High end RTAs

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Baseman

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Got mine today. Ordering was (like mentioned before) quite the drama.. :rolleyes:
I see the additional 2ml tank more as a gimmick. It's so thick, even my 50/50 juice takes ages to reach the bottom/wick holes. I assume that thicker juice could cause wicking problems here.

skyline_pp29kulm.jpeg


Next-up: Taifun BT. I expect quite different vape experience with that one. ;)
 

hobbes4

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for what its worth current ranking top ranks for me are:
1. hussar
2. soulless
3. skyline
4 2k16
5. by-ka
6 Calix
then...
7. dome 2
8. Ataman 3
9. Kf5
10. prometey 3
11 pico (yup!)
12 kf mini v3

Is the soulless available somewhere for purchase or do need to be part of a secret FB group, sacrifice a virgin mermaid, and give up my first born to get one.
 

littlewierdo

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I used to be of the same opinion, only looked at high end RTA's. What I have come to realize however is, regardless of reason, you rarely get what you pay for in the vaping world. Too many mods are hundreds of dollars.

What I am currently using, and I am a flavour chaser, is an aromamizer plus. Simple, dual coil alien stainless steel coils. My only wish is that companies would start catering to the single coil crowd. I have always liked single coils, less time consuming to build and rewick and in my opinion, offer just as much flavour and vapour (if thats your thing) as a dual or more coil setup. Of course, lets also not forget the savings on battery life or juice consumption.

I used to use a hurricane. It was my go to tank. Loved it. Ive also used nearly all the normal iterations of the kayfun. Also loved it. My current favourite dripper is STILL the Veratos. Vertical coil, stainless steel mesh, holy crapola, flavor for days that saturates my taste buds.

What I have come to realize however is, regardless of how good the flavour is, mod makers charging $200 for a RTA and then not having enough supply to meet the demand, and then having to search and search to find one for the privilege of paying $200, eh no. Been there, done that, tired of that. When you can spend $50-$75 for a tank with 99% of the flavour, why spend $200, especially when you have battery tubes in them that have electronics that are selling for less than $200...

Not saying anyone here is doing this, but if you are intentionally not trying anything because of its low price, consider rethinking that strategy (not meant as an insult, I used to be like this). A thread like this is always concerning to me because there are lower priced tanks that outperform tanks that can be as much as 10 times their price.
 

TheotherSteveS

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Nice list mate, I am pleased to see the 2k16 made it to number 4! That is pretty good in an impressive list of high-end RTAs :thumb:
Impressive I'm not sure, utterly ridiculous really!! lol!

ps. I actually forgot about the Taifun GT3 (which is in the top group!) origen Tiny and a Raven's Moon>>>I think tht really is it (apart from the BB!!)...and a Tengu V2...

I really need to sell some stuff...
 
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kiba

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On the Origen 19/22, does anyone know whether the liquid feeing tubes screw in like the tiny tank or are they press fit? Nothing wrong with mine, but was wondering in case I needed to replace them at some point in the future.
Are you talking about the little peek insert tubes or something else?
 

TheotherSteveS

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A thread like this is always concerning to me because there are lower priced tanks that outperform tanks that can be as much as 10 times their price.


What is 'concerning' to you? Outperform is a subjective thing right? I like a nice, proper m2l draw. China does not provide that option in any form factor that i am happy with. But more than that, i really like trying and using different rta designs that have been hand made by people across the globe largely for the love of it. I also dont necessarily want to have a device that 3 million other people have with virtually no innovation. Recently that criticism has been eroded, i do admit, and designs from China etc are starting to show some real originality and some real commitment to quality. That is great. But i don't understand your 'concern' that people (like me) just like the low volume, hand made devices that modders come up with and are wiulling to pay a price premium that is associated with that predilection..
 

kiba

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It's a point. not necessarily a good one and it's been made a couple of times already. The best thing is to buy your tanks based on what you like, not cost, and some people like that hand turned quality... though, there isn't much of that going around anymore. Personally, with the FDA hanging over our heads, whether it's chinese or authentic or even a suspiciously 1:1 clone that came out a week later... as long as it puts nicotine into my face hole the way I want, I'm happy.
 
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littlewierdo

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What is 'concerning' to you? Outperform is a subjective thing right? I like a nice, proper m2l draw. China does not provide that option in any form factor that i am happy with. But more than that, i really like trying and using different rta designs that have been hand made by people across the globe largely for the love of it. I also dont necessarily want to have a device that 3 million other people have with virtually no innovation. Recently that criticism has been eroded, i do admit, and designs from China etc are starting to show some real originality and some real commitment to quality. That is great. But i don't understand your 'concern' that people (like me) just like the low volume, hand made devices that modders come up with and are wiulling to pay a price premium that is associated with that predilection..

Virtually no innovation? Hmm, ok.

I guess companies like Joytech, Smok, Aspire and Yihi didnt innovate on anything. I think you need to do some research. Ive been in this a long time. Really kinda racist and factually incorrect. Also incredibly embarrassing and offensive to see this kind of nonsense.

