Time for a new reg

divewithus

New member
Have used the omega ll for 21 years and find that it just doesn't breather like it used to even with a lot of tweaking it.

So it's time for a new reg and have sort of narrowed it down to the xtx100 or legend lx.

Also, if I can get the xtx200 for just $50 more over the xtx100 is it really worth paying the extra $$? From what I hear, they're basically the same reg.

Looking for feedback on either: pros and cons... Let thread fun begin! :dance:
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If you like the Apeks regs, then look seriously at the HOG regs, because the HOG is quite similar to an ATX200 and can be had for $99 for the 2nd stage and $150 for the 1st... :eek:

If you look back a couple of weeks, you'll see a thread that I staretd about the HOGs before I broke down and bought them. There is a ton of info in there about them.

SeaJay dives the XTX100's so he would be the Apeks guy around here... ;)

-Tim
 
If you like the Apeks regs, then look seriously at the HOG regs, because the HOG is quite similar to an ATX200 and can be had for $99 for the 2nd stage and $150 for the 1st... :eek:

If you look back a couple of weeks, you'll see a thread that I staretd about the HOGs before I broke down and bought them. There is a ton of info in there about them.

SeaJay dives the XTX100's so he would be the Apeks guy around here... ;)

-Tim

Think I have decided to go for the apeks.... larger exhaust so bubbles won't interfere with my uwp.

Now I jsut have to narrow it down between the xtx100 or 200 model. Only thing I have heard is that the port placement is different on them, otherwise basically the same.

If you know seajay... feel free to have him chime in. The more info the better!

Don't want the HOG as I do not plan on servicing my own reg.... haven't done it in the past 21 years so don't see me starting to do it now. :fun5:
 
Yea I know SeaJay, but it's easier for you to just PM him... I did see your thread on SB and agree that the larger exhaust valve would be better for you.

-Tim
 
Have used the omega ll for 21 years and find that it just doesn't breather like it used to even with a lot of tweaking it.

So it's time for a new reg and have sort of narrowed it down to the xtx100 or legend lx.

Also, if I can get the xtx200 for just $50 more over the xtx100 is it really worth paying the extra $$? From what I hear, they're basically the same reg.

Looking for feedback on either: pros and cons... Let thread fun begin! :dance:
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I think i have the 100 and 200 right now!!! I had 2 sets of APEX regs and wasn't that impressed compared to all the others i dove:celeb2:. I had to get them services quite often becaus of leaks and free flowing all the time. IMO i would go with a another brand. On the other hand i like the 1st stages a lot.
 
Again, I would strongly suggest contacting SeaJay and getting his thouights... He's a commercial diver that gets in thousands of hours of diving each year, with Apeks. ;)
 
A vote for the XTX100 here.

The XTX100 and XTX200 ARE the same reg, internally. The only difference between the two is the design of the first stage.

...And frankly, the XTX100's design is better, with the diaphragm on the BOTTOM of the stage, instead of the TOP, where it's less protected.

Internally, the regs are the same.

Actually, the XTX50, XTX100 and XTX200 are all the same regulator. The XTX100 and XTX200 come as a first and second stage set. The XTX50 is the second stage only, which can be matched with an Apeks DST or DS4 first stage. The DST is simply a DS4 with a turret (of which I am not a fan - I believe they overcomplicate things).

Ultimately, the XTX50 with a DS4 is the least expensive way to get an Apeks reg, which, as I have said, are all internally identical. The XTX100's first stage, however, does have some interesting hose routing (tilted ports) that I like. The XTX200's first stage is the same, except that the diaphragm of the first stage is in a less protected position.

...Which is why, IMHO, the best reg of the bunch is the XTX100 setup. Why is it $50 cheaper? Marketing, my friend... Marketing. :) Take advantage of it.

Avoid the LCD screen in any model.

I've seen Tim's HOG regs, and I'm a super fan of them... Although they're not yet making a first stage without a turret. Their second stages, however, look to be really, really sharp...

...To further complicate things - the Legend LX reg that you're talking about shares a lot of internal components with the Apeks line. AquaLung acquired Apeks a few years ago, and has stolen a lot of their internal designs to put in their upper line regulators.

...So pretty much, regardless of what you pick, you're probably going to end up with the same thing... With some minor cosmetic differences, slightly different hose routing, and the like.

A little like asking if you should by a Chevy or GMC pickup truck. Or a Chevy or Buick sedan.
 
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Thanks... main reason I keep hesitating in picking up an apeks is that I am nervous about being somewhere in the middle of no where (aka indonesia, png or malayasia) and having something go wrong with it and no one knowing how to fix it for me. I love the fact that they have the longer exhausts for my supermacro work... but so do atomic regs (just that they have a PITA to work on seat design).

You can find anyone that can work on an aqualung reg pretty much anywhere I take dive groups.... but they don't have the longer and wider exhausts.

Now if I was able to put the apeks exhaust on the legend I might have a reg that meets my needs..... (other than my good old but dying omega) :fish1:

Have a feeling I will wind up with an apeks though :p
 
Somebody needs to build and market an after market "snap on" exhaust extension for the top 5 or so regs...
 
