APVs: is there really any difference?

[IntelligentDesigner]

I'm sure that most of us can agree that 99% of our vapor quality comes from the atty and the liquid.

But what I wonder is: when it comes to the VV/APV devices, is there really any difference between a ProVari and a LavaTube and a Vamo or any number of the other options? Aren't they all designed to deliver the constant voltage we specify through the life of the battery? Isn't that constant voltage getting to the atty all that really matters? Don't pretty much all of them do that?

Just to level the playing field, let's eliminate extra features like VW. Assume we don't drop the device to exclude durability, but can account for it in hours of usage before it just dies. Don't factor in warranties or customer service. And of course eliminate the knockoffs. I'm basically just going for knowledge of any fresh-out-of-the-box performance differences.

Is there really any reason to have multiple devices besides collecting them for the sake of collecting them? Or for those who do own multiple functioning units, why do some sit while others get used?

 

[darkhood]

It becomes an obsessive hobby, end of story.

Personally I use the same made in china ovale v8 every single day now, since I got it I've used nothing else I own and at $30 for two of them batts and charger even if it only lasted me a week total I still did pretty well considering a week of analogs cost me $50...way I look at it anyway.

 

[Torment]

Some are more accurate than others.

Sent from my Nexus 7

 

[Thrasher]

accuracy, build quality, warranty. bla bla bla.
in the end they all put out vapor, but some do it a bit better then others. a lot of people cant tell the difference and what ever makes you happy with the vape is all that really counts.

 

[ndnshift]

yep, mostly out of obsession... having said that, some devices, like the darwin have a very strange "feel"... personally i think it's due to the way they use PWM to deliver a constant wattage, but try hitting a darwin, provari, and fresh ego vv all set at the same voltage with the same atty/carto and juice. i've done it, and they go in that order.

but these are very small nuances and for almost everyone, consistent watts are consistent watts.

 

[Jadesrayne]

Biggest difference is going from "normal" to VV.

 

[Susaz]

I find that as long as it puts out a constant voltage without PWM it's the same having a Vamo or an ego. I go mostly by taste and budget.

 

[kiwivap]

Just to level the playing field, let's eliminate extra features like VW. Assume we don't drop the device to exclude durability, but can account for it in hours of usage before it just dies. Don't factor in warranties or customer service. And of course eliminate the knockoffs. I'm basically just going for knowledge of any fresh-out-of-the-box performance differences.

But they aren't all the same, and that's the value of having variety to choose from. Whether its tube vv, tube vv/vw, bottom feed vv, box mod vv, box mod vw...
For starters the size and shape alone can be a factor. People have different size hands, some have arthritic conditions or other medical issues - the size, shape and weight of an APV can be important. Some want a stealthier size for work and want a small 18350 mod, some are fine with taking an 18650 mod to work.
Trying to eliminate the features seems too reductionist an approach to me. No offense to you but there is more to APV choice than just that there are watts and wire temperature and vapor comes out. Its like trying to reduce car choices to one model. The car comparison analogy does get used a lot, but can be useful. One person drives a small hatchback to work because its easier to fit into small carpark spaces in a crowded city. Another drives a four wheel drive because they are ferrying the kids from school to sport and its good for vacations. Or they may own both types to fit all their needs. You can't eliminate the differences.

My observation is that people buy APVs for a number of reasons. Everything from the color, size, overall look, whether its vv or vv/vw, liquid feed or no, menu system, menu features, threading... I don't think there's a point in trying to reduce them to one factor because that's not reality.

Is there really any reason to have multiple devices besides collecting them for the sake of collecting them? Or for those who do own multiple functioning units, why do some sit while others get used?

I don't know why it matters what some-one's reason is for having more than one APV - its their choice. But this doesn't just apply to APVs - people own more than one ego, or cig size, or whatever pv as well. It can be because different ones are used in different situations - one preferred for work, one for home. Some people like to decorate them and use different ones for different occasions. Good thread here for any of the ladies who want to post pics or get ideas for that:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...show-us-your-girly-pretty-decorated-pink.html

Its not just ladies who dress up their pvs. For some its a practical thing, for others its fun, and for some its having different ones to go with different occasions/places. People don't wear the same clothes 24/7, 365 days a year, and some don't want to use the the same APV all the time.

