My experience w/ the Vaporshark DNA

[Intervap]

This is my FIRST DNA20 device, so I am not going to touch on that. It utilizes all of the dna's features.
It is really small (almost too small imho), the button is really nice, but the 510 connection feels cheap. I refuse to pull apart my atomizers while they are on it but it is likely irrational. The steel casing honestly feels like plastic, but not in a bad was. Its smooth, soft, and warm. I think its the paint that makes it feel like that.
About 2-3 days after I received it the charging port became loose. It has only gotten worse too. Before, it was charging fairly easily with little fiddling. I was okay with it, but now I have to jiggle with it every 15 minutes to keep it charging. It also is charging stupid slow (not a full charge after 4 hours), much much slower than right out of the box.
Overall, I love it. I am going to give Vaporshark a call tomorrow (Monday) and utilize their 3 month warranty. I also plan to bust it open and take a couple of pictures to compare to to see what they did to fix it or if they just gave me a new one.

 

[Jim66]

My charging port is having issues as well. After only three days of use it will not charge unless I hold the USB cable at a specific angle, and as soon as I let it go, the indicator light goes out and it will not charge. I have not used it since then.

Customer service initially seemed responsive and friendly, and they said they would email me a return label on 26 Nov, but I have not received it yet. I sent another email yesterday and am waiting for a response.

Additionally, the logo completely wiped off within two days. This wasn't an issue to me, but it's worth mentioning. As for the device itself, I agree with the OP, it actually may be a bit too small, but it is nice. I like the metal construction, and the fire button is nice and clicky. I do not like the placement of the adjustment buttons. I am constantly (and I mean constantly) bumping the wattage adjustment up or down by accident.

I think its a good price for a dna 20 device, however, I would not recommend it until these issues are worked out. Also, I am concerned since I have not received my return label in over a week and a half. That's a return label via email folks.

 

[Jim66]

Minor update

Customer service has been very good. There was a small mix up with email. I got my return shipping label, and will be sending my DNA back tomorrow. I'll report back regarding the charging port on the replacement unit.

 

[DopeyZx6r]

Thankfully I have not had any issues with my charging port, but it is a little difficult to get the micro-usb cable plugged in.

But unlike the OP, I absolutely hate the button. I don't mind the fact that it is plastic, but the edges feel sharp. That so, my fingers often easily catch the button and move it around, forcing me to take notice of the amount of play it has. And I can hear it move around while pressing the button or manipulating my grip. It's not merely the normal button rattle when shaking the device.

That's the only thing, for me, that makes the device feel so delicate. I find myself stressing more over the button than enjoying the vape. For all I know the button could outlast that of any other regulated device, but it doesn't feel that way.

But the size is great. Videos on the device just don't capture how small it is. The camera will always add ten pounds. The housing has a good, solid feel to it. Of course the DNA chip is great. Battery life is decent enough for my style of vaping. But that BUTTON — oh that button!

 

[jameth]

There has got to be some other people out there with the Vaporshark DNA who could share their experiences eh?

I will be getting one monday or tuesday, depending on how the USPS God's shine upon me.

 

[Burnside]

There has got to be some other people out there with the Vaporshark DNA who could share their experiences eh?

I will be getting one monday or tuesday, depending on how the USPS God's shine upon me.

I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the vaporshark when you get it. I am also interested in this one for the size.

 

[jameth]

Hiya burnside

Yea I think the VaporShark DNA will be a nice compliment to an XPV or two

At this point I don't really want anything but DNA / EVOLV based mods.

It's a christmas gift from my lady, but I'll get to open it whenever it arrives, since I let her open her fancy new sewing machine already heh

The tracking I saw said expected delivery of monday, we will see...

 

[lasttango]

I kind of regret not spending the extra $60 on the opus…

Pros:
It is mighty powerful… wow does this thing kick… it's like a V8 in a 1978 honda civic.
I like the size.
The fit and finish is nice.
it's $60 less than an Opus.

Cons:
1. The Vaporshark logo rubbed off after 4 hours of use. While not a performance issue… who's the clown that had the job of applying the logo? really? you want your advertisement to rub off in 4 hours without me even trying? Furthermore, does this inattentiveness foreshadow anything bigger down the road?

2. The micro usb charger is cheap. The charging port looks cheap. I imagine issues with this within a month or so.

3. I don't like the button. It feels cheap to me… and it has no action when you press it. I imagine this will wear out relatively soon.

