Fisherpete Posted March 18, 2011 Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 It's time to retire the trusty Humminbird 525 to ice fishing duty only and upgrade the boat to something a bit nicer... I have been drooling over the Lowrance Elite 5 series, but for 2/3 the price, I can get the Lowrance Mark 5x DSI series Same power (500W RMS, 4000W PTP) Same down scan imaging Elite series is Colour, Mark series is B&W Here are the different price points (@ LeBaron) Elite 5 DSI Gold (downscan imaging, colour, GPS, includes Navionics gold chip) $722 Elite 5 DSI-x (downscan imaging, colour) no GPS $560 Elite 5 Gold (colour, GPS) no downscan imaging, no chip $548 Elite 5x (color)$456 Mark 5x DSI (downscan imaging, B&W) $299 The difficulty in choice is that I would really like to have the GPS feature to help fine tune trolling speed... I have a hand held GPS already, but it would be nice to have everything ion one package. Anyone have one of these units? How has it been? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fang Posted March 18, 2011 Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 Had a few over the years and last year I picked up my first colour. Would now never fish without it. With the higher wattage (mines a 4000 HB)there is just no comparison with seeing whats down there but in color. Spend the money and get a colour unit, you'll never regret it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nipfisher Posted March 18, 2011 Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 Why not the HDS series from Lowrance? I have the 5 but if I did it again I'd go bigger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raf Posted March 18, 2011 Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 the DSI units are meant to compliment a regular sonar. don't get the DSI if it is your only sonar. you won't see zhit capt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherpete Posted March 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2011 (edited) Hey Raf, you mean the Elite units do not have a 'normal' fishfinding mode, only the downscan mode? If that is true, wow, thanks! That info changes everything... Starting to lean towards the Elite 5 gold (non DSI) @ $548. Colour, GPS, 4000w/500w. Throw a Kawarthas chip in there and it should be a sweet setup... Edited March 21, 2011 by Fisherpete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raf Posted March 21, 2011 Report Share Posted March 21, 2011 That's correct Pete. The DSI units do not come with a regular transducer/regular fish finder mode. The 'Gold' package should come with a Chip -- I bought mine at the Fishing Show and got it with a Great Lakes chip which would cover the Kawarthas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fang Posted March 21, 2011 Report Share Posted March 21, 2011 Rafs right, although the DI from what I know is supposed to be the "NEW" technology fish finder. My gut tells me let everyone else try it and they'll work the bugs out until it's proven HD5 5 or HB597 will cover everything you need and then some! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Bob Posted March 21, 2011 Report Share Posted March 21, 2011 I don't have a DSI unit but rather a LMS 520c unit...but with everything I have seen and read....I would rather have a DSI unit on my boat as it's down-looking sonar imaging seem much better than conventional flat imaging I now have.....down-looking sonar imaging is more camera/picture like and much easier to read and interpret then old 2D imaging IMHO....why would you not what the DSI technology in a sonar unit ? ? ? Here's more info right from Lowrance.... http://www.lowrance.com/Products/Marine/Mark-Elite-Series/Elite-5-DSI-Gold/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archie_james_c Posted March 22, 2011 Report Share Posted March 22, 2011 Go with an HDS 5. I know it's not one of your picks but look at it this way... Colour 5" screen Amazing standard sonar Great GPS with half decent preloaded maps Abilty to add structure scan later Ability to add more HDS's later! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raf Posted March 22, 2011 Report Share Posted March 22, 2011 (edited) Billy Bob, I think you'd change your mind if you look at this thread: http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-electronics-forum/317662-lowrance-dsi-first-impressions.html same spot: DSI Traditional the fish on the DSI unit is a barely noticeable speck and the traditional unit tells me much more about what's down there. Edited March 22, 2011 by Raf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archie_james_c Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 Billy Bob, I think you'd change your mind if you look at this thread: http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-electronics-forum/317662-lowrance-dsi-first-impressions.html same spot: DSI Traditional the fish on the DSI unit is a barely noticeable speck and the traditional unit tells me much more about what's down there. If I'm not mistaken, wasnt the LSS made to be used in conjunction with conventional sonar? With my limited expreience using other HDS's and LSS last season I found that they work together. Some things the LSS (DSI) missed the traditional sonar shows. Or they both show it but one or the other helps clarify the object being marked, etc....? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raf Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 yes, I mentioned that earlier in this thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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