Atomic Aquatics T2X reg

[MattV]

I don't want to stir a war here (considering that most people here are big fans of Apex), but I've just came back from a pool session (went to try different BCs) and friend of mine showed me an Atomic Aquatics T2X reg. Now, to me, it looked just like any other reg, but I was told is close to £1200 (including octo).

The reason I'm posting here is: Have any of you got any practical experience with this range of regs?

I can build you a top of the range i7 quad core PC (monitor excluded) for that kind of money, so it just seems absoultely ridiculously expensive to me (I always judge quality in relation to things I understand :). I was only surprised about its weight: it felt absolutely feather like. I can't really comment on breathing, as I only took a few breaths ot of it at 3m (pool)- was as good as my XTX40.

Other than that, very shiney (despite a year or so of almost daily abuse). But then I've seen "normal" brass covered regs looking just like that. So is the titanium body really worth it? Am I being thick here, or am I missing something?

Another point: 1st stage = balanced piston, environmentally sealed (nothing new, Scubapro has a wide range of those). So it won't freeze. Or would it? Anyone care to comment out of prior experience with this? I'm really puzzled as to where the huge advantages of this reg are?

PS: I has a quick read on a few reviews, and I see pretty much every magazine sais T2X is God's gift to diver. I'm a bit skeptical (at least with regard to price/value ratio), so I'd like to hear some opinions. Naturally, I'm particularly interested to hear people's experiences at various depths/water temperatures with this one. Since it is such an expensive piece of equipment, I incline to believe that more experienced divers are likely to have it.

[John Bantin]

The guys who designed and built it used to work as designer and engineer at Scubapro. When they left they set out to build the regulator that Scubapro wouldn't let them do because it would be too expensive.
I sat in a traffic jam in my VW behind a Porsche. My daughter asked if I'd rather be in the Porsche. I said I'd rather be on an empty road - but someone obviously wanted to buy something 'better'.

[Hickdive]

Can't say I have any experience of the reg but for that money I could buy ten atx40/ds4, put them in a cupboard and use them up one at a time; throwing each one away when it gets too hissy or taking out a fresh one as a spare for holidays.

Basically any reg for sale in the UK has to meet EN 250 as a minimum. Thanks to that and a famous series of tests by a certain journalist for a certain mag (he'll be along in a minute;) ) you can't buy a reg in the UK that won't breathe well at 50m or deeper, even on air. Add trimix and the performance of any reg improves dramatically again.

I suppose it's like a watch or a car. You can buy a timex or a rolex, a ford or a ferrari. In both cases they'll do the same thing; tell the time accurately or whisk you to Asda but if comfort and style are your thing you'll know which you prefer.


Told you so! Beaten to the punch by that journalist chappy.

[John Bantin]

The first thing I did when I started to earn real money was to buy myself a Rolex. It doesn't keep perfect time - it's clockwork for goodness sake,- but it's given me the pleasure of owning it for more than 30 years!
The T2X? Quote from this month's Diver Mag: "This is the regulator I always pop into my bag as an extra while travelling."
My wife's got it in the Red Sea, as I write!

[MattV]

The T2X? Quote from this month's Diver Mag: "This is the regulator I always pop into my bag as an extra while travelling."
My wife's got it in the Red Sea, as I write!

As an "extra"? Ummm... Given the hype around it I'd say it's the ONLY reg you ever need. Well, maybe you want 2 for twinsets :D

Not what I expected, I have to say. I thought you guys are gonna say "is just another piece of overpriced yankee junk". So actually it is worth the money... Good to know (not that I'd rush to get one at this moment).

As for the Rolex, I don't know what to say. I'm making a decent amount, but I feel sometimes you pay for a label more than anything else. For example I never buy Lacoste, I can get nicer looking tshirts without the logo. But for my running I ALWAYS get the Nike Trail X. Cost a fortune, but are the only ones which keep my ankles from straining and also are light as a feather. Makes a 2hr run a pleasure instead of a nightmare.

Drawing a parallel, I'm asuming some people find the T2X like I find my Trails. Was just curious to see whether its just hype.

[ChristianG]

I have no idea really, not being into exotic gases and things, but isn't titanium somewhat contra-indicated in hyperoxic mixes? I thought I'd read that somewhere.

[MattV]

I have no idea really, not being into exotic gases and things, but isn't titanium somewhat contra-indicated in hyperoxic mixes? I thought I'd read that somewhere.

They're good for "up 40%" out of the box. My guess is that it is aimed for the traditional EANX34 an 36.

They have another one (M1 i think) which is for higher O2 ratios. But that one is not made of Ti from what I gather.

[John Bantin]

As an "extra"? Ummm... Given the hype around it I'd say it's the ONLY reg you ever need. Well, maybe you want 2 for twinsets :D


That's because I usually have an otherwise new and untried regulator on test. :) The T2X weighs nothing.


(Do you drive a Reliant three-wheeler, by any chance, or are you wearing out four tyres?)

[MattV]

(Do you drive a Reliant three-wheeler, by any chance, or are you wearing out four tyres?)

:D :D :D A Reliant Robin you said? Probably pink, yeah? With 'racer' seats and exhaust sawed off, and middle-estern rap music pouring out of 1000w subwoffer? Ummm... no, sorry that's not me. Then maybe a "pure Biritsh" navy blue one, the Union Jack painted on the roof, a UKIP/BNP bumper sticker? Ummm... no, sorry that's not me either. Maybe then, you're probably wondering, a thrashed one that showed signs of multiple roll overs? Nah, I'm not Jeremy Clarkson in disguise :).

I did have the chance a lots of years ago to see with my own eyes an authentic "Trabant". Googgle it, it might inspire your next article.

But I don't drive a Ferrari either. I'd look like an idiot stuck in it on the M25 on my way to work! Seen other old fools doing that, don't wanna add to the crowd. Happy with my 407 for the moment (diesel even :)). If I'd lived in Germany I might have thought about a 911, but in here its a joke.