S600 breathing resistance adjustment ?

[idive2]

My entry level scubapro reg has served me well but I'm thinking of
upgrading this year. I'm reading all positive feedback on the MK17 and
MK25 first stages so I'm leaning toward the MK17. I really don't need an extra adjustment on my second stage unless it really does work well. My other option
is the S555 second stage that has just a dive pre-dive knob.

 

[drew52]

Both are great second stages, I'd go for the MK17 with either. The S500 which was replaced by the S555 was identicle to the S600 without the user adjustable feature.

I have the MK16/S500 and haven't had any troubles. Breathes great and I've dived in water temperatures ranging from 5 Celcius to 30 Celcius without any problems. The user adjustable feature is great though. Used a friend of mines MK25/S600 for a couple of months a enjoyed this option.

 

[akscubaduck1]

:14:

Both are great second stages, I'd go for the MK17 with either. The S500 which was replaced by the S555 was identicle to the S600 without the user adjustable feature.

I have the MK16/S500 and haven't had any troubles. Breathes great and I've dived in water temperatures ranging from 5 Celcius to 30 Celcius without any problems. The user adjustable feature is great though. Used a friend of mines MK25/S600 for a couple of months a enjoyed this option.

I dive a MK10 I wouldn't dive any thing else. I dive in alaskan waters (37 degrees). The MK 25 freezes up easier in cold water but it has a swivel (more comfortable hose routeing). As for the S600 I like it better. If you have a slight free flow the adj. knob can be used to stop the bubbling 2nd stage. By the way my MK 25 is a loner or a back up when my MK 10 fails.
MK10/109 bal. adj. RULES in alaskan waters

 

[akscubaduck1]

:14:

Both are great second stages, I'd go for the MK17 with either. The S500 which was replaced by the S555 was identicle to the S600 without the user adjustable feature.

I have the MK16/S500 and haven't had any troubles. Breathes great and I've dived in water temperatures ranging from 5 Celcius to 30 Celcius without any problems. The user adjustable feature is great though. Used a friend of mines MK25/S600 for a couple of months a enjoyed this option.

I dive a MK10 I wouldn't dive any thing else. I dive in alaskan waters (37 degreesF.). The MK 25 freezes up easier in cold water but it has a swivel (more comfortable hose routing). As for the S600 I like it better. If you have a slight free flow the adj. knob can be used to stop the bubbling 2nd stage. By the way my MK 25 is a loner or a back up when my MK 10 fails.
MK10/109 bal. adj. RULES in alaskan waters

 

[redacted]

Most of my 2nds have the user adjustment knob. It allows me to tune them a little on the hot side where they will FF quite easily and then use the knob to control it if necessary. It is also useful in conditions of surge and strong currents which can induce FF. It also allows me to detune my alternate (octo) to prevent FF and dtill get high performance from that reg when I want it. In the case of the S600 vs S550, the adjustment knob enables the design to include a seat saver feature which relieves all pressure on the LP seat during storage. I believe the S550 had that feature at one time but, without the adjustment knob, the only way to keep water from entering the dry part of the reg was to soak it under pressure. While it is usually best to soak a reg under pressure, the S600 can safely be soaked without pressure as long as the knob is turned all the way in.

 

[mobeeno]

:14:

I dive a MK10 I wouldn't dive any thing else. I dive in alaskan waters (37 degrees). The MK 25 freezes up easier in cold water but it has a swivel (more comfortable hose routeing). As for the S600 I like it better. If you have a slight free flow the adj. knob can be used to stop the bubbling 2nd stage. By the way my MK 25 is a loner or a back up when my MK 10 fails.
MK10/109 bal. adj. RULES in alaskan waters

Thank You for sharing your experience with mk10/ 109

 

[CompuDude]

I have the S600 as a primary, and the S555 as a secondary. Like them both, and they breathe similarly. I've never felt the need to play with the adjustment knob on either, and in fact I forget to change the dive/predive switch more than half the time and it still breathes as nicely as I could ever ask.

If you're sure you won't be diving in water colder than the mid-40s, I'd get the MK25 1st stage, because the swivel design really make hose routing easy. If you will ever dive those super-cold waters, however, go ahead and get the MK17. (Or both...)

 

[Peter_C]

I have two of the S600's. I use the second as my bungied backup because it can be detuned, but then opened up for decent flow if I ever need it. Hopefully never, other than in practice. The adjustment knobs on my main reg never get changed unless we have a rough surface swim or something, then I will change it to pre-dive.

With my MK25/S600 combo, I can not over breathe my reg, and I have tried

 

[idive2]

The S600 sounds nice but I may go for the S555 as long as it is a good
breathing second stage. Sounds like either way I'll have a dependable smooth breathing reg. I'm not so sure I want a swivel setup on the MK25 first stage
although I'm sure it works quite well. Leaning heavily toward the MK17-S555.
If I was doing super cold water diving I would be looking into that MK10 as well.
With my warmer water diving I think any of the above regs will serve me well.
Thanks for all the comments and Happy New Year to all and safe diving in 2007 !