VV Reo Grand I

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unsure

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redeyedancer

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I surely hope so but sadly do not agree I think a lot of people have been holding off for this one. I think Rob's server is gonna get slammed harder than a pretty boy in a supermax :facepalm:
I sure hope so or I am going to be stuck with a big pile of expensive aluminum paper weights
 

Rhapsodies Fire

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ufo

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As promised, here is the translation of my review. I hope that I have not made ​​many mistakes and that it is understandable: as I said, many expressions of the Italian language does not have a counterpart in English, so I did what I could.:blush:

Since I am one of the moderators of my forum, I often do not have much time to spend on ECF to talk with you or to respond to any questions, unfortunately:(. So I leave here the link of the 3d I opened specifically (in English) in my forum: http://www.esigarettaportal.it/forum/recensioni/24560-review-reo-grand-vv.html
Obviously, any Reonaut here is always welcome if he wants to come to visit the community of italian Reonauts in my forum:)

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VARIABLE VOLTAGE REO GRAND​

FEATURES AND INITIAL CONSIDERATIONS

The Reo Grand VV is a bottom feeder varivolt that for workmanship, materials and shape is identical to the Reo Grand, with the only aesthetic difference of being slightly higher than the mechanical brother

- Size: 14 mm in height more than the Grand mechanical (ie 99mm against 85mm), other measures are identical.

- workmanship: Compared to the mechanical model, the Grand VV presents an improvement; the corners of the boxes have been rounded (the rear ones then, in a very pronounced way), then seeing the box profile it seems that the Grand VV is thinner of the Grand classic. In addition, rounded corners make seem more streamlined and sleek the box, and also provide a better grip, thus increasing the pleasure and comfort of the handle.

Foto2707.jpg

- tank capacity 6 ml (same bottle and the same tube of Grand)

- Battery: 2x18350 each 3.7v (recommended), but as in many other the box VV in this category, you can also mount the various batt of smaller size, such as 16340 and CR123 (so both Tenergy or the AW LiFePO4)

- Circuit: it is the well known circuit of VV Buzz Pro, which is a voltage regulator with a PWM with a limit of 15 watts. It does not include a display (a choice that, as I always said, I consider appropriate, if it should be aimed at limiting the size). The voltage varies from a minimum of 3.3 V to a maximum of 5.6 v, and allows, of course, variations very fine, of the order of 0.1 v. The adjustment takes place through a toothed wheel located in the right side of the black plastic, which anyone who has had a Grand already knows; the difference is that the plastic of the Grand VV is obviously a bit 'higher, having to hold the circuit VV and its annexed electronic components. The voltage regulation is very comfortable to handle, do not need screwdrivers or laborious work, you just slide the door a little down, and then adjustment ring is now at your fingertips.

- Switch: lever on / off switch located on the right side of the support of black plastic, just below the adjustment ring of voltage

Foto2701.jpg


- The material: I need not to describe it. Anyone who has taken up a Grand, can be sure that rediscover the exact same "granitic" feeling of solidity and reliability provided by a good monoblock of machined aluminum and fully anodized.

-button: the much-discussed side button, on which Rob focused long to decide as it should be and where it should be placed, is, in my opinion, an excellent choice (now, in retrospect, I can say that Rob has done well to take time necessary, because even a simple button can be an important detail both from the functional point of view, as on the purely aesthetic one): small and easy to press, as the button of a Ego, also has the advantage of not disturbing the linearity of the PV: it was, in fact, placed in a small alcove on the side of the box and not protruding at all. It is flush with the rest of the box (and this aesthetic particular, in my opinion, exalts even more the clean shapes that has always characterized the Reos).

Foto2702.jpg


- Weight: I preferred to measure the true weight of the box, which is what we carry around every day, with atom and batt mounted. The weight of the Grand VV is about 179g (I say approximately because the bottle was half full), compared to 172g of the classic Grand identically configured (atom 510 and two batt 18350).

