coldstroke
Guest
Have 2nd stage,need first stage. Need suggestions as to compatible firsts. Will SP warrant just one new stage? Should I just buy a complete setup (1st & 2nd stages? Opinions on the SP D 400?
SP D400 first stage
- Thread starter coldstroke
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OP
coldstroke
Guest
Have a SP D 400 second stage. Need a first stage. Which SP first stage models do you suggest I get? Will SP warrant just one stage? Should I just buy a full new setup? Thank you.
The Scubapro D400, was IMO, one of the great scubapro 2nd stages. The reg itself is currently discontinued, but was a revolutionary design. The reg could be a little fussy when servicing but once it was done, it could be tuned down to cracking efforts of about .6 (incredibly low).
Scubapro sells any combination of second stages and first stages and they are also sold individually (you just have to order it the way you want to). As you live in Penn. you encounter some cold water. If you want to stay with the SP line, the MK17 is the first stage of choice. The MK19, the MK17 with a swivel, comes out soon if you want this. (allows great doubles routing). The MK17 was introduced to high flow rates in very cold water at 165 feet for 200 minutes without freezing. No other reg was able to withstand this without freezing. A new setup is not necessary as this was one of the greatest regs.
Scubapro sells any combination of second stages and first stages and they are also sold individually (you just have to order it the way you want to). As you live in Penn. you encounter some cold water. If you want to stay with the SP line, the MK17 is the first stage of choice. The MK19, the MK17 with a swivel, comes out soon if you want this. (allows great doubles routing). The MK17 was introduced to high flow rates in very cold water at 165 feet for 200 minutes without freezing. No other reg was able to withstand this without freezing. A new setup is not necessary as this was one of the greatest regs.
I second the opinion that the D400 is one of the best second stages ever produced and would add that it is preferrable to anything currently produced. In my opinion SP really screwed up when it replaced it with the X650 - which while it is a good second stage does not perform to the same standard of excellence as the D400.
SP discontinued the D400 as it was distrinctly different than any other SP second stage in terms of servicing and did not fit as nicely as the other second stages into the SP technician training program. The X650 uses a much more standard poppet design (making tuning and servicing easier) and uses the same angled diaphragm making it look much like a D400. But it does not incorporate a coaxial diaphrahm and exhaust valve design like the D400 and that makes a significant differnece in case geometry that limits the X650's performance.
The D400 was discontinued in the summer of 2003, but a few new old stock D400's are still out there and if purchased from an SP dealer will still come with full warranty and free parts for life coverage.
During its long production life the D400 was sold with the Mk 5, Mk 9, Mk 10, Mk 10 Plus, Mk 15, Mk 20 and Mk 25. All of the above make obvious first stage choices. Personally, use my D400's on the Mk 17 and it is an exceptional combination.
Also...I merged the two threads as they were near duplicates but left both posts as each had slightly different questions.
SP discontinued the D400 as it was distrinctly different than any other SP second stage in terms of servicing and did not fit as nicely as the other second stages into the SP technician training program. The X650 uses a much more standard poppet design (making tuning and servicing easier) and uses the same angled diaphragm making it look much like a D400. But it does not incorporate a coaxial diaphrahm and exhaust valve design like the D400 and that makes a significant differnece in case geometry that limits the X650's performance.
The D400 was discontinued in the summer of 2003, but a few new old stock D400's are still out there and if purchased from an SP dealer will still come with full warranty and free parts for life coverage.
During its long production life the D400 was sold with the Mk 5, Mk 9, Mk 10, Mk 10 Plus, Mk 15, Mk 20 and Mk 25. All of the above make obvious first stage choices. Personally, use my D400's on the Mk 17 and it is an exceptional combination.
Also...I merged the two threads as they were near duplicates but left both posts as each had slightly different questions.
halocline
Contributor
If you want to be a total geek about it, you could probably use the serial number to find out the most likely 1st stage(s) it was originally paired up with, then go looking for that. I'd probably look for a mint condition MK10 but I seem to have an aversion to new regulators.
OP
coldstroke
Guest
In reply to yours; interested in your offer of a used mk 20. Give me price & details. ED
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