Some people do like to collect them, and if they want 4 iHybrids or 3 Caravelas then why not? Its their choice and they like them. People collect all sorts of things so I would expect some people would collect APVs. I have a few APVs myself because I want back ups for back ups, the size of one is better for work, another is mechanical and useful for RBAs etc. Each person is going to buy what they want and can afford, to suit their own view of what an APV is for, what they want in one, and why they use it.

We're in a great time to be vapers in one way - the options available are great and there is something to suit everyone. On the other hand our freedom to vape is under threat in many places around the globe, and even banned in some. I think some people have more than one APV at the moment because they wanted to stock up too.

 

[Thrasher]

Biggest difference is going from "normal" to VV.

i cant agree more i was blown away with just a little ol twist the first time.

 

[Leatherneck]

Is there really any reason to have multiple devices besides collecting them for the sake of collecting them? Or for those who do own multiple functioning units, why do some sit while others get used?

Size matters for some. A small device footprint makes a difference. Plus, having a backup is very important.

Form-factor can be important too. I'm considering getting a bottom feeder for those days coming up this summer when I'm not going to be wearing a jacket to tuck my APV of the day into.

 

[cyclotron]

I'm sure that most of us can agree that 99% of our vapor quality comes from the atty and the liquid.

But what I wonder is: when it comes to the VV/APV devices, is there really any difference between a ProVari and a LavaTube and a Vamo or any number of the other options? Aren't they all designed to deliver the constant voltage we specify through the life of the battery? Isn't that constant voltage getting to the atty all that really matters? Don't pretty much all of them do that?

Just to level the playing field, let's eliminate extra features like VW. Assume we don't drop the device to exclude durability, but can account for it in hours of usage before it just dies. Don't factor in warranties or customer service. And of course eliminate the knockoffs. I'm basically just going for knowledge of any fresh-out-of-the-box performance differences.

Is there really any reason to have multiple devices besides collecting them for the sake of collecting them? Or for those who do own multiple functioning units, why do some sit while others get used?

I would be in the 99% that you mention. The head and juice are the primary and most significant factor in delivery of a good experience.
The amount of PG to VG and alcohols, the flavor quality and how they react at different temperatures. The "cleanliness" of the liquids post vaporization. If you start with the head and juice then the selection of battery, shape, and function are just not that big of a deal as far as I'm concerned. Start with bad juice or head and you will continue to have a bad experience.

There are plenty that collect hardware. I myself have a very large collection of various heads/attys. I have a few battery holders too.
I spend almost all of my effort perfecting my coils/wicks and selecting good juices.

 

[Eddie.Willers]

My 2 cents worth...

I think that with the current generation of control chips - as seen in the Vamo, Zmax, Sigelei etc - we will probably see that the consistency of the power delivered to the heating coil will remain the same, no matter what device that chip is being used in. In this respect, I would expect that with the same atty/carto setup, using the same liquid, the end quality of vape will be identical for those devices.

But the PV itself is only one variable, so let us not forget the wide variety of RBAs now on the market - allowing for a huge range of further customization - as well as the basic fact, as Thrasher said

a lot of people cant tell the difference and what ever makes you happy with the vape is all that really counts.

 

[_more_]

I use different types and sizes depending on location and what i am doing.

 

[Clearo-Mizer]

My 2 cents worth...

I think that with the current generation of control chips - as seen in the Vamo, Zmax, Sigelei etc - we will probably see that the consistency of the power delivered to the heating coil will remain the same, no matter what device that chip is being used in. In this respect, I would expect that with the same atty/carto setup, using the same liquid, the end quality of vape will be identical for those devices.

But the PV itself is only one variable, so let us not forget the wide variety of RBAs now on the market - allowing for a huge range of further customization - as well as the basic fact, as Thrasher said

this is exactly right and that chip has a longer frequency than that used in the Provari, Chi you and other super high end devises...giving the "rattlesnake" effect ,the provari is a but quieter and smoother because of it...no better vape production imo...its like road noise in a honda and a BMW its just quieter in the BMW but both go the speed limit...

 

[Absintheur]

A Yugo would get me around but I like comfort and reliability. A Lavatube might work for a while but I like the quality of my ProVari. I also know some materials conduct electricity better than other...my brass and copper mods out perform my steel mechanical mods.

I would say yes, the PV/APV does make a difference.

 

[dam718]

I won't speak for everyone... My first APV was a Lavatube V2... I got it because I was on a waiting list to get a SS Vamo, and I'm impatient. When I got the Vamo, it broke on me within 24 hours of getting it out of the mailbox, so I had to wait for a week or so to get it replaced. During that week that it took to get a new one, I though "I better get something more reliable than this" so I found a ProVari in the classifieds for dirt cheap and bought that... For now, the ProVari gets used more than the other two, but I find I still use the LavaTube and Vamo quite a bit. Different flavors all right in front of me ready to vape... It's kinda nice

So now I have 3 APV's... Never really intended on having that many, it just worked out that way. I don't see myself buying any more VV/VW devices in the near future... pretty happy with what I have now... But I am on the hunt now for a nice Mechanical to use with my low ohm RBA's. I'm starting it off with a Chi Chi... I'll probably end up with a few of those too while I search for one that makes me happy.

 

[Scoop224]

I don't know why build quality wound't be a factor?....

Forget features and all that, if something can't depended on to work each and every time, no exceptions.... Then it's basically useless.

You are either vaping for the fun of it..... Or more likely, you're depending on the device to be there when you NEED it, so that you can beat the urge to light up a traditional cigarette. Sure both a Yugo and a BMW will get you feom point A to B.... But knowing that BMW will start up every time you turn the key is what you buy it for. Yugo's break down because they are cheaply made.

The vape might be the same from all of them, but will all of them be working in 6 months....a year? Do you really want to trust your success at beating tobacco to a Yugo?

 

[anavidfan]

for some, its not just VV or VW, or the build etc,. Now some like the evic have the feature( though im not sure I want software controlling my PV) that have electronics that connect to the internet)

Its the little extras that some PVs offer. Air control, telescoping features, ability to adjust the connection etc these are what want to have in a PV. I myself dont feel the need to collect many PVs , guess its because I cant afford to have PVs just for how beautiful they are. I need to have something that fills the needs like those above in one unit.

I own 2 PV right now, simple tube PVs that allow me to use 18650 batteries with a kick. I have one PV coming that I would definitely consider an APV. It telescopes, it allows for a kick, a DNA module. It has 2 different air control top cap. It also has a really advanced, but easy 510 connector so you can have a nice gap less look when you put your choice of atomizer. Plus most importantly, a life time warranty on build and refinishing .

I will probably sell of the other 2 I have, even though I do like it. I just rather have the money to put into my atomizers needs; silica, juice, wire etc. I do believe in having a main PV and a back up.

 

[Leatherneck]

Do you really want to trust your success at beating tobacco to a Yugo?

I have three mechanicals for reliability.

 

[iLovesRedBull]

I personally own 5 mods because one is VW and I enjoy the simplicity of throwing anything on it and vaping away. My itaste mvp has other useful features besides having threads for just about anything I can charge my iphone when it is dying on me at work or on the road, at a buddies house etc. My provari I expect to outlive all my other ones, its nice knowing i don't have to worry about mailing this out anytime to get fixed or looked at etc etc. My kicked bombshell stinger last days and days of straight vaping with its 26650 battery and even when the kick dies sometime, i still have a flawless mod that has no computer chips and very little that can go wrong. My telescopic mod is about the same boat, no matter what happens, drop in the water or run it over it will probably still work or need very little work to it. Also the air flow on the different mods, some are super airy and others a more tight draw. It is nice to have all the options available at anytime I want. Thats my .2 but then again it is really an obsession to me from the start lol.