Tossup

Just wondering what is better vexlar or marcum?

Oh man here we go again

As a owner of both these brands, it is not which is better it is what are you looking for in a unit and which unit has the features,one looks for. I have the Vexlar FL-8SLT Caught many fish using it had no problems with it,have had it for three years. Just recently I bought the new LX-5 I was looking at upgrading my older unit and went with the Marcum for the color display is brighter.I do like the transducer arm Marcum offers with there units,keeps the transducer set in one place in the hole..
But otherwise it is just what a person wants and likes and which unit offers it..

I think this is a valid question, although it is getting a bit repetative… the best way to determine the flasher that you would like to get is to check out the features on both the brands and decide what is best for your needs. I personally chose marcum after spending over 2 months pondering about what brand to get, and I too, made a post just like yours. I’m really glad that I chose my marcum lx3 and wouldn’t trade it for any vex, even the new fl-20. One big feature to me is definitely the IR (interference rejection). As far as I am concerened, the Vexilar’s IR is not nearly as effective as the Marcum. you can co-fish with someone who has a vex, but you need to set the ping just right. One unit needs to be on the lowest ping setting, and the other on the highest. I used this method 2 feet away from a vex yesterday in 8 ft of water and had no problems. However, fishing around people you don’t know, it gets to be a problem. you aren’t going to want to go set your ping speed vs. theirs, because you don’t know them and it would be awkward approaching them. This is where marcum’s excel. It may be selfish, but you can knock out their interference pretty good although they will have trouble!
Yet another feature is zoom. The marcum Lx-3 and 5 have zoom features that allow you to view a window from top to bottom of either 5 ft or 10 ft range. This splits the screen and can be helpfull for fishing massive schools of fish, or when they are just super tight to bottom. I don’t need to use mine much, because I fish mostly in 20 ft or less of water and can see the fish pretty good. I’m not sure about the new fl12&20 but I believe they, as well as the 8 and 18, only have a bottom locking zoom feature. This could be a problem fishing suspended fish!
Another thing that convinced me, although minor, was the noise factor on vexilars. I personally think they are really loud and my marcum purrs like a dog would (and dogs don’t purr ) while a vexilar roars like a lion!
A vexilar has recently been called an “atari” as compared to a macum “X-box 360”

in all seriousness, I hope this information helps you make the right choice, the one that works for you.
Get in to gander and see them in action for yourself!

Tell us how you really feel on the issue cade

whuddya mean?

Cade~
You explained that very clearly and put the facts right on the table.. I know when I used my Vex in one hole and my LX-5 in the other it took my LX’s IR to remove the clutter,The Vex just could not clear it up. But when fishing next to another Vex I have always been able to clear it off…

I’m a little confused on what you mean, but If you want me to say that vexilars aren’t good units, its not happening. they are great units, and they give you all the information you need to know, I just prefer marcum. Many people swear by both brands…its just preference

Thanks gjk

Like yourself I will not bash either unit,cause my Vex has been and is an outstanding unit but todays technology has changed and I am following the technology,and Marcum had what I searched for.Now next year maybe something else will come along and knock the Xbox 360 of its pedastal but until then I camp happy…

I’m just saying that your post has great and accurate information in it but it i biased toward marcum, i know where you are coming from because you own one, but then you try and back it off after bashing vex and say they are great units. Ahhh, long day on the water im to tired to fight, just find this topic amusing as im sure many others on the site do.Personally i would like to own either one of the units but with the features that were listed above i would prefer a marcum

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but it i biased toward marcum,

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Well, That is what personal opinion is all about. There’s my opinion. The question of the post is which is better, I gave him my solid, and honest opinion.
But for now, Its time to move on. We can swap opinions and make accusations, but in the end, the fish don’t care if your flasher says vexilar or marcum on it….

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Home • Forums • Who’s Online • FAQ • Members • Calendar • Search • My Home •

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At the top of the page (the line that I copied), there is a search feature. There has been endless posts and discussions on this exact question Type in what you are looking for and you will have a full days worth of reading. This question gets brought up at least 12 times a year and is like beating a dead horse everytime it is brought up.

