Apeks tx or atx ot xtx? Which ones for tec? Advice needed.

[gav6280]

Im looking at moving on from my bcd and pony setup with rubbish dacor viper regs to something more serious and robust. I am slowly going over to a more tec approach.

I know apex have made the tx then the atx and now the xtx.

But which ones are the strongest, most reliable and easy to service ones for someone just dipping there toe in the world of tec.

I have the chance of buying:

DS first stage and tx50 fully serviced but 2nd hand for £150 (Option 1)
DS frst stage and atx50 new for £200 (Option 2)
Latest DS first stage and xtx40 new for £160 (Option 3)

A quote from the person selling option 1: the tx50's

"TX range of regs are the best that apeks made, its what I use because they are far more robust and reliable the the ATX range. I have used/tryed/owned poseidon, scubapro, mares, apeks ATX but always gone back to my TX regs".


So which ones should i buy and why?

[Adrian Kelland]

Can you try them first? Some people prefer the slightly smaller & lighter ATX in the mouth.

Adrian

[Steve in Sharm]

Like you, I am just dipping my toe in the world of 'Tech' (Trimix next) but have the added advantage ow working with some of the best Tech divers in the business - they all use Apeks xtx 100, that says enough for me!!

Stevie H

[Woz]

atx40 on a DS4 can be had for £99 with a bit of judicious shopping. SDS were knocking them out cheap recently.

Add a 6.95 twiddly thing to it to make it a 50 and you're laughing.
http://www.dustcap.halcyon-hk.com/regknobs.html

[gav6280]

So im still not really sure what i should go for?

Just looked at SDS they dont appear to have any?

[DarrenA]

Option 3

XTX40 on a DS4 (Go Dive do them for about £170 new...)

Ah here... http://godive.net/gdregs.htm

I just keep buying them lol. Works for side slung, singles, doubles etc.

As a reg. Dived in 5 degrees no issues. Dived at 55m+ no issues.

Relatively good value to purchase and maintain. Since I then only have one type, I can swap stuff around fairly easy when required. DS4 is also OK positioned on its side so I can get at the knobs on the twins.

Cant comment on any others but these work fine for me to date.

hth

Darren

[Woz]

So im still not really sure what i should go for?

Just looked at SDS they dont appear to have any?You need to call them.

[gav6280]

I have now narrowed it down to the xtx40 or the atx50.

What i have read so far:

xtx range not as robust as the older atx or tx ranges?

50's and 100's just have more to go wrong, so stick with the really basic 40's?

So still a right old dilema really.

Unless of course i can find some mint condition atx 40's....

[Woz]

Apeks 2nd stages are identical inside. The only difference is the twiddly knob on the end- on the 40 you need an allen key to turn it.

Personally I would have the twiddly knob. Why? Cos when you're sat there all kitted up on the boat and you notice a slight hiss from your 2nd stage (the seats tend to settle in from new) then you can give it a twiddle to stop the hiss without scrounging an allen key. Plus you can buy a 40 and add the twiddly knob afterwards. I have- it works a treat and it's a 2 min job to fit.

The TX range is bombproof. We've got loads in the club and they get used and abused continually. They are big and heavy though compared to more modern regs. ATX less so- the plastic body is more prone to deformation but I've never seen one go pop. XTX is similar to the ATX but can be handed if you want to swap sides. They seem a bit "bling" with all the X stuff on the faceplate but inside it's the same old reg.

[C Forrest]

I have the XTX50/40 combo for my single tanks with a DST (not my ideal choice but works okay), but then I have DS4s with ATX40s on my twins.

I personally prefer the ATX40s just because they 'feel' more comfortable, and I find the purge button easier and larger.

Other than that there isn't much between them.

I picked up my DS4s and ATX 40s from SDS 2 months ago for £110 each but they only had a limited number in stock.

HTH
Claire

[Andy (treerat)]

I've just replaced my ATX40s with ---- ATX40s. With them available at around the £100 mark with a DS4 first stage seemed and ideal time for new ones.

They do everyting I need them to - but I mustget around to teh added knob.

The atx range is pretty bomb proof, slightly smaller than the TX and cheaper than the XTX for the same thing.

Andy

[barteh]

I have an XTX200/50 combo myself and rate both valves.
I think GoDive (http://www.godive.net) are doing good package deals.