There are some oem exhausts that are wider and longer.... as far as I know though, you can't change out the exhaust on the aqualung.

I think that someone other than poseidon needs to make a great side exhaust reg that's comparable to my old omega. Back in the days, it was one of the top regs out there but that's just my opinion. :celeb1:
 
I'm diving the new HOG regs which are quite similar to the Apeks ATX200. I'm pretty sure an extended that would fit the Apeks would fit mine, so if you could point me that would be great... :)

-Tim
 
I"m pretty sure I found the link on a sb thread. Will check around and see if I can find it again... if so, will post it here.
 
Just scrolled through several pages on threads and can't seem to find it. Why don't you just start a thread there for wide and long exhaust t's.

I'm sure that someone will post the answer there for you.

Was sure I had bookmarked it so I could go and buy one if needed.... but seem to have lost a LOT of bookmarks when I went in to look for it. :furious:

==================
Back to reg choices again.... since all my diving is outside the US in warm water (nothing below 72) and mares is easily found pretty much everywhere, would be interested in opinions on their regs too...

Also, have heard that some of the sherwood regs have longer t's as well. Seem to remember that they used to make a good reg many moons ago... but am not sure how good they are now.
 
Thanks... main reason I keep hesitating in picking up an apeks is that I am nervous about being somewhere in the middle of no where (aka indonesia, png or malayasia) and having something go wrong with it and no one knowing how to fix it for me. I love the fact that they have the longer exhausts for my supermacro work... but so do atomic regs (just that they have a PITA to work on seat design).

You can find anyone that can work on an aqualung reg pretty much anywhere I take dive groups.... but they don't have the longer and wider exhausts.

Now if I was able to put the apeks exhaust on the legend I might have a reg that meets my needs..... (other than my good old but dying omega) :fish1:

Have a feeling I will wind up with an apeks though :p

Yeah, don't let that weird you out. I don't know of any shop that services AquaLung that doesn't service Apeks. The two go hand-in-hand, like Honda and Acura, VW and Audi, and Toyota and Lexus.

The XTX100 actually has a "convertible" exhaust tee - which was the main difference between the XTX100 and the older ATX100. With it, you can select the wider tee or the smaller tee.

You may have to specify the larger tee when you order your regs - I don't think mine came with both.

That said, I know I have dived them both, 'cause I remember that I couldn't really tell a difference in bubble dispersion (both excellent). Either I've misplaced the larger tee or it was a setting on the reg or something... 'Cause I don't have extra tees lying around.

For what it's worth, the larger tee on the XTX100 is the same size as the older still TX-series regs, which also have a larger diaphragm and are therefore popular with the "tech" crowd (they believe that the larger the diaphragm, the more accurately they can "tune" the reg).

When I order parts kits for my regs, the parts kits that come in say right on them, "For XTX, ATX, and TX series second stages," or, "For all Apeks first stages." Internally, all Apeks regs are using the same parts... The difference is in features:

The T20 (now called "Flight") is a nonadjustable second stage (don't recommend).
TX second stages (older - not offered this year) are large and have large exhaust tees. If you can find one of these used, my bet is that you'd like it a lot for it's large exhaust tee.
ATX second stages are smaller and have smaller, more integrated tees.
XTX second stages are smaller like the ATX series, and have convertible tees and the ability to make a left-side hose connection (why you'd want to do this, I have no idea - although some full-faced masks require it). The XTX series also has an oval purge button that's a downgrade to the round one found on the ATX-series regs, in my humble opinion... But it works just fine. :) This year, the XTX40 is non-adjustable, like the T20/Flight. The XTX50, XTX100, and XTX200 all have slight cosmetic differences that has no bearing whatsoever on performance (they're all excellent). These cosmetic differences include labels and a black (XTX50) vs. chrome (XTX100 and XTX200) ring in the faceplate of the second stage.

The DS4 is a simple design sealed diaphragm first stage with one high-pressure port, in chrome.
The DST is a DS4 with a turret and a second high pressure port.
The XTX200 and ATX200 first stages (same unit) are DS4's with tilted ports and the diaphragm on the TOP of the first stage. The '200 series also has an oddball 1/2" low-pressure port that I recommend you get an adapter for to be able to use it with standard 3/8" diameter low pressure hoses (the DST also has this annoying characteristic, but with that first, there's so many ports that you can avoid using it). This first stage also has a gorgeous "gunmetal" finish which is actually just a dark chrome. That's new this year - older ATX200/XTX200 first stages are finished like the ATX100/XTX100/FST below.
The XTX100, ATX100, and FST first stages (same unit) are ATX/XTX200 first stages with the diaphragm in a better position (underneath, where it's better protected). The '100/FST first stage also doesn't require the adapter, since all of the ports are 3/8" ports. This frist stage also features an unusual "satin" finish which is durable, although not quite as durable as chrome. Of all the alternative finishes, this is my favorite next to plain ol' chrome.

All of the first stages are available with a "status" indicator that is a battery-driven LED screen that tells you when it's time to service the reg. IT'S ANNOYING. :)

For what it's worth, I have the service manuals and a very cool slideshow presentation where they service an ATX200 first and second at http://www.DeepSouthDivers.org/old/homeregs.html . If you look through that, a lot of your questions may be answered.

I've heard good things about Atomic regs, but given that their first stages are not sealed diaphragm first stages, they probably wouldn't work for very long in very silty environments... So I don't use them. :) They sure do make some cool-looking second stages, though.

...Although my bet is that Tim will tell you (probably not politely) what he thinks of second stages that have a "membrane" instead of a "button" for purging. :)
 
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...Although my bet is that Tim will tell you (probably not politely) what he thinks of second stages that have a "membrane" instead of a "button" for purging. :)
Oh, you mean the "anti-purge" button..? :hammer:

Mt Cressi's had a very weird polymer cover that required effort to purge and you couldn't do it without somehow holding the base of the regulators with your thumb. If you didn't do this, you would push that sucker through the back of your head before you purged it!

-Tim
 
Purge button??? Oh yeah.... guess you mean that round button thingie that's way off to the left side at the end of my reg. :spin1::spin1:

Interesting that all these seconds have control knobs on them now. What ever happened to having just a great reg that breathes in any position at any depth without the need for a knob to control how easy/hard it breathes???

Guess for commercial diving it's a different story and I can certainly see the need for more control but for rec diving, isn't that just a bit of overkill.... or am I missing something here??

Mares do not have adjustment knobs on their 2nds and I have heard that they make excellent regs as well.

Unless I'm muck diving, I don't have to worry about a lot of silt so not too concerned about environmental sealed 1st stages.... I don't do cold either... certified off the Channel Islands in 1988 during a winter storm... my first trip after that was to Roatan in June. What a difference!!!! Didn't have to get dressed up in thick neoprene from head to toe, dropped a ton of weight and even got a tan during surface intervals. That was when I decided to be a cold water wuss and lead dive groups to tropical locations! :beer:
 
For what it's worth, I have the service manuals and a very cool slideshow presentation where they service an ATX200 first and second at http://www.DeepSouthDivers.org/old/homeregs.html . If you look through that, a lot of your questions may be answered.

I've heard good things about Atomic regs, but given that their first stages are not sealed diaphragm first stages, they probably wouldn't work for very long in very silty environments... So I don't use them. :) They sure do make some cool-looking second stages, though.

./QUOTE]

Well, if you don't mind using christo lube, you can get an atomic 1st stage that is sealed.

Am going to go check out your slideshow link ... my friend also has several apeks and services them himself as well. He said the same thing about the kits being good for all his regs.
 
Interesting that all these seconds have control knobs on them now. What ever happened to having just a great reg that breathes in any position at any depth without the need for a knob to control how easy/hard it breathes???
I really like the idea of being able to "de-tune" a 2nd on the fly, especially since I want to dive with a matched set of 2nds rather than a primary and a low-grade Octo. The ability to de-tune it when not in use greatly reduces the chance of it freeflowing.

-Tim
 
Interesting that all these seconds have control knobs on them now. What ever happened to having just a great reg that breathes in any position at any depth without the need for a knob to control how easy/hard it breathes???

They're still available. See the Apeks XTX40 or Flight. Dial them in at a happy medium between easy to breathe and anti-freeflow, and you're good to go.

Personally, I like to be able to tune my regs "on the fly," but if you don't, there's still plenty of regs that can do that for you.

Guess for commercial diving it's a different story and I can certainly see the need for more control but for rec diving, isn't that just a bit of overkill.... or am I missing something here??

Well, many regs have adjustments that are difficult to discern - that is, you flip the lever but nothing seems to feel any different.

Not so with these regs - there's quite a difference, and it's very noticable.

Also, adjustments become much more obvious and important when you're deep and the gas that the reg has to handle is thicker. At 100' or more, untunable regs aren't popular.

On a 30' drift dive in the Bahamas, it's probably not all that important.

Mares do not have adjustment knobs on their 2nds and I have heard that they make excellent regs as well.

Tim has a set of Mares - brand new ones, now covered in epoxy. :) He can give you an educated review on them.

Unless I'm muck diving, I don't have to worry about a lot of silt so not too concerned about environmental sealed 1st stages.... I don't do cold either...

Yeah, then a sealed diaphragm, coldwater reg may not be important to you. That said, it's not like it's a disadvantage to have your regs capable of silt or cold - so why limit yourself?

certified off the Channel Islands in 1988 during a winter storm... my first trip after that was to Roatan in June. What a difference!!!! Didn't have to get dressed up in thick neoprene from head to toe, dropped a ton of weight and even got a tan during surface intervals. That was when I decided to be a cold water wuss and lead dive groups to tropical locations! :beer:

Jealous. :) We actually got snow here today - I stayed inside and worked on my new compressor. :D Gawdawful stuff, snow... :)
 
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