Latest VapeMail...

[StereoDreamer]

My big order from MadVapes came in while I was at lunch today. WOO HOO!!!

Included is my beautiful new Acrylimax mod in the "Copperwood" finish.

And even though the batteries haven't been properly given their first long charge, I tested them, and they both had 3.0+ voltages, so I test-vaped the new mod, and WOW. Let's just say that "stealth vaping" an Acrylimax on a 901 atty is pretty much impossible--even with a battery that is only at about 75%...

Detailed pics will be posted this evening when I get home from work. But here is a teaser, of the box, when I first opened it...

 

[StereoDreamer]

Batteries charged? CHECK.
Cartos and carts filled? CHECK.
Adapters and extensions assembled? CHECK.
Tech manual printed, read, re-read, and fully understood? CHECK.

Time to vape, and dial in the settings for my favorite juices, and decide what the first juice I put into my Vivi Nova will be when it comes in my next VapeMail (tomorrow or Friday...)

OMFG...

I've been vaping my samples of "Gandalf" and "Heavenly Tobacco" from "Heathers Heavenly Vapors" for the last few hours on my new Acrylimax, dialing in the power settings to get them just right.

Wow.

They taste TOTALLY different than they do on those little DSE901 batteries--even using the same attys.

This is an ENTIRELY different vaping experience. This was DEFINITELY money well-spent.

Ahhh--Variable Voltage is sweet...

 

[Burly]

You have my attention.

 

[StereoDreamer]

Burley, you'v seen my "reviews" for juice. The review I'm working on for this mod is going to be along that same line, but it's going to take a LOT more work because of the technical issues. I'm metering each atty and carto (tp test the accuracy of the on-board meter of this mod), getting the mod settings for each juice I'm using "dialed in" for maximum vapage, and planning some sexy pictures with cartos, clearos, attys and my Vivi Nova (when it comes in).

Give me a few days, and I'll have a review that will be comprehensive enough to publish on paper... ;-)

I'm trying to not be gushy, considering this is my first mode experience, and I'll admit I'm a little overwhelmed. So bear that in mind. I'm pretty new to vaping, and still a little awestruck at all this great gear, all the yummy flavors, and the astounding sensual experience that vaping affords. I'll try and keep it as objective and scientific as I can, but please understand that my enthusiasm sometimes gets the better of me.

Plus I'm a hedonist at heart, AND I love to play with language (as you've seen). So if things get flowery and maybe even a little "purple" in my prose, just know that I'm not some sort of sycophantic fan-boy--I'm just a REALLY enthusiastic new convert to vaping with a love for his thesaurus... ;-)

 

[StereoDreamer]

The only negative note I have so far from this entire order is that the drip sleeve I ordered is a COMPLETEY different (CLASHING) shade of green from the green tank I ordered for my Vivi Nova, AND it totally clashes with the green drips tips and green knicklehead I ordered.

PLUS, it had really tight o-rings that were so tight that they barely fit on ANY of the attys I had (SmokTech, which I got from MadVapes in this order as well, AND the ones I have from AquaVapor). They were so tight, in fact, that the o-rings stretched and shredded the first time I attempted to slide the drip guard off the first atty I put it on (a SmokTech) AND it scratched the paint on the atty.

Acrylic Atomizer Drip Guard, Green

Other than that, and the fact that those ST attys perform (and meter) differently than my AV attys (not better or worse, just different, so I'm having a difficult time dialing them in), I'm VERY satisfied with MadVapes service, shipping speed, and product line.

The next time my sweety goes to Charlotte NC on business, I may tag along, just so I can make the pilgrimage to MadVape's store (they DO have a B&M storefront, I assume...) to express my appreciation with their service.

 

[Burly]

It's all good, Brother! I remember when I got my first VV. I felt the same way. Couldn't believe the difference in the vape experience. It was like I was tasting my juices for the very first time like they were actually supposed to taste.
I love the look of your new Max. Being an electrician, I like anything in copper colors. What interests me most about the Max is the variable Wattage. I really want to try that feature out.