…and

if you have a problem, you are better off calling them. The customer service email representative was a bit of a weenie. I spent $203.00 on the unit and accessories and they sent the wrong usb charger (spare charger - takes a micro, not a mini). She told me it was my ordering mistake and wanted me to mail it back to them before she'd send a new one. We went back and forth for 3-4 emails. She wouldn't budge. I wasn't going to hit the po during xmas rush and pay to send it back when I could get a similar quality one at the dollar store.

……but I was angry, because I did spend $10 on the spare and $203 over all.

I called. The guy on the phone was awesome. He researched it and determined that it was a warehouse mistake. So he sent me a new one gratis. He also said that even if it were my mistake, that someone should have noticed the wrong charger was being packed with the device. I offered to mail the old one back when I had a chance and he told me they are "phasing the mini-usb's out" and instructed me to throw it away.

anyway… I like the unit, but again, I wish I spent the extra $60 on the Opus. I know the service and product would have been much better. Vaporshark has a lot of potential. They need to address the charging issue… the logo issue and they need to offer higher quality accessories… bundling your expensive dna mod with shi* accessories is like gordon ramsey pouring heinz 57 on a $90 steak.

They cut corners on what amounts to inexpensive parts of the unit. I hope they don't cut corners anywhere I can't see. It's a shame because the unit is otherwise awesome.

I would recommend this unit as long as you have read some of these honest reviews… good and bad…


I haven't had it long enough to determine if it's a workhorse like the Opus… nor have I had a problem with it big enough to test the depths of their customer service.

 

[jameth]

I kind of regret not spending the extra $60 on the opus…

Pros:
It is mighty powerful… wow does this thing kick… it's like a V8 in a 1978 honda civic.
I like the size.
The fit and finish is nice.
it's $60 less than an Opus.

Cons:
1. The Vaporshark logo rubbed off after 4 hours of use. While not a performance issue… who's the clown that had the job of applying the logo? really? you want your advertisement to rub off in 4 hours without me even trying? Furthermore, does this inattentiveness foreshadow anything bigger down the road?

2. The micro usb charger is cheap. The charging port looks cheap. I imagine issues with this within a month or so.

3. I don't like the button. It feels cheap to me… and it has no action when you press it. I imagine this will wear out relatively soon.

…and

if you have a problem, you are better off calling them. The customer service email representative was a bit of a weenie. I spent $203.00 on the unit and accessories and they sent the wrong usb charger (spare charger - takes a micro, not a mini). She told me it was my ordering mistake and wanted me to mail it back to them before she'd send a new one. We went back and forth for 3-4 emails. She wouldn't budge. I wasn't going to hit the po during xmas rush and pay to send it back when I could get a similar quality one at the dollar store.

……but I was angry, because I did spend $10 on the spare and $203 over all.

I called. The guy on the phone was awesome. He researched it and determined that it was a warehouse mistake. So he sent me a new one gratis. He also said that even if it were my mistake, that someone should have noticed the wrong charger was being packed with the device. I offered to mail the old one back when I had a chance and he told me they are "phasing the mini-usb's out" and instructed me to throw it away.

anyway… I like the unit, but again, I wish I spent the extra $60 on the Opus. I know the service and product would have been much better. Vaporshark has a lot of potential. They need to address the charging issue… the logo issue and they need to offer higher quality accessories… bundling your expensive dna mod with shi* accessories is like gordon ramsey pouring heinz 57 on a $90 steak.

They cut corners on what amounts to inexpensive parts of the unit. I hope they don't cut corners anywhere I can't see. It's a shame because the unit is otherwise awesome.

I would recommend this unit as long as you have read some of these honest reviews… good and bad…


I haven't had it long enough to determine if it's a workhorse like the Opus… nor have I had a problem with it big enough to test the depths of their customer service.

Thanks for your feedback, I have had mine for a few days now.

Personally, IMHO, There are many things I like about the VS DNA, over the OPUS D (coming from an owner of a Darwin) and I looked long and hard at the OpusD before I bought my first DNA20 mod (ProtoVapor XPV).

For one, I think the OpusD looks atrocious, whoever did the design on that thing should be fired, and I have always been a box mod fan, NEVER liked tubes. Besides looking bad IMHO, it is also larger then then the VS, and has roughly the same MAH capacity.

Second, the mini USB on the OpusD (as opposed to the new micro standard on the VS) is a major drawback to me, these days the old mini USB cables are less and less common, but EVERYONE has a multitude of Micro USB now-a-days, in my experience.

Also related to the charge circuit, it has an indication light which I really appreciate.

Regarding the "quality" of the charge chip, it is an official EVOLV DNA USB charge board (as far as I can tell), so they didn't exactly cut corners there IMHO. I will say it could probably be mounted better in the box, but seems about the same as other DNA 20 mods I have seen with built in charging via the EVOLV USB charge board.