MIKE,
IT DOES COME UP A LOT BUT IT IS GOOD TO HEAR FROM OTHER GUYS THAT HAVE JUST STARTED USING EITHER UNIT SO LET THE POST RUN IT’S COURSE

I too am interested in what others prefer. I will be getting a unit before next year myself. I was out in a house at the GTG, with 3 other guys. One had a Vexilar, the other 2 had Marcums. The guy with the Vexilar was complaining about interference. I guess if I fished by myself, it would be no big deal, but I fish with others alot. I would say Vexilar will HAVE TO come out with some kind of fix for that, to get my $$$. They do have a year to address this for me.

big g

Apples to Apples:

FL-20 features:
Features
Auto Zoom Mode (AZ) – Gives a half screen zoom window of the bottom six feet or bottom 12 feet of depth. No matter if you’re in 10 feet or 100 feet, the bottom zoom always fills half of the screen. This gives you incredible resolution in deep water!
Large Wide-Angle Display – The flat-screen display is 12% larger than the FL-8se and offers more than twice the viewing angle.
20′ Low Power Mode (LP) – Reduces the output power by 50% allowing clear readings in shallow waters with lots of vegetation.
Super Bright and Rock Solid Display – The new Light Emitting Diodes along with a high power driver circuit and a screaming fast wheel speed gives the FL-20’s display unmatched brightness and signal clarity.
Five Depth Ranges* – The FL-20 includes 20′, 40′, 60′, 80′, and 200 foot ranges with color-coded and numbered depth scales for easy identification.
Interference Rejection – Pressing in on the Gain knob cycles you through ten different IR settings to allow you to knock out interference from another close by depth sounder.
Specifications
High Resolution Display: 525 Bits
High-Speed Real-Time LED Readout
Backlit Depth Scale for Easy Visibility in Low Light Conditions
Three-Color Display: Red = Strong Signal / Orange = Medium / Green = Weak
Five Depth Scales: 20′, 40′, 60′, 80′, and 200′
Exclusive Interference Rejection: 10 Step
Power and Sensitivity: 400 Watts Peak-to-Peak
Frequency: 200 kHz
Target Separation: 2.65″
Target ID: .5″
Weatherproof High Impact Case
Dimensions: 4.8″H x 6″W x 2.4″D – Weight: 1.1 lb.
Voltage: 12 VDC – Current draw: 275 MA
Wide Variety of Transducers and Accessories Available
Transducer: 3-Pin – Transom Mount, Puck, or Ice Fishing
Cone Angle: 12° (standard), or Dual 9/19 Beam. Additional beam angles available.

FL-20

Marcum LX5:
This new three-color sonar flasher features MarCum’s new patent pending TrueColor Display. TrueColor is the latest from MarCum Technologies improving color separation and resulting in an ultra crisp and highly visible display (even in bright sunlight). The new LX-5 is the most powerful, most sensitive, most feature laden flasher ever designed. Manufactured in the USA, this sonar unit boasts 2,000 watts of peak to peak power. The LX-5 comes standard with a dual beam transducer. To switch between the 8 and 20 degree cone angle is as simple as the touch of a key. The unit has a patented twelve level “Interference Rejection” feature that allows the user to knock out interference from other nearby sonar units. The LX-5 incorporates a patented movable zoom feature that allows the user to zoom in on a segment of water anywhere within the water column. This unit also features another of MarCum Technologies latest break throughs, SuperFine Line. The SuperFine Line feature allows the user to improve the units resolution resulting in target separation down to .75 inch. You can now use the unit in its full display and separate those hard to see bottom hugging Walleyes. The LX-5 Ice System includes an embroidered padded soft pack carrying case, 12 volt – 7 amp battery, fully automatic three stage digital charging system with LCD battery display, electronics shuttle with adjustable transducer arm, dual beam 8 and 20 degree self aligning transducer, gimbal bracket, powercord, and LX-5 powerhead.
Marcum LX-5

Marcum price at JollyAnn:
$479.99

Vexilar price at JollyAnn:
Pro-pack is $549.99, the Ultra Pack is $479.99

Thanks to all i think i have made up my mind.I know this has been asked before just getting started back in and i appreciate your comments.