And as for the flowery and purple prose, don't worry about that at all. That's what makes your reviews so interesting.

 

[Burly]

Incidentally, You have probably already checked this thread out, but in case you haven't, it is really good: Smoktech "Max" VV devices

I know you got yours from MadVapes, but since it's a Max, I don't see why you can't learn here.

 

[StereoDreamer]

I just popped a carto full of my special custom Clove blend (50% Johnson Creek "VG Clove", 20% VaporKings "D'Jarum Black", 30% Bmore Vapes "M-boro", all at 18mg) onto the AcryliMax.

Holy Kreteks, Batman.

I thought I'd pretty much nailed this for a good approximation of a Djarum Special, vaping it through my 901 batts. But on the AcryliMax it is an entirely different--and MUCH more realistic--beastie.

First off, the vapor is prodigious. Secondly, it has "throat hit" on the inhale AND the exhale. And thirdly, it actually has that warm numbing sensation on the tip of my tongue AND on my lips that a REAL clove has. The only thing it's missing compared to the "real thing" is that sweet cinnamon/clove taste on the filter tip--and until someone figures out a way to flavor the vinyl wraps on Cartos, I can live without that sweet indulgence. (actually, I'm working on that too--details to be posted this weekend...)

Wow. I "get it" now--the obsession with high-power mods that y'all have. the DSE901 e-cig is, IMO a pretty good little device for what it is--portable, small, and it LOOKS an feels like a real ciggie. But for an evening of sitting at home, working through my "juice library" and just enjoying a good vape, these big battery, VV, high wattage devices are simply astounding. They bring out flavors that you just don't even sense with a cig-sized unit.

And I can see that my NEXT purchase is DEFINITELY going to be a comprehensive selection of DIY supplies. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy some of the commercially-produced juices that I have--especially the Pink Spot an HHV liquids. But I've got a device now that is showing me flavors I never sensed before, and that gives me added confidence to venture into DIY that I didn't really have before.

What was that they keep saying about "vaping will save lots of money over smoking"?

Lies, I tell you, lies.

...... you all...

 

[StereoDreamer]

Here are some preliminary pics, to "whet your appetite" for my upcoming review of my new AcryliMax...

Here is it sitting on top my "VapeCase", which houses all my spare parts, tools and vendor business cards. The "Acid Cigars" box is currently serving as a "juice box", and those headphones on top (AKG K-701s) are part of the reason I chose the name "stereodreamer". My other obsession is high-end audio gear. (future vape-pics will most likely also include gratuitous audiophile porn...)

And here is a close-up of the AcryliMax (Copperwood finish) with a 510 extender tube and AquaVapor 901 atty on top. Also, note the custom lanyard I made this evening. The retaining rings on my lanyard are made of o-rings so they won't mar or scratch the tube, and the necklace is a brass-plated ceiling fan chain...

Close-up of my lanyard's retaining rings. Pardon the blurry, low-contrast pic--I took this with my cell phone, because honestly, I'm too lazy and vaped-out to be bothered with setting up my tripod and using my DSLR.

I promise I'll break out the good camera and lights this weekend, and take some proper pics, and I'll write a proper, comprehensive review in the next few days too.

For now, though, I've got a cart full of HHV's 24mg "Heavenly Tobacco" to vape...

 

[StereoDreamer]

A few suggestions to MadVapes on this unit.

1) if you are going to show the unit with a gold-plated 510 connector on your website, you should SHIP the units with the same connector, not a chrome- or rhodium-plated one. I'm sure it functions just as well, but it looks cheap, and the gold connector matches the finish WAY better. My unit came with a silver-colored connector, much to my chagrin...

