Vmax Review

[Necromancer]

This is a review on Vmax , based on my personal opinions , please do not flame !
Unboxing

Size comparison

3 Digit Display

LED Display

Comparison with Provari


Comparisons with Provari
Size compared to provari(with 18650 extension cap) is almost identical
Provari is slightly thicker in width
Provari is slightly heavier than Vmax
Threading wise for Vmax is ok, but not very smooth
End Cap design is different (duh)
Slightly longer grip grooves on Vmax
Vmax on the whole feels pretty solid
Vmax Well of the connection end is slightly deeper , Smoktech said they giving me a new version that supposedly able to fit Ego Type Atomizer/Cartomizers without extenders.. BUT NO. Doesnt fit.
3 LED Digit Display is together with firing button compared to Provari 2 Digit Display is opposite the firing button
Button is not perfectly seated and you can hear clicky sound when you shake it.
Feels solid.
Has Vent Hole
Uses 2 x 18350 battery

More details:
Vmax doesnt come with any manual , and for those who havent tried Provari before, the menu functions looks like some cryptic codes. (Voltage is shown as u, Resistance shown as o , etc)
Vmax does not come with any batteries, chargers.
Putting in the battery is a little troublesome as its a tight fit.
Brass painted with silver/black color.
Menu function similar to Provari;
On Function 5, you get to rotate between Output Voltage (d0), Atomizer/Cartomizer Resistance (dA) and Battery Voltage (du), once set, everytime you press the firing button, you will see the display shown as you choose
Vmax will operate from full charge (7.4-7.9V) till about 6V , then it will show LO (Low battery) and it will stop working, no warning given earlier.
Function 6, LED on/off : On LED off, the LED Display will still turn on, its only the firing button that turns off.

Technical Stuff (IMPORTANT)
Vmax packs ALOT of power, with a 5amp switch inside)
Will show error codes similar to Provari
Will not work with atomizers/cartomizers that is 0.5-1.3ohm (Shows a F1 Error)
Will not work with atomizers/cartomizers that is below 0.5ohm (shows a F2 Error)
Voltage output is NOT like Provari/Lavatube. On a 3ohm Stardust, 3V on Vmax is giving a MUCH hotter vape and near burning compared to a 3ohm Stardust, 4.2V on Provari/Lavatube (clean taste)
On the note above, The voltage output reads exactly the same (comapred to Provari/Lavatube) on a voltage meter, but performs nothing like it. Apparently the tuning of the voltage setting is flawed. The Voltage max under load is at 8V++ and cycles thru Voltage min is about -1.5V , The voltage average is 2.8-3V, but they didnt taken to account how high the peak of the voltage is heating up the atty/carto.
You will risk breaking the atomizer/cartomizer heating coil on higher voltage
If you remove the battery, the Voltage Output will reset to 5V, do take note or risk spoiling your atty/carto.

Pros:
Solid Build
Nice Clicky Button
Adjustability of Voltage
Short Circuit Protection like Provari/LT
Hold Voltage pretty well throughout the lifespan of battery like Provari/LT

Cons:
Stacked Battery
Hits Hard , doesnt perform like LT/Provari
No Manual
LED on/off switch is redundant
No Low Battery Warning
Doesnt memorize settings when you remove battery

On the bottomline, Vmax is a pretty sturdy built, but if it hits so hard all the time, adjusting voltage is unecessary as you are running mostly on 3V settings all the time , which is a major flaw. VV devices are made for you to adjust the voltage output setting to hit your sweet spot on different ohms carto/attys, so it seems a little silly when you cant even go higher voltage on Vmax without risking breaking your atty/carto or getting burnt taste.

 

[rocky111]

great review! I was supposed to get one of these because feel, build and performance is almost at par with the provari but my friend told me just to get the provari coz in the end i will end up getting one.

 

[JIMP-er46]

Nice review, Trini!

All e hype tt's surrounding e vmax in SG Vapers lately needed sm answers. Gd job!

 

[derbysig]

nice! thanks for this! Now i learnt another new thing. hehe..

 

[wultan]

It sure hits hard especially if you're one who uses single coils most of the time. Even with a 3 ohms Boge, I'm running mostly 3.2v, max 3.4v.

However, if you were to use it on a dual coil or a very high resistance (4-5 ohms) attie/carto, that's where the magic comes in.

