Hi ECF members, In this review i take a look at the Kensei rta by Vandy Vape. The Kensei rta was kindly supplied for the purpose of this review by Ema from sourcemore.
https://www.sourcemore.com/vandy-vape-ke...steel.html
In the Box
Contents
1x Kensei RTA / 2ml Straight Glass / 810 Resin drip tip
1x 4ml bubble glass
1x 810 delrin drip tip.
1x Tool for juice fill section
1x Screwdriver
1x Allen Key
1x 510 Adaptor
Spare Grub Screws
Spare O-rings
Aesthetics
The Kensei RTA comes in plastic see through packaging so before even opening you notice the heavy texturing to top and bottom sections, as well as in the case of the one i received a gorgeous blue resin drip tip. I received the silver version but looking at the other colours available they all come with a resin drip tip that goes very well with the colour of the tank (not necessarily matching the tank colour). After opening the packaging and taking a closer look at the Kensei you notice the build quality and machining is first class. The air chamber has Kensei printed on it with bold fancy lettering but apart from that and heavy texturing there is nothing really feature wise that stands out, but there doesn't need to be as you are left impressed by the high quality of the machine work. The top-cap does taper inwards at the top which gives it a slightly different look but that's about it. The Kensei comes with a 2ml straight glass which will need to be changed for the provided 4ml bubble glass, (2ml just not enough capacity, top notch RTA's seem to plough through the liquid and believe me, this is top-notch). Once the bubble glass is fitted the tapered heavy textured top-cap seems more pronounced and i'm beginning to not just like it for it's quality workmanship. The Kensei does come with a spare 810 delrin drip tip with dotted texturing but i hate this style of drip tip as i find it rough on the lips so that won't be used, finally there is a supplied 510 adaptor so you can fit one of your own if you wish.
Specs:
Material: Stainless Steal
Capacity: 2ml / 4ml
Length:38.7mm
Diameter:24mm
Weight:160g
Connection Type: 510
Colour: Matte Black, SS, Gold, Rainbow, Blue.
Disassembling and Assembling the Tank
Separating the tank into its various sections is easy enough, the top-cap unscrews from the top of the tank, then using the provided tool unscrew the juice fill section from the air chamber (which then means the glass is free). Finally just unscrew the deck from the air chamber. To reassemble just choose which glass you want (i recommend using the bubble glass) and reverse the process.
The Build Deck
The build deck has another interesting airflow system with all the air being directed from the bottom upwards through a honeycomb grill. In theory it gives you concentrated jets of air (8 on each side) hitting the entire bottom and lower sides of the coils, then swirling around the upper sides. The deck has raised stair style posts with the higher posts being on the outer side (i prefer it when the outer posts are the higher ones, i just find it easier when it comes to wicking). I used a pair of fused claptons, but you could go to town with this deck and use big chunky coils. Fixing the coils in place is easy enough (always easier with raised posts), you need to manipulate the positioning to get them lined up with the honeycomb grill but it's no great drama. Most people can look at a style of deck and work out how best to wick it, so i don't mean to patronise anybody so the best rule for those unsure is if it's not wicking efficiently you've got too much cotton but if you are having leaking issues you don't have enough (this is not the original Kylin if this is wicked correctly it doesn't leak).
Filling the Tank and Juice Flow control.
If when you are fiddling with the tank and the juice flow control seems a bit dodgy and turns the airflow with it don't worry it works great when the tank is fitted on a device, for that reason i would recommend filling your tank when it's on your mod. Close the juice flow by gripping the glass then turning the tank, allowing you to unscrew the top-cap without flooding the deck due to the lost vacuum. When the top-cap is off fill via one of the two very large juice slots then screw the top-cap back on. Now the vacuum is re-established turn the tank to open the juice flow.
Performance
The best tanks i have used in 2017 are tanks that have all been released in the last few weeks. This period of time has produced my favourite RDA and my top 3 RTA's (all single coil). That top 3 has now become a top 4 (i have tested 1 more RTA and a couple of RDA's i still need to write the reviews for but they don't reach the same dizzy heights, so unless there's a very late comer it's how the year will end). The difference between the Kensei and the other 3 is of course the Kensei is duel coil. I used a pair of fused claptons, with the build coming out at 0.24 and settled for a wattage of 45w and it was a special experience. Yes i got plenty of cloud but it's all about the flavour and the Kensei delivers big time. Along with the excellent flavour, the airflow is so smooth (with the Geekvape Zeus possibly being my favourite single coil RTA), there must be something about having a grill type airflow that is giving superior flavour and making the airflow smooth.
Pros:
Excellent Flavour
Smooth Airflow
Innovative Airflow System
Quality Machining
Raised Stair Style Posts
4ml Capacity
Good Cloud Production
Easy to Build
Cons
Where's all my juice gone! (it ploughs through juice)
Conclusion
In my opinion (remember i haven't tried every RTA) the best duel coil RTA of 2017.
