DNA 200 not even close.......

[Vlad1]

So like I say in title. I must say for all the hype, the dna 200 is nothing but a subpar high wattage device with very sketchy temp control features. They wanted to be fancy with the escribe software but all it really does well is let you change your screens. I have been using temp control since its birth and imo evolv has always been my second choice and on this device they went the whole way to the back.

Like I think a lot of people I was excited to get the device and be able to customize and set it up the way I would like it to run through this amazing software they offer. And yes the software is amazing if it actually worked. The first thing I noticed is like some other devices it likes to drop out of temp mode anytime it senses a problem. This is so annoying when you have a big coil and have the preheat set at 150 watts and then running watts set at 80 - 100. It will work great one moment and then the next it wants to do its own thing. The thing that makes me more upset is you have an option in escribe to set a profile to run in temp mode but it will drop out and go right into wattage mode. Why have the setting if it doesn't do anything. So then you have an atty that is acting up so you put on an ohm lock and guess what........ you got it, the ohms still change. Sometimes the preheat works, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it wants to run in temp sometimes it doesn't. Its just sub par at best. The software is great, if you would like to sit in front of you pc and watch any stat that you can imagine, capture mistakes the device is actually making. But as far as having a good vaping device I would buy a different chip. The only saving grace this thing might have is the upgradeable firmware option. At first I thought is was something I was doing but working in the industry I can't tell you how many people are asking why their $200 device isn't working right. Also any of the rda's I have problems with I through on the sx350j and it works like a charm. So all I can say is I really wanted this chip to take over the temp control game and be a game changer but unfortunately its just another missed field goal.........

I think some of the features may be good in concept just poorly implemented.

Refinement while it may assist the device in determining a coils resistance for accuracy will also (without notification) burn a coil, provide a severe dry hit when it refines say when you go outside to mow the lawn like I've had happen twice when forgetting to Lock Ohms. This is also hazardous IMO, if the device want's to automatically make adjustments to one of the variables (resistance of the coil) it should at least stop and notify the user of such change before blowing the back of their throat out.

Dropping out of TL mode when it doesn't like the resistance change of your coil when fired. This feature creates an inconsistency and bad vaping experience for me. Why did I spend the time to setup that Profile and load the TCR if the device wants to decide what I'm running.

Escribe has some nice features to adjust Screen Times, Screen Field Selections, Profiles, Custom TCR, Preheat & Preheat time and a host of other selections. Unfortunately in order to utilize this you have some dependencies (PC, Internet Connectivity,) and many of the settings are not available directly on the device so if your out and about and want to change something like Preheat your out of luck. If you don't have access to a PC with Escribe when you receive the board or device your limited to Ni200 and Power selections @ 200W Preheat and the Profiles are basically useless out of the box. There was no Minimum Hardware Requirement stated on the device I received, and IMO with such limited ability as configured out of the box there should be.

The logging / recording within Escribe > Device Monitor is inconsistent with the data it logs, for example I've logged puffs and calculating the power from the logged data and comparing to the power that was logged I've seen discrepancies of almost 50 watts, it may be close at times but other times are some major discrepancies. This makes me think there's either some rounding being used, a time sync problem with the snapshot of the different variables or the data is just an estimation pulled from some other source. So while the graph data "estimates" are nice if it's not accurate for simple things like Power I cant trust any of the other data to be accurate.

The lack of Preheat in Power mode was a bummer to me. I don't use Power mode frequently but usually when I'm testing different juice I do at varying Preheats using a Kanthal dripper. It was kind of a surprise to me this feature didn't exist.

Auto unlocking Ohms Lock if it thinks the resistance has changed too much just makes for more inconsistency to me. I'd prefer if I lock the resistance that's where it stay until I decide to unlock it.

Charging at .9A from Escribe when connected to a PC via USB when the battery is 100% charged. This contradicts what the board is supposed to do according to Evolv, 1.) it's supposed to trickle down when the cells are almost full. 2.) It's supposed to be limited to .5A when data lines are detected. Again more inconsistency that requires me to continuously monitor the device while charging to make sure it's not overcharging.

The features that create the inconsistent experiences I've had have made the DNA 200 a hard one for me to love. When it vapes right it's a good vaping experience, on par with other TL devices I've used. I've just had to train myself to look at the screen to make sure it's at the resistance it's supposed to be if not Ohm Locked, test fire it to make sure it's not going to drop out of Temp Mode then hope nothing is going to automatically change mid puff. This isn't something I have to do or fear with my other TL devices and it's not natural for me to constantly be checking the device. The inconsistent charging and high number of reported failed DNA 200's has not instilled any confidence in the device to where I would feel comfortable taking it out for the day. I just feel like I have to babysit the DNA 200 constantly to make sure it stays in the "good vaping experience" window. Add to that the need to tether to a PC if I want to adjust Preheat for a slightly cooler ramp up in the morning or stronger in the afternoon is just poorly implemented IMO. It's borderline ridiculous, I'm seeing people recommending Windows Tablets just so they can be more portable and have access to Escribe on the go. I'll keep it and use it and hope Evolv will update the firmware to function more consistently and more independent from Escribe and being tethered to a pc. But at present it has a very long way to go to become my go to all day device.

I know many are very happy with their DNA 200 and that's great for them. I'm only referencing my personal experiences. And my experience just hasn't been that great to where I'd recommend it to anyone else.

 

[Jeremy Schreiber]

And this guy would sell you ..... Send you out the door. And have his shop closed up in about 6 months. So ya your a piece of ..... I don't have to say anything to any of my guests they all come in .....ing already. At least I try to help them. Not like you. With 2 evolv dna200 shoved so far up your ... that you can't see there are problems. Thats all.

I understand that your upset people are attacking or disagreeing with you, but that is not a very professional response from someone who is a "regional manager" of vaping stores.

Edit: actually the post before the above quoted post was much more immature and unprofessional just for the record.

Mind sharing what stores?

 

[jmarkus]

i get why someone may be upset that a device, board, or any product for that matter, doesnt work as you wanted/expected. what i dont get is starting a thread flaming a product and not being constructive in the right forum. if you want help or have problems, theres a right way and place to go about it. someone pays $200 for an sxmini that has just as many issues, albiet different ones, but issues none-the-less, so lets not be crazy. all products have issues. lets all help and resolve them instead of crying about it.

always best to err on the side of thoughtful and constructive. this doesn't help anyone.

 

[DroopyDroors]

You guys are correct. I should not have made the previous post and attacked that comment or the person who made the comment. It is removed. Again I'm not trying to attack the device or let my personal impression on the device affect development. Believe me I want it to work and work well. But Unfortunatley it does not. So I would like to see a place where people can actually state their issues with it so they can be fixed. But Unfortunatley every time someone posts an issue they are told that it's all user error. I also realize that I may be a bit bias having to deal with these problems on a daily. And it can get a bit fustrating when you are putting so much toward trying to help people with their issues and with the device and to no avail. It's not a device I can recommend to an average vapor with great confidence. Hopefully in the next few months the issues will be fixed and everyone will be happy. God I hope so!!!

 

[Vlad1]

i get why someone may be upset that a device, board, or any product for that matter, doesnt work as you wanted/expected. what i dont get is starting a thread flaming a product and not being constructive in the right forum. if you want help or have problems, theres a right way and place to go about it. someone pays $200 for an sxmini that has just as many issues, albiet different ones, but issues none-the-less, so lets not be crazy. all products have issues. lets all help and resolve them instead of crying about it.

always best to err on the side of thoughtful and constructive. this doesn't help anyone.

Personally I don't see anything wrong with him opening a thread to state his opinion / experience on a product outside of the typical threads that are filled with loyal supporters. Many of these supporters have already went through multiple RMA's on failed devices but they don't state this and are not always forthcoming. So as a new reader comes along they read how great a product is (from these supporters) then find themselves doing multiple RMA's themselves. Seems to me he's doing a public service by posting in a thread somewhat titled to indicate the nature.

 

[Mike 586]

I've said it when TC first came out, but one of the biggest failings I'm seeing outside of bad builds right at the very edge of the specs is caused by the garbage springs used in a lot of the 510 connectors mod manufacturers use. I said that Evolv is doing us a disservice by not specifying a spring strength and travel distance in 510s used for their boards. We're talking about an application where solid connections are critical to proper operation yet still seeing mods with limp springs. It also doesn't help that 510s on toppers are all random lengths and not built to a spec.

Like I've been saying, after experiencing the DNA40 roll out, an individual would have to be pretty naive to expect a device with 5x the power using a new power source, a new form factor, and with massively increased complexity to go smoothly.

This isn't anything near the clusterf..k the DNA40 release was. I figure it'll probably be some time in spring before these things fully mature and all the major issues are addressed. They'll probably throw some gimmick at us as well in a couple of months to boost sales after the initial rush is over and an update is released. Last year it was a bigger screen, this year I'm guessing maybe one that changes colors, higher resolution or even full color.

Honestly, I'm surprised at how well the release is going so far. I expected to see more fatal character flaws in the board considering how big a change it is, and I definitely expected way more drama and nerd rage from the community.

 

[footbag]

You guys are correct. I should not have made the previous post and attacked that comment or the person who made the comment. It is removed. Again I'm not trying to attack the device or let my personal impression on the device affect development. Believe me I want it to work and work well. But Unfortunatley it does not. So I would like to see a place where people can actually state their issues with it so they can be fixed. But Unfortunatley every time someone posts an issue they are told that it's all user error. I also realize that I may be a bit bias having to deal with these problems on a daily. And it can get a bit fustrating when you are putting so much toward trying to help people with their issues and with the device and to no avail. It's not a device I can recommend to an average vapor with great confidence. Hopefully in the next few months the issues will be fixed and everyone will be happy. God I hope so!!!