Regarding the Logo rubbing off, I read somewhere that the first batch had an issue with the logo, but that they have addressed that for future batches. Mine rubbed off within hours of getting it also.

Personally though, I actually find that to be a plus and not a negative. I don't really want to have a huge brightly colored logo that can be seen from a block away, on the side of my black stealthy PV. I was kinda disappointed when I read they had fixed that "issue" and was thinking of how I was going to remove the logo before I even got the device. I was stoked to find my logo easily rubbed off.

Regarding accessories, we must just fundamentally feel differently about some of this stuff, because personally I was not interested in anything VaporShark has to offer, except the solid stealthy DNA package that no one else has really delivered on yet. I have sources for "accessories" that are many times cheaper then any big commercial vendor like that, and probably of better quality.

In-fact thinking about it, any time I have bought a fancy high end MOD, I have never also purchased additional vape supplies from that vendor, I simply have my own preferred vendors for everything but the mod itself.


Regarding the button, I generally like it, mine has nice clicky feedback, I like the over all feel of it. I do agree that the plastic button is probably the cheapest "feeling" part of the device, but I am not convinced that it actually is "cheap" in that it will fail any time soon, but time will tell. I think the little bit of play in the button will actually make it last longer in the long run.

I am only 4 days in or so with it, but I think it is quite a nice unit, and there really isn't anything out there that compares in size/form factor/looks/power.

I love my big XPV as well, but I can say I am also loving this little VaporShark just as much, but for different reasons.

The size, power, and over all feel in hand of the VS has me really happy, and while I was originally planning on getting a second XPV around tax time, I am kind of leaning towards a second VS DNA, simply because the form factor is so sexy, and I can have two of these things in my pocket topped with Kayfun's quite comfortably, with a total of 2400 mah between them. Then have my full size XPV as the industrial strength backup.

But really the durability of the unit is yet to be seen, but from the pictures I have seen of the insides, and the feel of the unit in person, I don't really think there is much that will fail on this, outside of the usual things that fail on mods like these (USB charge port / 510 threads), which are generally easily fixed with a soldering iron and a few mins.

I have fixed my Darwin myself (failed fire switch mostly, also fixed usb charge board a couple times) more times then I can remember over the almost 3 years I have owned it.

I treat my mods like the tools that they are (I don't baby my mods) so if this thing is gonna fail, I should find out pretty soon

 

[jameth]

I don't think I want to own anything but DNA devices at this point....

 

[bewzer]

I'm less than 15 days in and already the black paint is starting to wear off in places, just from being in a hoody pocket or pants pocket by itself. Also can't use a kayfun on mine because there is a very noticeable wobble in the connection when it is on the device and the damn thing won't even acknowledge there is an atomizer attached most of the time, so I can't even drain the battery to do a hard reset on the dna chip. I want to love this thing, but it's getting harder to do that every passing minute.

 

[VapnRealtor]

I'll definitely stay clear of this piece of junk.

 

[jameth]

Bewzer that sucks! I hope you can get it replaced or something through your warranty. It sounds to me like your unit had some QC issues.


Still quite lovin mine, ordered a "Nano Kit" for my KFL, specifically for my VS DNA setup, gonna be one tiny and powerful package, can't wait!

My KFL, Fogger, IGO W-4, all thread perfectly on my unit, no wobble what so ever.

Bottom line is this is the smallest, non plastic DNA mod out there, and it is one of only a couple DNA mod's that has its own specially manufactured enclosure, and is not just built into an existing project box. Like anything mass produced, there are some QC issues.

If they got the cost down to $125 or so, I think they could really sell a lot of them, but even at $165, it is a good deal for a killer little mod.

I am using the hell out of mine, I will certainly be taking note of any issues I have, so far nothing but positive from here.

 

[StrikeIII]

I don't think I want to own anything but DNA devices at this point....

Is that the standard Protovape or the mini?

Edit: Nevermind that would be a full size. How is the quality of the device?


Sent from my Galaxy Note 3 using Tapatalk 4

 

[Jim66]

I received my replacement Vaporshark DNA, and it is working well. I have not had any further issues with the charging port. However, the logo on the replacement unit lasted all of 3 hours before wearing off.

The Positive
1) It works
2) I don't hate it
3) It's a DNA powered device

The Negative
1) IMO it is actually too small. A Protank fits perfectly, but a Kayfun Lite is too large for it and makes it too top heavy.
2) The Protank snugs up nicely, but when some atomizers are screwed on, there is a bit of 510 connector movement.
3) The wattage adjustment buttons are too easy to press. I find myself vaping at 20 watts all too often due to accidental changes in adjustment. Different buttons with stiffer springs could have helped here.
4) The finish isn't stellar.


