Reply With Quoteboth good units. What do you want it for? shallow water, deep water? Chasing bass, finding reefs and wrecks?
These are just to close to call for me. Pros and cons with both I like the Lowrance but it only has 200khz.
Help me decide, LowranceX135 or a Matrix37X.
both good units. What do you want it for? shallow water, deep water? Chasing bass, finding reefs and wrecks?
Sorry should have specified.
Offshore to 50fathoms and yes spotting a wreck etc, also handy would be the side sonar on the matrix for looking at the seaway wall. (gold Coast)
Used for the odd inshore estuary excursion as well.
Now the Garmin 250 has entered the fray after I saw the price in the shops and it seems pretty cool as well or???
have a look at the eagle seafinder 480df
480 x 480 pixels 200/50 transducer 4000 p-p 500rms
under $600 good value
cheers brian
Definitely go with a narrower beam for 50 fathoms. According to the lowrance web side the X135 comes with 60º cone angle. IIRC Rough rule with 60º is 1 foot wide for every 1 foot of depth. The beam would be 50 fathoms wide at 50 fathoms (give or take a fathom or two). 6 feet to the fathom thats 300 feet or 90m down/90m wide. thats a lot of bottom to try and get an accurate lock on.
I've seen pics of the screen on the eagle 480x480 and they look great, so maybe a dual beam Eagle 480DF might do the job (the narrow beam is 12º and wide is 35º). 12º will give you about 18m wide come at 90m deep. Eagle are just a slightly down market version of lowrance. Not that much difference.
Other option is the Matrix 37. Looks to be a good unit too, multibeam. Centre cone is 20°/60°, with 2 slightly off centre cones of 45° each. Total of 90°. http://www.humminbird.com/images/for...rix37_quad.jpg
Don't think you can go wrong with either the Eagle or the Matrix.
I don't know how much confidence I have in the Eagle but I was just shown the Garmin 250 dual transducer unit that has 10deg & 40deg beams and the same power as the Matrix but almost $200 cheaper. No on has commented on this unit in my earlier post but it seems to have everything that is required albeit "only" 320 x320 pixels to the X37 640 x 320 pixels.
the eagle is a lowrance
cheers brian
Yes tis true its made by Lowrance, my research the last few days has dicovered a lot of dissatisfaction with Lowrance aftersales service and quality control so I've grown a bit apprehensive of selecting the cheaper little brother of that unit. Although I must say that all who have a working unit seem very happy with their results. Could have been a bad batch go out.
Mr Mauler suggested the Matrix so I think thats the way I will go as I was leaning in that direction anyway.
hey mate i am also in the same situation as you are decidin between the lowrance x135 and the humminbird x37. Though i am usin it for bass fishin in impoundments. I am leaning towards the Lowrance as in the past 4 years i have owned 3 humminbirds and everyone has had to go back due to troubles. I have also used the matrixs and have found with the 3 beams they dont have the required power for picking up some stuff. I have got a price of $590 for the Lowrance and cant remember Humminbird. How does this compare to your price?
See yas
I got a price of $697.50 for the Matrix from BIAS but I'm waiting for the new Whitworth catalogue hoping it will be lower.
As far as returns go I have seen plenty of reports of dramas with both brands but the reports on the slow service on the Lowrance stuck in my eye.
Seems like if you get a unit that works first time and hangs in there then you're doing well. Made me decide not to import direct from US in any case.
it'll be lower.. BIAS rip people off.. should be anything upto $60 cheaper
Lordy - why is it good to have bottom lock?Originally Posted by lordy
Definitely go with a narrower beam for 50 fathoms. According to the lowrance web side the X135 comes with 60º cone angle. IIRC Rough rule with 60º is 1 foot wide for every 1 foot of depth. The beam would be 50 fathoms wide at 50 fathoms (give or take a fathom or two). 6 feet to the fathom thats 300 feet or 90m down/90m wide. thats a lot of bottom to try and get an accurate lock on.<br><br>I've seen pics of the screen on the eagle 480x480 and they look great, so maybe a dual beam Eagle 480DF might do the job (the narrow beam is 12º and wide is 35º). 12º will give you about 18m wide come at 90m deep. Eagle are just a slightly down market version of lowrance. Not that much difference.<br><br>Other option is the Matrix 37. Looks to be a good unit too, multibeam. Centre cone is 20°/60°, with 2 slightly off centre cones of 45° each. Total of 90°. http://www.humminbird.com/images/forGallery/matrix37_quad.jpg<br><br>on't think you can go wrong with either the Eagle or the Matrix.
Go the 136DF, will serve you a lot better.
I got one & they are fantastic
Burley_Boy
Mate i'm looking at the matrix 37 too. I touched base with a gentlemen from Sundown marine down in brissy i assume which he quoted $ 610 for this model. Thats includes postage!!!!! I think with the overall 90 degree beam, its hard to look past. I have looked at the lowrance and other models, but for price in my opinion, nothing can give me similar results to the 37.
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