I think the tone really matters. For example, asking "How do I..." or "Why isn't this working..." makes it easier for us to help. If you make a long post about your unhappiness with the device, but aren't specific about what is wrong; then it's hard to help.

An issues that's repeatable in specific scenarios is easier to fix then a randomly occurring one. Falling out of TC mode is an issue. Evolv needs us to help troubleshoot and figure out why it's happening. We all want the device to get better. But, by not telling us the device manufacturer, the coil type, the RDA type; you're not giving us much helpful info. Using words like sketchy TC isn't very descriptive. Telling us exactly what was going on when it popped out of TC would be more helpful.

If you just came to vent, then that's fine. But without offering specifics; expect people to critique your critique.

 

[edyle]

when you post a review it can ruffle some feathers;

I guess that's why there are reviews forums

https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/forums/e-cigarette-reviews.745/

 

[DroopyDroors]

Yes I understand this and I appreciate you trying to help. But Unfortunatley I can't be all that specific on a certain build, rda, device because like I said I'm seeing so many differant issues in alot of differant scenerios. So yes this is more of a rant and me venting because I have to deal with alot of the issues and I obviously will not tell my personal opinion to a person that just dropped $200 on a new device. Whether they bought it from me or elsewhere. I just do my best to help them. Thats why I try not to sell the device to anyone without giving the disclaimer that it's a bit finicky now but I'm sure they will be fixed in time. Again I apologize. But this is just my personal expierence with the device.

 

[DroopyDroors]

when you post a review it can ruffle some feathers;

I guess that's why there are reviews forums

https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/forums/e-cigarette-reviews.745/

Yes sir. You are correct. I should have posted this there.

 

[sd3614]

Yes sir. You are correct. I should have posted this there.

Eh, not necessarily off the chart wrong to post it here among the hype fest, but yeah there is a review section.

Anyway definitely a good perspective and it lets people know it is not for everyone and to see another side. If you want to hear who loves it we have a million post, a perspective of how NOT great it is rare here and I appreciate hearing it.

I don't think you framed up anything terribly bad (minus a moment there).

IMO you are somewhat confirming something that I have been thinking about. I keep seeing the rabbit hole going deeper on the software and I'm geeky myself, but I am not sure I want to be this geeky about vaping. I will at least try a DNA200 device (it's ordered) just to see if I'm over thinking it or to satisfy that I don't need to chase any more tech for a puff.

Smoking cigarettes was a simple pleasure that was very hard for me to leave behind. I don't want to spend too much time tweaking data curves or troubleshooting for a puff of nicotine. That may remove pleasure and replace it with headaches in an already busy life.

P.S. IMO I'd have your salesman push people who buy these devices to have an account here on ECF (set them up in shop if they're willing). If a customer thinks that is too much trouble direct them to the KBOX showcase because it sounds like they are going to wear your sales people out otherwise.

Good luck

 

[Stinkytofus]

So like I say in title. I must say for all the hype, the DNA 200 is nothing but a subpar high wattage device with very sketchy temp control features. They wanted to be fancy with the escribe software but all it really does well is let you change your screens. I have been using temp control since its birth and imo evolv has always been my second choice and on this device they went the whole way to the back.

Like I think a lot of people I was excited to get the device and be able to customize and set it up the way I would like it to run through this amazing software they offer. And yes the software is amazing if it actually worked. The first thing I noticed is like some other devices it likes to drop out of temp mode anytime it senses a problem. This is so annoying when you have a big coil and have the preheat set at 150 watts and then running watts set at 80 - 100. It will work great one moment and then the next it wants to do its own thing. The thing that makes me more upset is you have an option in escribe to set a profile to run in temp mode but it will drop out and go right into wattage mode. Why have the setting if it doesn't do anything. So then you have an atty that is acting up so you put on an ohm lock and guess what........ you got it, the ohms still change. Sometimes the preheat works, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it wants to run in temp sometimes it doesn't. Its just sub par at best. The software is great, if you would like to sit in front of you pc and watch any stat that you can imagine, capture mistakes the device is actually making. But as far as having a good vaping device I would buy a different chip. The only saving grace this thing might have is the upgradeable firmware option. At first I thought is was something I was doing but working in the industry I can't tell you how many people are asking why their $200 device isn't working right. Also any of the RDA's I have problems with I through on the sx350j and it works like a charm. So all I can say is I really wanted this chip to take over the temp control game and be a game changer but unfortunately its just another missed field goal.........

precisely why i haven't jumped on the dna 200 bandwagon

im waiting for sx350J ML class

btw, what dna200 are you using? self built? or you bought it? did you happen to get a faulty device?