I would once again like to thank Ema from Sourcemore for supplying the Kensei RTA for review.
https://www.sourcemore.com/vandy-vape-ke...steel.html
https://www.sourcemore.com/vandy-vape-ke...steel.html
In the Box
Contents
1x Kensei RTA / 2ml Straight Glass / 810 Resin drip tip
1x 4ml bubble glass
1x 810 delrin drip tip.
1x Tool for juice fill section
1x Screwdriver
1x Allen Key
1x 510 Adaptor
Spare Grub Screws
Spare O-rings
Aesthetics
The Kensei RTA comes in plastic see through packaging so before even opening you notice the heavy texturing to top and bottom sections, as well as in the case of the one i received a gorgeous blue resin drip tip. I received the silver version but looking at the other colours available they all come with a resin drip tip that goes very well with the colour of the tank (not necessarily matching the tank colour). After opening the packaging and taking a closer look at the Kensei you notice the build quality and machining is first class. The air chamber has Kensei printed on it with bold fancy lettering but apart from that and heavy texturing there is nothing really feature wise that stands out, but there doesn't need to be as you are left impressed by the high quality of the machine work. The top-cap does taper inwards at the top which gives it a slightly different look but that's about it. The Kensei comes with a 2ml straight glass which will need to be changed for the provided 4ml bubble glass, (2ml just not enough capacity, top notch RTA's seem to plough through the liquid and believe me, this is top-notch). Once the bubble glass is fitted the tapered heavy textured top-cap seems more pronounced and i'm beginning to not just like it for it's quality workmanship. The Kensei does come with a spare 810 delrin drip tip with dotted texturing but i hate this style of drip tip as i find it rough on the lips so that won't be used, finally there is a supplied 510 adaptor so you can fit one of your own if you wish.
Specs:
Material: Stainless Steal
Capacity: 2ml / 4ml
Length:38.7mm
Diameter:24mm
Weight:160g
Connection Type: 510
Colour: Matte Black, SS, Gold, Rainbow, Blue.
Disassembling and Assembling the Tank
Separating the tank into its various sections is easy enough, the top-cap unscrews from the top of the tank, then using the provided tool unscrew the juice fill section from the air chamber (which then means the glass is free). Finally just unscrew the deck from the air chamber. To reassemble just choose which glass you want (i recommend using the bubble glass) and reverse the process.
The Build Deck
The build deck has another interesting airflow system with all the air being directed from the bottom upwards through a honeycomb grill. In theory it gives you concentrated jets of air (8 on each side) hitting the entire bottom and lower sides of the coils, then swirling around the upper sides. The deck has raised stair style posts with the higher posts being on the outer side (i prefer it when the outer posts are the higher ones, i just find it easier when it comes to wicking). I used a pair of fused claptons, but you could go to town with this deck and use big chunky coils. Fixing the coils in place is easy enough (always easier with raised posts), you need to manipulate the positioning to get them lined up with the honeycomb grill but it's no great drama. Most people can look at a style of deck and work out how best to wick it, so i don't mean to patronise anybody so the best rule for those unsure is if it's not wicking efficiently you've got too much cotton but if you are having leaking issues you don't have enough (this is not the original Kylin if this is wicked correctly it doesn't leak).
Filling the Tank and Juice Flow control.
If when you are fiddling with the tank and the juice flow control seems a bit dodgy and turns the airflow with it don't worry it works great when the tank is fitted on a device, for that reason i would recommend filling your tank when it's on your mod. Close the juice flow by gripping the glass then turning the tank, allowing you to unscrew the top-cap without flooding the deck due to the lost vacuum. When the top-cap is off fill via one of the two very large juice slots then screw the top-cap back on. Now the vacuum is re-established turn the tank to open the juice flow.
Performance
The best tanks i have used in 2017 are tanks that have all been released in the last few weeks. This period of time has produced my favourite RDA and my top 3 RTA's (all single coil). That top 3 has now become a top 4 (i have tested 1 more RTA and a couple of RDA's i still need to write the reviews for but they don't reach the same dizzy heights, so unless there's a very late comer it's how the year will end). The difference between the Kensei and the other 3 is of course the Kensei is duel coil. I used a pair of fused claptons, with the build coming out at 0.24 and settled for a wattage of 45w and it was a special experience. Yes i got plenty of cloud but it's all about the flavour and the Kensei delivers big time. Along with the excellent flavour, the airflow is so smooth (with the Geekvape Zeus possibly being my favourite single coil RTA), there must be something about having a grill type airflow that is giving superior flavour and making the airflow smooth.
Pros:
Excellent Flavour
Smooth Airflow
Innovative Airflow System
Quality Machining
Raised Stair Style Posts
4ml Capacity
Good Cloud Production
Easy to Build
Cons
Where's all my juice gone! (it ploughs through juice)
Conclusion
In my opinion (remember i haven't tried every RTA) the best duel coil RTA of 2017.
I would once again like to thank Ema from Sourcemore for supplying the Kensei RTA for review.
https://www.sourcemore.com/vandy-vape-ke...steel.html