Problem is, that mostly happens in places where such attie/carto are easily available like in Malaysia and the US. Also, you're paying 5 bucks a pop for a standard Boge here and 10 for a dual coil where as they paying less than half that. One sure as hell do not want to keep throwing them out.

Now some nitpicking:

The other con such as volt settings not holding up is also quite common in the LT where it resets to 3v whenever you replace the battery even if you "lock" the voltage in. At least it happened to mine.

Neither the LT nor this hold it's voltage as good as the Provari. The main selling point of the Provari is that it hold it's voltage at what you set, always. Period. This have been proven to not happen in the LT and Vmax. Check out PBusardo's video reviews and his comprehensive charts that he made.
But honestly, for the common folks, it's like comparing a built in speedometer in a car with a GPS speedometer. The GPS speedo tell you exactly what speed you traveling at but do you need that kind of accuracy for day-to-day driving? Some want it, others don't need it.


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Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[NornSaber]

if it's considered "magic" using dual coils on vmax ... then i must admit, it was a really magical eye opener for me.

tuned into 3 volts with 1.5 ohm smoktech dual coil tank and i got some burnt taste from the vape.

switched over to full-size and mini lava tube set at 3.7 volts and it vaped okay.

switched back to vMax again ... and then ... cursing and swearing all over again ?

a plausible explanation: perhaps due to the world famous inconsistent China QC, my vMax was more powerful than yours ?

sad i don't have a provari to test the same tank at 3.7 volts.

good news is: out of 10 1.5 ohm carts, at least one was acceptable and didn't display this problem.

kind of wonder what's the point of buying a 5 amp vMax for DCCT when you can't budge above 3 volts.

and what about those who find vaping DCCT at 3 volt too strong for them to accept ?

 

[Vinniz]

if it's considered "magic" using dual coils on vmax ... then i must admit, it was a really magical eye opener for me.

tuned into 3 volts with 1.5 ohm smoktech dual coil tank and i got some burnt taste from the vape.

switched over to full-size and mini lava tube set at 3.7 volts and it vaped okay.

switched back to vMax again ... and then ... cursing and swearing all over again ?

a plausible explanation: perhaps due to the world famous inconsistent China QC, my vMax was more powerful than yours ?

sad i don't have a provari to test the same tank at 3.7 volts.

good news is: out of 10 1.5 ohm carts, at least one was acceptable and didn't display this problem.

kind of wonder what's the point of buying a 5 amp vMax for DCCT when you can't budge above 3 volts.

and what about those who find vaping DCCT at 3 volt too strong for them to accept ?

USe higher Resistance atty?

 

[Domtine]

if it's considered "magic" using dual coils on vmax ... then i must admit, it was a really magical eye opener for me.

tuned into 3 volts with 1.5 ohm smoktech dual coil tank and i got some burnt taste from the vape.

switched over to full-size and mini lava tube set at 3.7 volts and it vaped okay.



switched back to vMax again ... and then ... cursing and swearing all over again ?

a plausible explanation: perhaps due to the world famous inconsistent China QC, my vMax was more powerful than yours ?

sad i don't have a provari to test the same tank at 3.7 volts.

good news is: out of 10 1.5 ohm carts, at least one was acceptable and didn't display this problem.

kind of wonder what's the point of buying a 5 amp vMax for DCCT when you can't budge above 3 volts.

and what about those who find vaping DCCT at 3 volt too strong for them to accept ?

unless ur vmax used diff RCL(resistor, capacitor, inductor) values for regulation if not performance would not vary widely in the same production batch.

It could be your juice cannot take the hi wattage of the vmax also. Yes, juice can be a factor for chao tar taste oso. change juice, prime and try again

my 6V/6A poorvari box mod on a 1.5ohm DCT can drive up to 5V before getting burnt taste but for vapability i set it to 3.1V for chain vaping. Juice is from SGJ PG70 green apple + cooling.

FOr those wondering y i got bulli a2tm but still buy dct: New mods coming up.....

for those feel that DCT too strong, increase VG lor......

 

[sixfiend]

love the poorvari, it cooks everything nicely.

 

[NornSaber]

Vinniz, thx for the tip. yet so many ppl out there claiming vMax is superb for LR DC

Karl, dun know leh.

maybe u'r rite, could be due to the liquid.

all my liquid from HangSen 80% PG 20% VG

here's the list ... BOLD means no chao tar taste.