 

[Stinkytofus]

So like I say in title. I must say for all the hype, the DNA 200 is nothing but a subpar high wattage device with very sketchy temp control features. They wanted to be fancy with the escribe software but all it really does well is let you change your screens. I have been using temp control since its birth and imo evolv has always been my second choice and on this device they went the whole way to the back.

Like I think a lot of people I was excited to get the device and be able to customize and set it up the way I would like it to run through this amazing software they offer. And yes the software is amazing if it actually worked. The first thing I noticed is like some other devices it likes to drop out of temp mode anytime it senses a problem. This is so annoying when you have a big coil and have the preheat set at 150 watts and then running watts set at 80 - 100. It will work great one moment and then the next it wants to do its own thing. The thing that makes me more upset is you have an option in escribe to set a profile to run in temp mode but it will drop out and go right into wattage mode. Why have the setting if it doesn't do anything. So then you have an atty that is acting up so you put on an ohm lock and guess what........ you got it, the ohms still change. Sometimes the preheat works, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it wants to run in temp sometimes it doesn't. Its just sub par at best. The software is great, if you would like to sit in front of you pc and watch any stat that you can imagine, capture mistakes the device is actually making. But as far as having a good vaping device I would buy a different chip. The only saving grace this thing might have is the upgradeable firmware option. At first I thought is was something I was doing but working in the industry I can't tell you how many people are asking why their $200 device isn't working right. Also any of the RDA's I have problems with I through on the sx350j and it works like a charm. So all I can say is I really wanted this chip to take over the temp control game and be a game changer but unfortunately its just another missed field goal.........

the other reason it is so highly regarded because it is "made in america" lols








more than half the stuff we use now is made in china... lols

 

[Carnage9270]

more than half the stuff we use now is made in china... lols

Much much more than half. "made in U.S.A." doesn't mean what you think it does. Anyone can slap that on anything they want to. Maybe the "made in U.S.A." police will arrest them for putting it on illegally.

 

[sacullen]

I've found that the crew at Evolv are very responsive on their own forum. They might need more information than you can provide, but it might also be a place where you can start bringing up problems you are noticing in customers' devices.

 

[dsidab81]

OP seemed happy enough with his 200 in this post from evolv...
http://evolvapor.forumchitchat.com/post/custom-coil-build-7734812?pid=1289388408

 

[Vlad1]

We were happy with our new car when we got it as well until about the 10th time into the service department and 3 months without it for them to replace the engine.. Just saying things change, not really sure what point you were trying to make???

 

[Jeremy Schreiber]

We were happy with our new car when we got it as well until about the 10th time into the service department and 3 months without it for them to replace the engine.. Just saying things change, not really sure what point you were trying to make???

Edit (re-read a few posts here).

Never had the above experience with either my cars or my DNA200s, can't relate (knock on wood).

 

[rhelton]

Well believe me there are plenty people that do have the issues. It's not the device. I've had to deal with people with the hcigar, boxer, and most recently the vaporshark all come in with the same issues. Yes I'm sure everyone has a problem with how they build, and everyone has a bad rda. Thats always what the evolv people say. I could give two ....s weather or not yours is working fine. For that matter I could give a .... if mine is working fine. I'm just being honest with what I'm seeing in the industry. I think it's funny how people replied saying that it's user error. Obviously they didn't even read all the posts or the would know it's not just one user. It is many. So everyone that I deal with is doing something wrong? All they are doing is trying to protect the evolv chip and say how great it is. I don't care who makes what in this industry. I just want it to work as described!! Proceed with saying I don't know what I'm talking about and your device is so perfect and it never has errors. Hahahaha

I appreciate your post and believe your being honest about your experience. People will always flame you for user error. Your not the issue here its exactly what you have said.

 

[Margucci]

i havent been impressed by the board either. however, my complaint isnt from performance but features. i dont own one so any performance related issues are not in my wheelhouse. that being said there are a few things i would like to see:
- a better interface: too many shortcuts and a terrible unintuitive UI. i would much rather see a UI closer to what smok offers in the xcube 2. you can do much more on the device itself and see a lot more information
- bluetooth: just include it. i dont want to be on a leash. with bluetooth and some tweaks to the phone and PC software you will be able to do everything much easier.
- the screen: its just terrible. they need to go a bit larger, seeing 4 way orientation would be nice, and it needs a higher pixel density. a screen similar in quality to what is on the eVic VTC Mini would be ideal.
- be able to adjust more on the device. with the better UI and display this would actually be possible

i understand that the screen size currently can be a positive in some applications. if they create a "premium" chip with these features which is essentially a nerdy version of the same board i think it would do quite well. honestly i could care less about custom images and color screens. just give me something that looks like it wasnt created 3 years ago.