Scubapro Lower End Regs.

[night729]

what you could also check is if your dealer has any r390's laying around as they have been discontinued and they might be discounted, it has a venturie adjust knob

 

[halocline]

what you could also check is if your dealer has any r390's laying around as they have been discontinued and they might be discounted, it has a venturie adjust knob and is also balanced

R390 is not a balanced 2nd stage; it's a smaller version of the R190. It'll work, but since you're getting such a great 1st stage I'd look for a G250 2nd. If the R390 is really discounted and you're trying to save some money, I doubt you'd be unhappy with it.

I recently saw a few MK16/R390 combos at a local SP dealer. He was still selling them for full price.

 

[night729]

at least the r390 isnt listed on their web site anymore, and leisurepro says its discontinued

 

[DA Aquamaster]

None of the R series is balanced and they all use the same internal parts and poppet assembly. The differneces between the R190 and the rest is that the R190 uses a full size diaphragm and case while the others use a smaller S550/S600 sized case.

The differences in the small cased R series regs are basically small and/or cosmetic case and/or purge cover changes and/or involve the inclusion or deletion of a VIVA/Dive Pre-Dive flow vane adjustment switch. R380/R390/R390/R295/Rwhatever the performance is nearly identical.

Personally, I am a little annoyed that SP keeps changing model numbers over minor design changes or refinements that do not warrant a model number change. It seems to be more of a marketing gimic to promote sales or create the impression that divers need to trade in last years model.

I am also not real pleased that they have deleted the VIVA/Dive Pre-dive flow vane adjustment on the current small case R model second stage. Not all that many divers used it on a regular basis, but it was cheap to produce, offerred a nice feature for the divers who did use it and presented no real maintence issues that contraindicated it's inclusion on the second stage.

 

[divemaster_jim]

None of the R series is balanced and they all use the same internal parts and poppet assembly. The differneces between the R190 and the rest is that the R190 uses a full size diaphragm and case while the others use a smaller S550/S600 sized case.

The differences in the small cased R series regs are basically small and/or cosmetic case and/or purge cover changes and/or involve the inclusion or deletion of a VIVA/Dive Pre-Dive flow vane adjustment switch. R380/R390/R390/R295/Rwhatever the performance is nearly identical.

Personally, I am a little annoyed that SP keeps changing model numbers over minor design changes or refinements that do not warrant a model number change. It seems to be more of a marketing gimic to promote sales or create the impression that divers need to trade in last years model.

I am also not real pleased that they have deleted the VIVA/Dive Pre-dive flow vane adjustment on the current small case R model second stage. Not all that many divers used it on a regular basis, but it was cheap to produce, offerred a nice feature for the divers who did use it and presented no real maintence issues that contraindicated it's inclusion on the second stage.

Hey thanks DA,
I'm always learning something new from ya

 

[ams511]

Personally, I am a little annoyed that SP keeps changing model numbers over minor design changes or refinements that do not warrant a model number change. It seems to be more of a marketing gimic to promote sales or create the impression that divers need to trade in last years model.

I agree, I wonder if they are trying to kill the resale market.

 

[ericpitar]

This posting may be too late for the original poster, but for others in the future asking the same question, let me state that I have the R295 and R190 octo. I found that the R190 is significantly smoother breathing and feels more "natural" based on a pool test just today. For this reason, I intend to use the R190 octo as my primary. For added reference, I have MK25 1st stage.

 

[squidster]

Ok, I have decided that I want the MK17 first stage from all the reviews and forums I have read. My question is on the second stage. I am looking at the R295 reg and the R190, which I guess is getting fazed out. I am open water certified and would like to get my AOW and would like to know if the R295/R190 would be ok for the Advanced? I guess the next jump would be the S555, but the price jumps too. I know price shouldnt be a big factor, but I am on a budget. I live in Michigan and will do 99% of my diving in Michigan.

Well any help would be appreciated.

The r295 and 190 are not balance,putting either one on the MK17 would be like putting whitewalls on a brand new Vett.
Dont make the mistake i made ,get the best reg set up the first time.
Go cheap on other things but not your reg.
The MK17 Should be matched up with the G250V or The S600 ,you wont be sorry!
These are the best cold water combo's you can get,Me i would go with the G250 V.
You should never need another Reg.