Foto2708.jpg



STRUCTURAL-AESTHETIC EVALUATION

Well, what I think about the structural and aesthetic plan is not a secret, because I mentioned earlier as the Grand VV, in my opinion, is an authentic "pleasure" for the eyes and for touch. I speak, of course, as a lover of the line of the classic Grand, which I always considered (and is not a secret) a point of reference, both in terms of size (very balanced and proportionate), as well as on that of the line (simple, linear and essential but at the same time solid and robust, so that the Grand has become the paradigm of PV "for any occasion"). Well, when I checked out the Grand VV from its packaging and I picked up for the first time, I was surprised at how similar the two were and of how the new Reo was even more beautiful than I had imagined seeing the pictures . I found the line, the compactness and robustness of my beloved Grand, but with the addition of details (like the new buttons, rounded corners and, of course, the circuit VV) that make, in my opinion, this box unique in its kind. In fact, concerning the boxmods VV of big size (ie for batt 18350) there are a lot (as the most experts vapers well known); most of them tend to "very large" size, while some of them (such as the Bogger VV) can take place within the limits of "medium-large" size. Now, as manic of measures and portability, I was really pleased to see that the Grand VV has a size that could almost be considered "medium", because I use, transport, and put it in my pocket exactly like my old beloved Grand, and those 14mm of difference in height are hardly to feel.
Probably, in the category for 18350, Grand VV is the box that currently has the best size / portability / performance ratio among all those known to me (and I say this being a holder of some of the boxmods VV considered, for lines and size, among the most optimized on the market ... well the Grand VV is much more comfortable and considerably less bulky). In fact, its structure is optimized perfectly in order to reduce the size (thanks also to the small circuit of Buzz). I have seen no waste of space and everything seems designed for maximum efficiency in minimum space .... In short, it can be noticed at first sight like every single detail has not been left to chance.
Here are some pictures to give an idea of its shape, its dimensions and also of any divergence from classic Grand that everyone know and from one of the smallest box VV for batt 18350 on the market,

Foto2695.jpg


Foto2705.jpg

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Also with regard to the interior, it can be seen the touch of the Reosmods House: a cleaning and a simplicity identical to that of Grand mechanic. No wires, nothing of superfluous, no electric elements which can break or make uncomfortable replacing the batt or the bottle. The circuit, in fact, is completely preserved behind the usual element of black plastic (also present on Grand), on which, as I said before, are encased also the small on-off lever and the wheel to adjust the voltage.
Here are some internal pictures to illustrate better what I wrote:

Foto2699.jpg

Foto2700.jpg
 

ufo

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We come to some limitations that is necessary to mention.

1) As mentioned at the beginning, the material of the Grand VV is solid aluminum and, personally, I have found the same feeling of solidity that I always had alone and only holding a "rock" as the Grand, which, for my taste tactile , is unique and incomparable. However, my feeling is somewhat subjective, given that many of boxmods lovers prefer the warmth and the softness of the wood. So this box is not, of course, indicated to those seeking the naturalness of the contact with a wood.

2) Aluminum has all the advantages that we well know, but its only limitation is perhaps the weight. The Grand VV, as you have seen from the characteristics listed, weighs only a few grams more of the Classic Grand. However, compared to a wooden box, is certainly more heavy, especially if it is a mechanically operated Wood. However, with a Wood box VV, the difference becomes less pronounced, almost negligible, since a box VV in wood of the same category, like the Bogger VV, weighs only about 5 grams less than the Grand VV. Therefore, those who are very sensitive to the weight of a PV, keep into account this point.

3) Sincerely, I have tried to find other defects, but I have not succeeded:D



TESTS AND COMPARISONS

Here at last the most awaited part of each review, which is that about the performance.

First, a brief mention to the feeding system: as expected it is completely identical to that of any other REO (which in this area continues to maintain a prominent place, given the ease in the squonking, the abundance of flux and the low pressure that should be exercised to wet well the atom). The bottle and the tube are, of course, the same of the Grand mechanic, so who are already familiar with it will be immediately at his ease... and, then, will find already at home some spare parts too:biggrin:


1. Instrumental measurements

Now, the Grand VV, set to any voltage (from 3.3 to 5.6 v.) and measured without an atom, ie no load, returns exactly the value that was set. "What a great miracle!!!", You're probably saying:asd:. Well, the beauty is that it does the same even under load:wink:, in the sense that with the atom it keeps exactly the voltage set without having a minimal loss. To make certain, the earliest test I did was that of the ceiling: 5.5 v with atom 510 from 2 ohms. The result is that the Grand VV keeps perfectly to 5.5 v (about 15.1 watts) without showing any voltage drops, even after hours of use of the batt. For example, while I'm writing this review (late afternoon), I have within it two AW IMR 18350 mounted this morning, with which I have already consumed approximately 2.5 ml of liquid (so, batt very stressed). I just did a measurement with my digital voltmeter and the result was again 5.5 V under load.