2) you might want to offer anodized, plated or powder-coated end caps as an accessory for this unit. Or just make spare caps available for purchase so we can do with them what we want. I would LOVE a gold-plated end-cap, or to have it anodized in some color that would compliment the mod--again, the aluminum end cap just looks a little cheezy on this particular mod. I'm sure it looks GREAT with a blue or red one, but on this "copperwood" model, the aluminum looks out of place.

 

[StereoDreamer]

I've been running the AcryliMax through it's paces for about 24 hours now. (well, not constantly--I did have to sleep and go to work...)

Anyway, the settings that taste best with my favorite e-liquids seem to be on the low end of the power spectrum. If I'm running it as VV, I tend to like between 3.5 and 4.7 volts. In VW mode, I seem to like it between 3.5 and 4.5, depending on the juice and the atty or carto I'm using.

Also, the ohm meter function that reads the resistance of the atty or carto you attach to the unit seems to be off. It's consistently off, at least with the cartos and attys I've tried so far, and seems to meter about 20% lower than the readings I get off these attys and cartos with my professional-quality multimeter. (3.0 carto reads as 2.3, etc...). I on't have any LR attys, so I don't know if this discrepancy is flat, or if it is a progressive or regressive error (meaning it gets worse as the resistance loads get higher or lower).

Tomorrow, my Vivi Nova should arrive, and with it's three heads I should be able to test how the AcryliMax meter stacks up on LR and HR attys...

Aside from this metering discrepancy, I really like the Acrylimax. It has a lot of options, some VERY cool features, and it seems to have pretty good battery life. I've been vaping on it since the batteries were charge up last night (about 24 hours ago) an my battery voltage is at about 3.6 volts, down only 0.1 volts from a full charge of 3.7v. I fully expect to get 3 or 4 days of weekday-level use off each battery.

Weekend rates may be slightly less impressive, I fear... ;-)

 

[StereoDreamer]

My VapeMail from AquaVaper arrived. I am the proud owner of a new Vivi Nova (with an optional "brown" tank which actually looks copper, and looks FANTASTIC with the AcrylimMax) and some new 901 attys.

And Ill admit, I bought 30ml of "Camal" juice from them, because I haven't been able to find ANY Camel-flavored juice locally for 2 weeks. It's a guilty pleasure, I'll admit. It's Chinese DK juice--bu tI just love this stuff as a "utility vape", and when you mix it with most of the "Clove" juices out there, they actually taste like REAL cloves...

This weekend is going to be fun!

Hopefully the incoming storm doesn't put the kybosh on our local VapeMeet in Maryland on Sunday...

 

[gimmieshelter31]

I dig your AKG K701's. I've never had a chance to hear them. I'm using Sen HD580 that I have had about 4 years now I guess. I got them when they were discontinued. Had some Grado SR225's but sold them due to discomfort. Also have a pair of AT ATH-A900 when I need the isolation. Congrats on your Acrylimax. Looks very nice .

 

[StereoDreamer]

The AKGs are fantastic-sounding headphones, but they really need a good driver to sound their best.

I have an external DAC that I use with my CD player (A Benchmark DAC-1) and it has an excellent headphone amp built into it (it is actually a piece of studio gear that audiophiles discovered several years ago, and started snapping up--at half the price of any comparable "audiophile" DAC, with the build quality of a piece of Krell or Wadia gear costing three times the price!).

Anyway, I've been an AKG fan since college--when we had D-240s in our radio station. My first set of good cans was my own set of 240s. I've owned Grado, Koss, AT, Sony, Nakamichi, but ultimately I settled on the AKGs for sound and comfort.

Oh yeah, that's the second best thing about the K701s. Aside from the fact that they sound amazing, they are the most comfy cans I've ever had. You can wear them for hours an they don't every get uncomfortable. My wife has actually fallen asleep wearing them several times...

 

[gimmieshelter31]

The nicest headphone amp I was ever able to afford was a Gilmore Lite. I kept it for about 3 years and sold it for what I had in it.Just using the jack out of my mid-fi Yammie C80 now . I lust for the higher end but life keeps saying no LOL.