Apple (12mg)
Blackcurrant (12mg)
Blueberry (12mg)
Cappuccino (12mg)
Champagne (12mg)
Cherry (12mg)
Chocolate Cream (12mg)
Coffee (12mg)
Cola (12mg)
Cotton Candy (12mg)
Deluxe (Dunhil) (16mg)
Espresso (12mg)
Grape (12mg)
Green Tea (12mg)
Hangsen Premium Delight (18mg)
Hangsen Premium Menthol Sensation (18mg)
Hangsen Premium Storm (18mg)
Hangsen Premium Impulse (18mg)
Kiwi (12mg)
Longan (12mg)
Lychee (12mg)
Mandarin (12mg)
Melon (12mg)
Menthol (12mg)
Mango (12mg)
Peanut butter (12mg)
Pina Colada (12mg)
Popcorn (16mg)
Raspberry (12mg)
Red Bull (16mg)
Red USA Mix (16mg)
Root Beer (12mg)
Spearmint (12mg)
Strong Mint (12mg)
Vanilla (12mg)
Watermelon (16mg)

 

[Vinniz]

Ur welcome. As expected, Fruit/sweet flavours will tend to easily have 'burnt' taste as compared to others at a certain amp.

 

[Domtine]

The more complex the flavors the less likely for it to burn due to longer chain of molecues?

I'm not only talking about those epic juices from BWB or HJ. I'm referring to those that mimic foods.

 

[wultan]

@NornSaber I think there may be other factors involved like what others are saying. I don't have a chance to try that many flavors as you. My daily are:

HC Lemon black tea 12mg 60/40 and I use it in a 3ohm Boge @ between 3.6 - 3.8 on the vmax.

I recently tried watermelon, same carto, but 18mg instead and I can't go anywhere above 3.2.

Dual coils, I've tried the same lemon black tea and could manage around 4.2v.
But I'm not a fan of dual coils especially since the only ones available here are the smoktech ones. I find they are a pain to fill and do not always work right. Too much variations cartos to cartos.

I'm sending my unit in to get the button fixed. Hopefully, I can get them to change the board as well. As mentioned, its kinda useless if you're always stuck at the 3.0 - 4.0v range.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[NornSaber]

@NornSaber I think there may be other factors involved like what others are saying. I don't have a chance to try that many flavors as you. My daily are:

HC Lemon black tea 12mg 60/40 and I use it in a 3ohm Boge @ between 3.6 - 3.8 on the vmax.

I recently tried watermelon, same carto, but 18mg instead and I can't go anywhere above 3.2.

Dual coils, I've tried the same lemon black tea and could manage around 4.2v.
But I'm not a fan of dual coils especially since the only ones available here are the smoktech ones. I find they are a pain to fill and do not always work right. Too much variations cartos to cartos.

I'm sending my unit in to get the button fixed. Hopefully, I can get them to change the board as well. As mentioned, its kinda useless if you're always stuck at the 3.0 - 4.0v range.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

wah! bro, sounds like HC's lemon black tea can tahan quite high temp. must get some to try out

your dual coils at 11.76 watts?, wouldn't that be very hot compared to your single coil at 4.32 watts (3x difference?)

for me, dual coil at 6.0 watts (vmax can't go lower, set at 3v), single coil at 5.07 watts.

a VV is supposed to be a perfect choice, where u could buck or boost according to your preference.

as in this case, can't buck but you could try boosting more to test if the dcct would pop!

they use 5 amps especially for their dcct, this marriage of smoktech vmax to smoktech dcct is a joke.

QC for vmax is really sub-par, bottom cap not in correct position when screwed in fully.

led plastic cover (left end flushed, right end protrude a couple mm).

buttom sometimes doesn't fire, have to fire it an extra few times.

if i wanted hard hits with burnt taste lr dc, i could've bought high voltage devices like 5v 6v 7.4v etc. for much less.

sad to say vmax is one device i regret buying, should've just bought a provari or darwin.

end of the day, money spent on 2 LT + 1 vmax = provari v2

ironically, the joy of shopping and trying out new stuffs got me just like how curiosity killed the cat

 

[wultan]

Lol...