One warning: take these values as "indicative", since we are talking of a VV with a PWM (in these cases, in the absence of an oscilloscope, by a simple voltmeter you can obtain generally an approximate measure of the “medium voltage” (Vmed), but not of the individual impulses which are those that provide the “effective voltage” (Veff) at which we are vaping). Then I’ll also add my personal impressions of its power, trying to be as objective as possible.

Anyway, back to the measurements, I wanted to report another fact, that I do not know how to explain myself. The limit of the circuit of the Buzz Pro is well known to be 15w. I expected so that fitting an 1.5 ohms atom, with circuit set to maximum, the voltage under load should had adapted accordingly: and instead I was surprised! I put an 1.5 cartom (not an atom, because I'm tired of burning them for testing!!!) and the Grand VV has fried it continuing to maintain its ceiling of 5.5 v, which is, doing a little math: 5,5X5,5/1,5 =20.1W. How is this possible? Immediately I thought that they were not effective (because of the business of PWM) but, going to try to vape (because I am masochistic:smokie:), I intoxicated to right: maybe they will not have been 20w, but they sure were not the 15w with which I had used the Grand VV until then.
I do not know what to say about it, I wanted to mention in the review only because it is still one more element of information and also because, perhaps, someone might have read something similar in one of the 3d dedicated to Buzz Pro.


2. Impressions of use

After the debut with the instrumental data, I try to describe my personal impressions in the vaping.
The Grand VV is an excellent machine. I must confess that since I received it, I'm not touching another (except to make parallel comparisons). I use it assiduously, not only because I am one of the testers, but also because Grand VV is really very satisfying from all points of view. It 's very comfortable, portable, and a true "combat machine ", like my dear, inseparable, Grand. But also stable, constant and flexible, as only an excellent VV can be. I keep it mostly configured between 14 - 15w (which are my own habitual wattage) and I feel that it really keeps them "in fluency", with a stability and consistency of performance that, given my long drawn (7-8 seconds), I cannot help but appreciate it. Even the 'autonomy appears to be excellent: with a pair of batt, it seems to me that I am able to vape longer than I can do with all my others VV.


3. Impressions in relation to other boxes VV

For what I have seen so far, I am inclined to confirm the positive feedback that can be read on the web about the high quality of the the circuit of the Buzz Pro, because the GrandVV gave me the impression of being equipped with a great circuit, very stable and efficient. Under these points of view, I have no doubt that it exceeds the performance of the various circuits in circulation that I've tried (Murata T-okr, Lm 2596, etc. ..), and from what I can tell "by feel" (hoping my lungs assist me again :smokie:), it seems slightly more efficient than the well-known de-swadj3, which, however, has the advantage of not having the limit of the 5.5v. Having this limit, it is obvious that the harder vapers, like myself, have to use atom with low resistances to get more satisfaction, because, using an HVatom, it will not be possible to set the voltage at 6 or 6.5v as on de-swadj3. Fortunately for me, I do not have this problem: I use almost exclusively atom of 1.5-2 ohm (2.5 ohm max), I vape mainly between 14 and 15 watts, and when, on certain occasions, I want to do holes in my throat:smoker:, I appeal to my old good mechanical Grand that, with two IMR 18350, reaches wattages that are prohibitive for any VV.

Here some pictures a part of my family (there was no room for other boxes unfortunately:laugh:).

Foto2715.jpg


Foto2716.jpg



CONCLUSIONS

This boxmod, is really enjoying for me in all its aspects. Maybe, because I have a particular predilection for the products reosmod’s house, or because I found in a single PV, the comfort, the lines and the joys of the Reo Grand combined with the advantages of a good VV, but I cannot help but express a sincere appreciation for this PV. I have made my better for being more honest and objective as possible in describing the PV (which is not easy, given my love for Reos:hubba:).
Surely (and this is inevitable) each review is always a bit “polluted”, positively or negatively, by the personal tastes of the one who wrote it, and probably also this is so. Therefore, I do not see conclusion more honest than saying: assess accurately, and listen also all opinions of others who have tried this wonderful mod (as I always said, the only kind of objectivity we can hope lies in the plurality and never in the judgment of an individual) ..... on my side, however, always to be honest, I must add one last detail: I'm seriously considering getting another Grand VV, saw that my passion has always been the black / black:laugh:

Good read

Ufo
 
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