Thought I'd start a thread vs risk taking over another one like the great review thread for the Evo - New EVO 614i Robot Pool Cleaner Review I read the first 5 pages and the last 5 pages of this thread for info.
Current situation - 30 by 15 pool, 5' depth, with a sun ledge starting its 10th summer. Current cleaner - Pentair Racer with a booster pump. The last couple of years the hose on the Racer has become stiff and it doesn't let the cleaner cover the pool well, plus I think the Racer is starting to have other problems, then about 3 weeks ago the pump began making a loud noise so the bearing is going or gone. At this point I don't see investing any money in that cleaning setup. So, robot searching time.
I've got a family member that loves their Prowler 930, so I started there. Coming for research and I find the the Aqua Evo really stands out for a couple of years (I know we don't have long term history yet). It seems battery technology isn't where it needs to be yet and I realize I'm not going to find one to clean the sun deck. Remove those wishes and I realize I just need a simple cleaner and I want to keep it under $1K.
Looking at Marina for purchase - the Prowler 930w is going for $999 right now and has a caddy with it as well as the better/upgraded filtration and comes with two good names, Pentair and Maytronics behind it. The Evo 614iq is on sale for $799, but for $999 you can get it with a Caddy and the upgraded filter. I'm only leaning towards the caddy as the pool doesn't need much cleaning, I figure once a week. (Those that knew my situation from a few years ago, I used to have a big Live Oak tree overhanging the pool and neighbors had a trash tree that dumped leaves, both of those are gone). I'm going to still have to brush the sundeck and the seat and steps. Bottom line I like the idea of the caddy to keep it on.
So the question becomes - Are these two at $999 a big advantage over the Evo 604 at $699? I can't see the app doing a lot for me - other than I am a gadget person. Seems the 604 is essentially the same cleaner as the 614, just without the app and upgrade filtering. I can gently lift it out of the water as @Jimrahbe notes and talks about and I can likely do without the caddy, just have to find a good way to store it.
Anyone care to weigh in on anything I've missed or something that might make one of these stand out as a better purchase than another? Thanks in advance.
Current situation - 30 by 15 pool, 5' depth, with a sun ledge starting its 10th summer. Current cleaner - Pentair Racer with a booster pump. The last couple of years the hose on the Racer has become stiff and it doesn't let the cleaner cover the pool well, plus I think the Racer is starting to have other problems, then about 3 weeks ago the pump began making a loud noise so the bearing is going or gone. At this point I don't see investing any money in that cleaning setup. So, robot searching time.
I've got a family member that loves their Prowler 930, so I started there. Coming for research and I find the the Aqua Evo really stands out for a couple of years (I know we don't have long term history yet). It seems battery technology isn't where it needs to be yet and I realize I'm not going to find one to clean the sun deck. Remove those wishes and I realize I just need a simple cleaner and I want to keep it under $1K.
Looking at Marina for purchase - the Prowler 930w is going for $999 right now and has a caddy with it as well as the better/upgraded filtration and comes with two good names, Pentair and Maytronics behind it. The Evo 614iq is on sale for $799, but for $999 you can get it with a Caddy and the upgraded filter. I'm only leaning towards the caddy as the pool doesn't need much cleaning, I figure once a week. (Those that knew my situation from a few years ago, I used to have a big Live Oak tree overhanging the pool and neighbors had a trash tree that dumped leaves, both of those are gone). I'm going to still have to brush the sundeck and the seat and steps. Bottom line I like the idea of the caddy to keep it on.
So the question becomes - Are these two at $999 a big advantage over the Evo 604 at $699? I can't see the app doing a lot for me - other than I am a gadget person. Seems the 604 is essentially the same cleaner as the 614, just without the app and upgrade filtering. I can gently lift it out of the water as @Jimrahbe notes and talks about and I can likely do without the caddy, just have to find a good way to store it.
Anyone care to weigh in on anything I've missed or something that might make one of these stand out as a better purchase than another? Thanks in advance.