I went from 1 SDK to 2 SDKs, then an Ego-C set, then 1 ego passthrough followed by LT, then a Bolt, then now Vmax. Currently, I'm left with 1 SDK and 1 passthrough. Guess what's next?

Buy and sell don't really lose much and like you, I tried them out of curiosity.

If you want better firing, drop the Vmax from standing position to laying down position on the button (joking don't do it!). It happened to mine and now my button is "touch sensitive". No pressure needed. Just touch! .

Smoktech Dual coils has 2 x 3ohms coils in there requiring a higher voltage. Most ppl use them with 5v mods.


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[NornSaber]

Lol...

I went from 1 SDK to 2 SDKs, then an Ego-C set, then 1 ego passthrough followed by LT, then a Bolt, then now Vmax. Currently, I'm left with 1 SDK and 1 passthrough. Guess what's next?

Buy and sell don't really lose much and like you, I tried them out of curiosity.

If you want better firing, drop the Vmax from standing position to laying down position on the button (joking don't do it!). It happened to mine and now my button is "touch sensitive". No pressure needed. Just touch! .

Smoktech Dual coils has 2 x 3ohms coils in there requiring a higher voltage. Most ppl use them with 5v mods.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

"sensor touch button" ... cool

i really want to buy a provari and see if it really delivers ...

will definitely get the full-sized, gave up 18350 batteries.

just need one definite confirmation with the following scenario:

>>> provari set to 6 volts on a 3 ohms boge single coil in a tank <<<

when battery level = 4.2v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 4.1v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 4.0v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.9v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.8v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.7v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.6v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.5v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.4v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.3v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.2v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.1v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.0v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?

since everyone claims the provari is the only ultimate device that truly holds it's output regardless of battery level,

really need to know if it truly is that superior before i take the plunge.

 

[wultan]

"sensor touch button" ... cool

i really want to buy a provari and see if it really delivers ...

will definitely get the full-sized, gave up 18350 batteries.

just need one definite confirmation with the following scenario:

>>> provari set to 6 volts on a 3 ohms boge single coil in a tank <<<

when battery level = 4.2v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 4.1v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 4.0v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.9v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.8v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.7v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.6v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.5v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.4v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.3v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.2v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.1v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.0v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?

since everyone claims the provari is the only ultimate device that truly holds it's output regardless of battery level,

really need to know if it truly is that superior before i take the plunge.

Everything you need to know about the Provari V2, here. I'm surprised you've not come across it yet.
http://www.tasteyourjuice.com/topsecret/wordpress/?p=714


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[snooke_master]

when battery level = 4.2v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 4.1v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 4.0v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.9v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.8v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.7v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.6v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.5v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.4v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.3v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.2v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.1v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?
when battery level = 3.0v, provari will measure 6 volts under load ?

Copy and paste from EXCEL hur...?

 

[NornSaber]

Copy and paste from EXCEL hur...?

er .... nope

copy and pasted within "Quick Reply"

 

[Currynoah]

wah! bro, sounds like HC's lemon black tea can tahan quite high temp. must get some to try out

your dual coils at 11.76 watts?, wouldn't that be very hot compared to your single coil at 4.32 watts (3x difference?)

for me, dual coil at 6.0 watts (vmax can't go lower, set at 3v), single coil at 5.07 watts.

a VV is supposed to be a perfect choice, where u could buck or boost according to your preference.

as in this case, can't buck but you could try boosting more to test if the dcct would pop!

they use 5 amps especially for their dcct, this marriage of smoktech vmax to smoktech dcct is a joke.

QC for vmax is really sub-par, bottom cap not in correct position when screwed in fully.

led plastic cover (left end flushed, right end protrude a couple mm).

buttom sometimes doesn't fire, have to fire it an extra few times.

if i wanted hard hits with burnt taste lr dc, i could've bought high voltage devices like 5v 6v 7.4v etc. for much less.

sad to say vmax is one device i regret buying, should've just bought a provari or darwin.

end of the day, money spent on 2 LT + 1 vmax = provari v2

ironically, the joy of shopping and trying out new stuffs got me just like how curiosity killed the cat

Haha... All the money you spend on the things in your siggie, you could have gotten a Darwin. The Darwin to me, is the best in terms of wattage control. Aside from it's looks and built-in battery of course!