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
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.