My 'concern' is that what I have seen since the days of this hobby having begun is a market that has done a pretty terrible job with pricing. I used to be one of those people that said, if it isnt handmade and $200, I dont want to even know about it.

It continues to allow mod makers to mismanage the supply and demand side of the equation. It continues to tell mod makers that charging $200 for a mod, only making a couple of runs before moving on to the next thing is ok. It isnt. As a consumer, it is frustrating.

It is ok to want nice things. It is ok to buy nice things. Im not sure why my post was seen as an attack on your character and the very fiber of your being, it was not. What I am concerned about is both the message we are are sending to mod makers and the message threads like this send to people who might be under the FALSE impression that alot of money equals better performance.

I own expensive mods. I own cheap mods. I have an authentic Hurricane. I have an authentic GGTS with the crazy atomizer thing he came up with (if you lined all the parts up, theyd reach to the moon and most of the way back). Ive had a Provari and several DNA 200 devices. Hell, Im tooting on a Yihi G class right this very minute (a new mod currently selling for $220).

I also have and own many lower priced mods. The RX2/3, the RX300, the Sigelli touch screen thing they made, a Veritas, the Aromamizer, the list goes on and on.

There are fantastic value priced mods out there that in my opinion, perform just as well, often times, better than the expensive mods. There are also value priced mods that dont, just as there are high end mods that do not. In fact, the hit or miss in my experience, statistically speaking, has nothing to do with price. That was my point.

When a thread called "high end RTAs" is created (implying only expensive RTAs here), you are perpetuating this notion that price equals quality. It does not. Ive used $300 RTA's that were terrible. Out of all the RTA's Ive used in the pricey range, only a handful were "worth" the price. Why? What usually happens is, something takes a flawed $200-300 product and iterates on it and creates something better at a fraction of the cost.

You can argue the merits of clones if you want, but from a pure economics perspective, clones are merely responding to the market. If a mod maker didnt produce a product that sold for $200 that he could sell for $40-50, clones would be hard to justify.

I get it. Its a free market (ideally speaking, provided government blah blah blah). Mod makers can make and charge what they want. Consumers can purchase what they want.

I just disagree with the notion that only high end RTAs have a place in a discussion that should really be about great RTA's regardless of price.
 
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littlewierdo

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The best thing is to buy your tanks based on what you like, not cost...Personally, with the FDA hanging over our heads, whether it's chinese or authentic or even a suspiciously 1:1 clone that came out a week later... as long as it puts nicotine into my face hole the way I want, I'm happy.

Edited the quote to take out what I disagree with. After the edit, this is my point. ^^^^^^
 

anavidfan

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Ive not had too much luck lately, think that age and age related pains keep me from enjoying many of the new things. Also many of the new RTAs have a bit too much air for me.

My favorites; starting with my fav first:
FEV3
Origen Tanks ( I have the Tiny tank, MKIIs; both )
Nectar Tanks
Taifun GSII (19mm)
I have one Genesis, which Im fine with, but still dont see enough of a "magical" experience to justify the added stress and work. Its a really beautiful Nextiny by Vapeware Mods. I think it will stay in my stash for sentimental/ novelty .

Im simple, and I need to get it set up quick and painless. I really need painless because of my stupid hands.

My #1 RTA, the one Id keep if I had to pick one is the FEV3. Its so easy, so reliable, no leaks, no oozing, I can fill it with any type of bottle, just pour , no small nozzle needed. It is from what I hear, good for air travel and altitude changes. Its ugly, but its a work horse.

EDITED because I think it came off wrong. I love seeing all that is new. If I had not kept an open and hopeful mind, Id still be using my Odysseus V2's.
 
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anavidfan

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When it comes to M2L nothing beats imho my Nectar or Origen Tiny tanks. However, Digiflavor's Siren GTA is quite close, with the added benefits of easier filling, larger capacity (if that concerns you) and of course much cheaper price since it's made in China.

I agree, the Origens and Nectars are wonderful. Have you taken them out and about? I know they are not supposed to leak or ooze, but when I got out I always throw on my FEV or the Origen Tiny.

The Digiflavor's Siren GTA, looks real nice, but from just seeing the photos, it seems to be a high air intake tank. Looks a lot like the Merlin which I liked a lot, but had "gap" issues on my Provaris and a few of my tube mechs, which bugged me enough to rehome them.

Edited because I realized I had a "copy" in there. I love my Nectar Tanks on certain difficult to top MODs, I wanted an all black atty and the high ends rarely make black. Taifun came out with an anodized black line, but it was not a nice elegant semi matte, it was a had a sort of rainbow finish, just looked tacky.
 

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Asbestos4004

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Virtually no innovation? Hmm, ok.

I guess companies like Joytech, Smok, Aspire and Yihi didnt innovate on anything. I think you need to do some research. Ive been in this a long time. Really kinda racist and factually incorrect. Also incredibly embarrassing and offensive to see this kind of nonsense.

My 'concern' is that what I have seen since the days of this hobby having begun is a market that has done a pretty terrible job with pricing. I used to be one of those people that said, if it isnt handmade and $200, I dont want to even know about it.