 

[StereoDreamer]

Been a while since I updated this thread...

I've been getting a bounty of vapemail this week--I ordered a BUNCH of stuff over the holiday break, and it's starting to come in this week...

--2 spools of Kanthal (26 and 30ga) from an EBAY vendor

--5 bottles of NicQuid that I won on the JeannieK Show (actually I didn't really win it--she GAVE it to me in appreciation for me not messing with her like I did with Kevin on VP Live earlier that week).

--and some misc. small parts from Hoosier E-cigs (eGo cones, a tank-filler funnel and a ne

And my new tanks from IBTanked arrived today!

Because I'm such a rabid fan of the brilliant juices from Alice in Vapeland, I got an "Alice" tank (an a spare clear one) with matching acrylic caps. This tank is really a work of art. And ONLY AiV juices are going to be put in it.

I also got 3 single-coil, dual-punched 2ohm XL cartos, and a stainless steel drip tip. from them...

Now, I must go fill this new tank with some 'Twas Brillig, an get on to some serious vapage...

 

[StereoDreamer]

MASSIVE VapeMail came in today--packages from FOUR vendors.

I got a couple more Vivi Nova tanks, two tinted Vivi replacement tank tubes, 5 new 1.8ohms heads and 10 new 2.4ohm heads. (I should have enough replacement heads for my Vivi's to last most of the year, and STILL have several left over to experiment with rebuilding the coils and wicks on...).

I got a box of Boge XL single-coil 2ohm cartos that I won on Kevin's VP Live Christmas Giveaway show (supplied by Cisco at AvidVapors)

I got a BUNCH of FlavorArt DIY flavorings and empty 10ml bottles from E-Cig Express, so I can start my DIY experiments in earnest this weekend!

And I got TWO Cherry Vapes "Universals" and a CherryVapes Ming Citrine drip tip from a vendor I will not name because I'm not going to make it easy for anyone else to find these Universals--it took me 2 months to find someone that had them in-stock. (If you are interested, PM me and I'll tell you...)

Hopefully, the Silver Bullet I bought on the Classified here this week will arrive Saturday or Monday, and the white carbon fiber skin I ordered from JWraps for it should be in mid-week.

And I still have an order outstanding from MadVapes (small parts and extra batteries), which tracking is saying should get here Monday or Tuesday.

 

[StereoDreamer]

Latest Vapemail came today!!!

The Chrome Silver Bullet that I got off the Classified came, as well as a BUNCH of silica wick (30ft each of 0.6mm, 0.8mm and 1mm), some new 18650 IMRs, battery boxes, more 510-901 adapters and a J-Wraps white carbon fiber skin for the SB...

And here is the SB with the skin on it (and my IBTanked "Alice" tank sitting proudly on top!):

 

[StereoDreamer]

New VapeMail today from PBDragon!

Three "Dragon Tips". These drip tips are "regular sized" mings, but they are NOT your typical el-cheap-o acrylic mings. The colors are gorgeous, the edges are glass-smooth, and the finish is like a piece of fine jewelry.

One "Large Acrylic Ming"--as big as a CherryVape Ming, except the finish is WAY nicer, it it TOTALLY smooth with no rough edges, and it fits most of my attys and tanks perfectly. And it is half the price of a CherryVape. Awesome.

Adn two Drunker Tank RBAs. These odd-looking little RBAs are a GREAT vape. The produce UGE clouds of vapor and the flavor is astoundingly good. For under $15, these RBAs are the steal of the century...

 

[StereoDreamer]

Got a fat little package from Alice in Vapeland today.

60ml of "Twas Brillg", 30ml of "Zombie Apocalypse", "Red Door" bottles of Pear Ship and Berry Lil Cheesecake, and FIVE tiny sampler bottles of new flavors. Plus a sticker and two VERY cool playing cards.

Thanks Jah and AiV for being the COOLEST vendor in all of Vapeland!!!