DS4 is a lot cheaper.
The ONLY Specialist Apeks Site in the UK. In stock for fast despatch.
DS4: GBP 127.00
DST: GBP 215.00
DST +5th port: GBP 243.00
TEK3(set): GBP: 415.00
Cheapest way is to get UST(non-sealed but with turret) for GBP85.00(2012 version). Just make sure to rinse the inside of that opening thoroughly. US4(non sealed but no turret) costs a bit more(GBP92.00).
I wonder if Maltese entitle the 20% VAT refund.
Last edited:
halocline
Contributor
MK25s do rout very well for back mount doubles; the right post end port is the LP inflator and the left post end port is the alternate 2nd stage (assuming long hose/hogarthian routing).
I would agree that there are less expensive alternatives that will work quite well.
I would agree that there are less expensive alternatives that will work quite well.
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