It continues to allow mod makers to mismanage the supply and demand side of the equation. It continues to tell mod makers that charging $200 for a mod, only making a couple of runs before moving on to the next thing is ok. It isnt. As a consumer, it is frustrating.

It is ok to want nice things. It is ok to buy nice things. Im not sure why my post was seen as an attack on your character and the very fiber of your being, it was not. What I am concerned about is both the message we are are sending to mod makers and the message threads like this send to people who might be under the FALSE impression that alot of money equals better performance.

I own expensive mods. I own cheap mods. I have an authentic Hurricane. I have an authentic GGTS with the crazy atomizer thing he came up with (if you lined all the parts up, theyd reach to the moon and most of the way back). Ive had a Provari and several DNA 200 devices. Hell, Im tooting on a Yihi G class right this very minute (a new mod currently selling for $220).

I also have and own many lower priced mods. The RX2/3, the RX300, the Sigelli touch screen thing they made, a Veritas, the Aromamizer, the list goes on and on.

There are fantastic value priced mods out there that in my opinion, perform just as well, often times, better than the expensive mods. There are also value priced mods that dont, just as there are high end mods that do not. In fact, the hit or miss in my experience, statistically speaking, has nothing to do with price. That was my point.

When a thread called "high end RTAs" is created (implying only expensive RTAs here), you are perpetuating this notion that price equals quality. It does not. Ive used $300 RTA's that were terrible. Out of all the RTA's Ive used in the pricey range, only a handful were "worth" the price. Why? What usually happens is, something takes a flawed $200-300 product and iterates on it and creates something better at a fraction of the cost.

You can argue the merits of clones if you want, but from a pure economics perspective, clones are merely responding to the market. If a mod maker didnt produce a product that sold for $200 that he could sell for $40-50, clones would be hard to justify.

I get it. Its a free market (ideally speaking, provided government blah blah blah). Mod makers can make and charge what they want. Consumers can purchase what they want.

I just disagree with the notion that only high end RTAs have a place in a discussion that should really be about great RTA's regardless of price.
I think you read his post wrong....he didn't say everything coming out of China was inferior. He actually said that the misconception that China produced only clones and junk was "eroded" and that the products coming out were innovative. He said he appreciated handmade gear and some small batch devices as opposed to huge production big box store devices.

As far as other SMOK or Geek Vape attys not having a place in this thread...well, they don't belong here. They're not High End RTAs....they're mass produced RTAs. That doesn't mean they don't perform well...it just means they're not high end. There's nothing that says you can't start a thread titled 'Great Performing RTAs' that would include everything from a $20 Merlin tank to a $300 Ravens Moon. But this thread seems to be dedicated to High End RTAs...hence the title.

If I had to get back and forth to work every day without the fear of breaking down and without worrying about spending too much money on gas, I would have a Toyota Camry or a Honda Accord. Super dependable and they perform almost perfectly....but they wouldn't fit in at a High End Car Show.

This is kinda like walking into a church and complaining about all the religious talk...
 
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TheotherSteveS

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I think you read his post wrong....he didn't say everything coming out of China was inferior. He actually said that the misconception that China produced only clones and junk was "eroded" and that the products coming out were innovative. He said he appreciated handmade gear and some small batch devices as opposed to huge production big box store devices.

As far as other SMOK or Geek Vape attys not having a place in this thread...well, they don't belong here. They're not High End RTAs....they're mass produced RTAs. That doesn't mean they don't perform well...it just means they're not high end. There's nothing that says you can't start a thread titled 'Great Performing RTAs' that would include everything from a $20 Merlin tank to a $300 Ravens Moon. But this thread seems to be dedicated to High End RTAs...hence the title.

If I had to get back and forth to work every day without the fear of breaking down and without worrying about spending too much money on gas, I would have a Toyota Camry or a Honda Accord. Super dependable and they perform almost perfectly....but they wouldn't fit in at a High End Car Show.

This is kinda like walking into a church and complaining about all the religious talk...

Amen! lol!
 

soulseek

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I agree, the Origens and Nectars are wonderful. Have you taken them out and about? I know they are not supposed to leak or ooze, but when I got out I always throw on my FEV or the Origen Tiny.

The Digiflavor's Siren GTA, looks real nice, but from just seeing the photos, it seems to be a high air intake tank. Looks a lot like the Merlin which I liked a lot, but had "gap" issues on my Provaris and a few of my tube mechs, which bugged me enough to rehome them.

Yes I take them out all the time and they never leak. The only con is that they're difficult to fill, otherwise I would never use anything else. I prefer a really strict M2L and you can get that with the Digiflavor and the restrictor, by setting it to the smallest hole and closing that half way through.
 

TheotherSteveS

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I see what you did there....:lol:
maybe I should have mentioned my daily beater setup is a nautilus-x with the 1.8Ω heads on a 2 year old iStick 30....really decent vape on those coils! no leaks, easy fill, great atty!! :thumbs: Doubt it would have stemmed the tide of invective though :rolleyes:
 
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