Which Brand Makes "Top-Notch" Regulators?

[ScubaDivaDivemaster]

Okay, since we all know this is JUST to get a rise out of everybody...:evil:

I loved my Dacor Pacer XL, until they stopped making parts for it (just so we'd have to buy a new reg when the parts ran out?). It didn't breathe wet when I was hanging upside down, or any direction for that matter.

I've had Apeks and loved it, now have an Atomic B2 and love it. My dive buddy has the T2 Titanium and I'm very jealous for the travel factor, she's so much more techie than I and she loves it. Who knows...beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I beholdin an Atomic B2 right now! :07:

 

[H2Andy]

Okay, since we all know this is JUST to get a rise out of everybody...:evil:

i must in all seriousness deny that. it is not my intent.

actually, let's assume i AM a troll. foil my cunning plan by engaging in a meaningful,
no-name calling discussion where people speak their mind and learn at the
same time.

sound good?

 

[mdb]

i've tried this before in a number of ways, but it's never quite worked.

i am wondering, if having to chose based on "brand" names, and considering
only the best regs each brand makes, what are the "best brands" for
regulators out there?

i've always read and heard that the top notch brands are Apeks, Poseidon,
Atomic, Scubapro, and Zeagle

followed by all the rest, with Aqualung sometimes categorized in the top tier

so ... my question is, which are the "top-notch" regulator manufacturers?

\

Well H2Andy you have started another never ending debate. My take, as a diver, not Mr. Apollo, is: most underated XS SCUBA, SHERWOOD, most overated, ATOMIC, SP.

As pointed out many times already, all the major manufacuters have high quality regs.

I own Aqua-Lung, Mares, Scuba-Pro, and Poseidon regs,in addition to my Apollo regs.

My personal favorite is an older Mares MR-12 model. The MR-12 models have a clean and simple design with no fancy adjustments.

Of course you then have the generic regs made offshore based on existing designs, DIVE-RITE, SEA ELITE and other minor distributors use these OEMS.

If spare parts and service world wide are the issue AL and SP have the widest global network of dealers.

 

[ScubaDivaDivemaster]

Bravo Andy, let's discuss. I have to say again, I beholdin an Atomic B2 and I love it despite those that doubt the regs that get great reviews.

I've also used an Aqualung Micra Adjust and it was a great little reg, but I didn't own it. It was new too...

My Atomic breathes easy and has the two year service interval, so I don't have to get it serviced every year to maintain the warranty, but I still do if I dive heavily. I have the Cadillac of service techs too. The most anal retentive, OCD person is the best person to service gear. I won't let anyone else touch my gear. He has my reg tuned like a million dollar violin.

 

[jheil82]

I've heard a lot of great things about Apex and just ordered my own yesterday from the shop. Hope it lives up to the reputation, which I'm sure it will. Atopmic is also rated very highly, but more expensive.

 

[double80s]

Obviously, I use the regs I sell and they're terrific-but I must say there really are many excellent regs on the market-probably as good as they can be. Many of these regs breathe so well your average diver couldn't tell them apart. By the time this thread runs it's course, I'll bet at least 10 manufacturers are represented. Maybe there is no one "top notch" manufacturer.

I don't have the time to read all the responses, but I thought I would at least chime in to agree with RapidDiver.

I have ALung Titan LX, DiveRite, and Salvo regs (which I sell, so it's out in the open). I had a used set of Scubapro piston regs for a while on my doubles. One 1st stage kept having issues and after 3 trips to 2 different shops I got rid of them. Not to say SPro is a bad reg, I just had it with trying to get them serviced. I have not had any issues with the diaphram regs I own.

There is a noticable difference in the breathing of the Aqualung LX compaired to the Drite and Salvo regs. They work fine and I still use them occassionaly, but I only keep them around for backup & friends. I've recently replaced the DRite regs with the Salvo SR1's on my doubles. The ports provide a cleaner routing for the hoses and breath excellent. I don't think they are neccessarly better, but I have made the switch and I'm happy. The DRites have migrated to my stage bottles and live a happy life.

To sum it up, in my opinion, there is no "top notch" manufacturer. Just buy what you can afford and go with a known manufacturer.

 

[ScottZeagle]

My take, as a diver, not Mr. Apollo, is: most underated XS SCUBA, SHERWOOD, most overated, ATOMIC, SP.

You are going to make Seamus cry, Mike!!!

:lol:

 

[CompuDude]

I own ScubaPro (mk25/s600) so they clearly had my vote, but a close second (and third) would probably be Atomic (yes, founded by former scubapro engineers, to confirm an earlier comment) and AquaLung.

I went with ScubaPro due to the availability of worldwide parts and service, in addition to many personal recommendations, good test results, you name it. Atomic was narrowly left behind for that reason. I may have been talked into Aqualung, for the many of the same reasons I went with SP, but (a) I grew up renting SP, so had a long positive association with them at dive locations all over, and (b) the LDS I planned to buy from didn't stock AL, tho I'm pretty sure they could have gotten it, and there are certainly other LDSs close to me who carry it. And to some extent, it even came down to looks: I really liked the SP S600's look. But the other factors came first.

If you read any regulator reviews and tests, as others have pointed out, most decent name manufacturers will sell you a good reg (at least on the higher half of their lineup). Only a few get those extra points, however, for going over and above, and those seem to be pretty consistently the same top names that get mentioned here over and over.

 

[H2Andy]

i think most people say Atomic is good, but too expensive and hard to maintain

roughly the same with Poseidon

 

[cerich]

i think most people say Atomic is good, but too expensive and hard to maintain

then so are Scubapro becaus ethey are nearly the same to service....