Bit the BIG bullet and got both the MarCum LX-5 and the VS-560 for myself for c-mas, and I finally got to use them this weekend. I did a LOT of research (part of my real job) and from what I have learned these units seemed to fit my needs best.
I have read the manuals on-line at the MarCum site and since forgotten most of the info. I have been way too busy to even take either unit out of the box until we got the sleeper setup on Milac's.... big mistake, here is why and my observations.
LX-5:
Liked the unit overall, seemed to work well but I could not get any of the advanced features to work right over the LX-3 because my LX-5 came packaged with an LX-3 manual!
So I was not sure if the SFL was setup right and if I was using the 8 or 20 degree cone. etc... I think I worked it right but big disappointment there. The display was nice the unit itself nice. I liked the arm feature and the power indicator, the cover, all accept the cord.
The rubber that the cord comes wrapped in was almost "loose" around the wires, hard to explain but it looks as if someone stretched it at the factory. I don't think it had any affect on the readings but you never know. Made me wonder though... I guess I would have to see it next to another to make sure mine is good. Either way I have the bad feeling that it may not be, and for $500 dollars a unit you don't want that feeling.
Battery seems good, I used the unit for over 8 hours and I still have a 90% reading.
Overall, 10 being completely satisfied and 0 being pissed off. I'd give it a 5 maybe an 8 or 9 if I had the right manual, and did not have a bad cord. Terrible quality control in my opinion. Maybe I will do another review after I print off the on-line manual.
VS-560
This unit was FUN! It worked pretty well everything was there this time, manual etc... I actually enjoyed it and I thought it worked better than expected for what it is designed to do.
The things I did not like were in the design. The cord wrap is just ok and I am not sure there is much more you can do other than the way it is setup. The pouch worked ok. I thought long and hard about better ways to wrap and hold the cord and I think this is the best it can get.
The monitor adjustment location SUCKS it is almost impossible to get at I think they could have maybe moved it to a better place. This is really the only thing I did not like on the unit itself.
The other thing I did not like was the remote control. Either I have a bad one or it just stinks. My particular one did not work unless you were right next to the unit (inches away) close enough not to bother with the remote anyway. It may be a bad battery I will check that but once again if I am spending that kind of $$$ $550 I would expect a decent battery in the remote. You also had to push the buttons so hard you thought they were going to break to get it to work. Fine inside the fish house but outside with gloves the remote would be useless, and that's where I want to use it most.
The depth, temp and direction worked well if you calibrated it right. Once in a while the direction was off but I knew it anyway based on the lures. I just eventually turned it off. Had to turn the cord and adjust it once in a while but it worked as most people out here have said pretty decent with some tweaking.
The camera when it pans makes a TON of noise, I think enough to spook fish. I took the unit out of the water and used the pan and it is LOUD. Clicky and mechanical sounding.
Also the unit battery indicator might be bad. At 2 different times the battery status light blinked and said low battery. I pressed the indicator and it said 70%. The other time it said 60%. Yet another time I pressed the indicator just out of the blue and it said 30% pressed it again about and hour later and it said 60%
So I might have a bad indicator, once again that bad feeling of is it working right or not?
Overall, 10 being completely satisfied and 0 being pissed off. I'd give it a 7. Maybe an 8 if I did not have issues with the remote and battery indicator, and I am not sure if other units are that loud when panning.