Conclusion
In retrospect, I would not have purchased this device, but it isn't the worst APV I have ever owned.

 

[WombatNipples]

**EDIT**
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THIS REVIEW I REMOVED MY TRIDENT FROM THE VAPORSHARK AND BEGAN WALKING TO MY KITCHEN WITH IT IN MY HAND. I HEARD A HISSING COMING FROM THE DEVICE. I LOOKED DOWN AND SMOKE WAS POURING OUT OF THE CHARGE PORT. I THREW IT IN MY KITCHEN SINK AND THE BATTERY BEGAN TO EXPEL. THE SMOKE WAS SO THICK THAT THE SMOKE ALARM WENT OFF. I TURNED THE SINK ON AND RAN WATER ON THE DEVICE AS IT WAS CAUSING A BURN MARK ON MY STAINLESS SINK. I WAS NOT USING THE DEVICE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. NO ATTOMIZER WAS ATTACHED AND I HAD NOT USED IT FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. I MAY JUST HAVE A DEFECTIVE DEVICE BUT PLEASE BE AWARE OF THIS AND USE CAUSION!!!

I received my VS DNA on Friday so I've only had a few days with it. First impression was the packaging is pretty sweet. It comes packed in a clear plastic box similar to an Innokin MVP.

I pulled the device out and was personally ecstatic about the size. It is really small!! So small it fits in that small pocket inside the right pocket of jeans...Yeah you know the one. I have to be honest the finish seemed, like previous posts above me, plasticy.... but not cheap if that makes any sense. The fire button felt solid and was nice and clicky. The adjustment buttons felt pretty solid as well.

So immediately I go to turn on my new toy to try it out. No go...battery is completely drained. Not a problem I'll throw it on the charger and run it on pass through. Run to get a wall adapter and plug in the really short charging cable. If you plan on using this device in pass trough mode you will probably need a longer charge cable or you'll be sitting on the floor while vaping. Took 20+ min to get enough juice to fire her up.

I placed my trident V1 with a 1.7 ohm microcoil on and went up to 15W. Nice but I want more. Crept up to 16W but still wanted more. Immediately took her up to 20 and found I didn't want that lol. Ended up settling at 17.5W which is perfect for me and the Bryce's Vanilla Cream Pudding I'm currently addicted to.

Anyway back to the device. As for battery life I can not really give a definitive time frame on it as I've only been using the device for a few days. I can tell you that I charged it up last night and let it sit until noon. I fired it up and used it exclusively until 1 am which really surprised me as I usually go through 3 18490's a day in my Provari mini with the same coil setup.

As for the logo mine is holding up rather well. I tried to rub it off as soon as I took it out of the box but I take it they addressed the issue.

All-in-all I would recommend the Vaporshark DNA to anyone wanting to try out a DNA device that's under the $200 mark. If you don't like small mods buy something else because it is tiny. Hope I helped someone out.

Not sent from an Apple product.

 

[WombatNipples]

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=519333

Not sent from an Apple product.

 

[rick.mtn.view.ca]

MY EXPERIENCE WTH VS DNA
I got on the list when it was introduced and received it fairly quickly. Lasted about a month before charging circuit acted up, pretty much as described by other users. Logo rubbed off and paint started showing its wear. After emailing VAPORSHARK, i was given the OK to send back and a new one arrived several days later. Logo has improved and it appears the paint is a bit tougher. Nothing visible showing! I love the VS and am willing to put up with issues as long as the company stands behind the product. First mass produced DNA20 device. I just had to get this one!
Items I would have designed differently:
1-attach the 510 connector firmly to top of the box
2-four button type feet should have been molded or attached to outer most corners of bottom
3-improved charging port
How long will it last...who knows. I really don't see any reason to expect another failure. One of the fixes i added was to cut a piece of plastic to fit fairly tightly at the 510 connector. Just between the box and the 510. When the cover is screwed down there's just enough resistance to remove the play in the 510. I can still move it but it stops an atomizer from tipping back and forth. I consider the charging circuit failure just growing pains.
NEW DNA30 VAPORSHARK:
It appears they're giving up on the charging circuit as the new DNA30 Vaporshark has a magnetic connection. They also made changes to the 510. All for the same price. It appears, they're dropping the DNA20 all together!

 

[ZeroOhm]

Can anyone post there experience with the unit a month or so on, I'm interested in one of these would be good to hear from the owners.

 

[MrSheen]

Well, I received mine about 4 hours ago, so far doesn't seem too bad, 510 connector actually seems quite solid, and the finish is pretty good.....

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk