Lowrance Elite 4X Ice Machine or Humminbird PiranhaMax 160 PT?

[Burtess]

I know these are two totally different machines, and the Elite 4X is more advanced, but considering the prices, which one would you purchase? I icefish casually, local lakes mostly for panfish and pike.

 

I gathered the following info on the units:

 

There are other features but those were the ones I found in common.

 

So do I need the Elite 4X or will the PiranhaMax 160 do me ok??

 

Thanks,

Burt

[DRIFTER_016]

I'm sure the cheapy will do you fine.

[Woodsman]

Ice transducer available for the 160.

The 170 is far better @ 1600 watts, 8 levels of grayscale & twice the pixels. Never seen it offered in a portable package though.

All that being said the Elite 4x is a better unit by far.

Also consider the Humminbird Ice 345c. Same specs as the Elite except slightly more power at 2400 watts. $315

[EC1]

Colour is much better, especially for ice fishing.

The main point is, you CAN cheap out on the fishfinder, only to upgrade again in a year or two.... OR you can buy one that's good enough to last you until it falls apart.

[woodro]

I've been looking for a flasher/fish finder for ice fishing as well. The Elite 4x looks very similar to the x67, anyone know the differences between the two?

[Marko]

If you have the money go with the better one.

There is a reason why one is twice the price of the other one, most of the time you get what you pay for.

[Woodsman]

I've been looking for a flasher/fish finder for ice fishing as well. The Elite 4x looks very similar to the x67, anyone know the differences between the two?

IIRC the Elite 4x has about 30% more power, dual beam transducer & a few different screen options.

Also the Elite is a new unit where the X67 is no longer made.

The Elite has moved much closer to the Humminbird 345c in specs but still not quite there.

[Burtess]

Well I picked up the 160 Portable priced matched at the local CT for $119 + tax ($134.47). Too cheap to pass up!

 

I figure if I try it out and I am happy with it then great...... if I don't like the performance I can put the 160 on kijiji and keep the case/battery/charger and mount a different unit in it. Buying the portable case with battery for the Humminbird or Lowrance finders is $145 anyway so I either way I am ahead.

 

Now I have to let the wife wrap it lol....

 

Burt