Geo7
Contributor
Hi all, after more than a dozen dives with the TFX I am able to share my impressions. Even though there is little to add to Rob's review, someone felt on another thread that there are still few reviews/comments out there, so:
After the first dive I knew it's an outstanding reg, but given the price I still wondered if it is worth it? I compared it with a hot tuned T2, and -when looking down- there is not a big difference between T2 and the TFX, with AFC vane in the T2 in max position (that happens automatically at depth, unless one "hacks" it to leave it constantly at max flow). I have only taken it to 70 feet though, so perhaps the difference is more noticeable at deeper depths.
But a week later, I am a believer in the co-axial valve. The D400 did not convert me, but the TFX did. Obviously when you look up, the difference to any standard reg is very striking. The TFX still breathes well, when standard regs like the T2 become very hard breathing. Pete Wolfinger's book and Rob's video have explained this so well. That's what the adjustable cracking effort on standard regs is for: Normally I have my primary (hot tuned) T2 set for looking down, meaning I crank down the knob a little to reduce the tiny bubble leak from the case geometry fault. But I can improve the cracking effort a little for when I am looking up, by opening the cracking adjuster all the way.
Cracking effort adjustment:
No need for this on the TFX: The TFX has no cracking adjustment because it has hardly any case geometry fault. It breathes great looking down, forward or up, and does not leak bubbles when looking down even though it is set to low cracking effort. I am now at the point where I agree with Rob that the co-axial valve is the ideal 2nd stage design.
Venturi Adjustment:
The TFX has a venturi adjustment lever, and if set to minimal air flow, and taken out of the mouth and flooded (by turning the TFX hose up), it is not prone to freeflow at all. If set to max and taken out of the mouth and then pointing the mouthpiece down, it also does not freeflow, but it then is full of air, and will freeflow if the mouthpiece is pointed up again (just like any high performance reg). I think Rob has covered this. Just to add that in my use it is not temperamental at all.
Conclusion:
I am not sure how much breathing performance when looking up is worth to most divers. Some may have never even noticed that one can hardly breathe when looking up. But overall, the TFX scores on so many aspects that make it a superb reg: It feels very compact in the mouth, has good bubble deflection. The soft parts some people complain about are rubber-like and do not scratch. I think it'll age gracefully. The purge button has great control. It breathes generally smoothly and naturally with plenty of flow if set to max, but unlike other regs it still breathes great in all orientations. The servicing quirks of the D400 have been engineered out. It has a seat saver. All metal parts are titanium, and I know from previous Atomic models that it'll still look like new inside in decades, even if not rinsed perfectly every day. So my conclusion is that this is my favorite and preferred reg. I think it's the best reg I have ever tried.
Some more random observations and thoughts:
-About the only thing I'd change is to anodize the top Ti plate in black.
-As great as the TFX is, it does not make sense to me to use a TFX in an octo role. I prefer the Ti2 for that, as it is cheaper, more compact, and so high performing, that it'll get me out of any situation.
-The TFX floats when full of air, even attached to a rubber hose with brass fitting.
-I still think a custom fitted wetsuit and drysuit are more important than an expensive reg (unless you dive in the tropics).
After the first dive I knew it's an outstanding reg, but given the price I still wondered if it is worth it? I compared it with a hot tuned T2, and -when looking down- there is not a big difference between T2 and the TFX, with AFC vane in the T2 in max position (that happens automatically at depth, unless one "hacks" it to leave it constantly at max flow). I have only taken it to 70 feet though, so perhaps the difference is more noticeable at deeper depths.
But a week later, I am a believer in the co-axial valve. The D400 did not convert me, but the TFX did. Obviously when you look up, the difference to any standard reg is very striking. The TFX still breathes well, when standard regs like the T2 become very hard breathing. Pete Wolfinger's book and Rob's video have explained this so well. That's what the adjustable cracking effort on standard regs is for: Normally I have my primary (hot tuned) T2 set for looking down, meaning I crank down the knob a little to reduce the tiny bubble leak from the case geometry fault. But I can improve the cracking effort a little for when I am looking up, by opening the cracking adjuster all the way.
Cracking effort adjustment:
No need for this on the TFX: The TFX has no cracking adjustment because it has hardly any case geometry fault. It breathes great looking down, forward or up, and does not leak bubbles when looking down even though it is set to low cracking effort. I am now at the point where I agree with Rob that the co-axial valve is the ideal 2nd stage design.
Venturi Adjustment:
The TFX has a venturi adjustment lever, and if set to minimal air flow, and taken out of the mouth and flooded (by turning the TFX hose up), it is not prone to freeflow at all. If set to max and taken out of the mouth and then pointing the mouthpiece down, it also does not freeflow, but it then is full of air, and will freeflow if the mouthpiece is pointed up again (just like any high performance reg). I think Rob has covered this. Just to add that in my use it is not temperamental at all.
Conclusion:
I am not sure how much breathing performance when looking up is worth to most divers. Some may have never even noticed that one can hardly breathe when looking up. But overall, the TFX scores on so many aspects that make it a superb reg: It feels very compact in the mouth, has good bubble deflection. The soft parts some people complain about are rubber-like and do not scratch. I think it'll age gracefully. The purge button has great control. It breathes generally smoothly and naturally with plenty of flow if set to max, but unlike other regs it still breathes great in all orientations. The servicing quirks of the D400 have been engineered out. It has a seat saver. All metal parts are titanium, and I know from previous Atomic models that it'll still look like new inside in decades, even if not rinsed perfectly every day. So my conclusion is that this is my favorite and preferred reg. I think it's the best reg I have ever tried.
Some more random observations and thoughts:
-About the only thing I'd change is to anodize the top Ti plate in black.
-As great as the TFX is, it does not make sense to me to use a TFX in an octo role. I prefer the Ti2 for that, as it is cheaper, more compact, and so high performing, that it'll get me out of any situation.
-The TFX floats when full of air, even attached to a rubber hose with brass fitting.
-I still think a custom fitted wetsuit and drysuit are more important than an expensive reg (unless you dive in the tropics).
