[magilla66]

So, I've had my ETHA for about 6 months now.

I pre-ordered from ANS Gear a few months before Christmas, and promptly forgot all about it. Imagine my happy surprise to receive an e-mail from ANS informing me that my new marker was on its way, and would arrive BEFORE Christmas! Wooot! An early Christmas gift to me (from me)!

Needless to say, I was stoked.

Initial impression - Planet Eclipse's take on the Invert Mini or a low-end Geo.

Second impression - this is no Mini, and I have no idea how it compares to the Geo, except that the Geo will most definitely out-perform its lowly sibling.

Third impression - I like it. A lot. More than my ETEK3 AM, I think, too.

The ETHA will become my knock-around, you-can-borrow-it-no-problem, bad-conditions gun. I like it's no-nonsense simplicity, the sleek lines of minimalist milling, and the potential to turn this into a woodsball beast. I am eagerly awaiting the release of the EMC kit, which will provide rail mounts for scenario add-ons (not that I have any intentions of scoping or lighting additions, for example).

I think Planet Eclipse did a decent job of making a "Marker for the Masses" in the ETHA. I certainly would opt for the ETHA over the ETEK4 at this point in time; the two are close enough in price that I would leapfrog the ETEK for another Ego or a Geo instead. If I didn't already own an ETEK3, however, I might reconsider the 4.

[Sherlok]

How does shooting compare to your etek?

[rocket21]

This thing shoots ball on ball for me.....great marker for a great price.

[magilla66]

Compared to my ETEK3 AM:

1. Recoil kick is about the same, although I might give the ETHA a slight edge
2. Air efficiency - roughly the same, although the ETEK has an edge of being more broken in at this point
3. Handling - this is an odd point, because for some reason, though the ETEK is about the same size as my EGO 11 & SL94, it "feels" bigger; as a result, I think I like handling the ETHA on the field more than the ETEK3
4. Accuracy - Slight edge goes to the ETEK3 (stock barrels on both), although with carbon fiber barrels, accuracy is about even

Overall, I like the design of the ETHA more than the ETEK3 (which sounds like I'm saying that it's nicer than the EGO line, but that's not entirely true).

If I were to take an Invert Mini, and adapt it to Planet Eclipse's philosophy of marker design, the ETHA is what I'd end up with:

1. Macro line
2. Beefier bolt system
3. Deftek feed system
4. Enlarged grip frame/trigger to reg spacing
5. Better barrel system

To name but a few.

[TNN Crew]

i hated mine, quickly replaced with an Axe...

[Sherlok]

I enjoy mine and the people at the field seemed to like it. The composite grip gets mixed reviews, but it shoots good (with decent paint).

I think my only complaint is that it's a boring gun. There really isn't much to it. The anno's pretty normal, the milling's pretty normal and there really isn't much to do to it. The gun can take a beating and doesn't need anything in terms of upgrades. It seems like the perfect loaner/backup gun for some serious speedball. Pull it out of your pack and it's ready to go.

[Nicky T]

Originally Posted by TNN Crew

i hated mine, quickly replaced with an Axe...

Out of interest, what aspects of the Etha didn't you like?

[The_Creech_fr]

Out of interest, what aspects of the Etha didn't you like?

here my mind :

why i like my etha :
-Price
-light weight
-accuracy (shaft4 is awesome)
-easy to use and maintain
-ROF
-packages


what i don't like in my Etha :
- the little "ping metalic sound" when i shot
- missing firing mode "1 shot pull / 1 shot release the trigger"
- bad poppet spring quality (solved with the spare part available in the box)
- Shaft 4 back size 0,693 (it is really too big)

What i do not like around the Etha:
- not possible to order Shaft 4 back only (in europe)
why sending kits of 2 backs (0,693 + 0,68x) while the first one is delivered with the gun ?

What i like around the Etha :
-PE aftermarket quality & support. good job guys !

[7paintball]

Originally Posted by Nicky T

Out of interest, what aspects of the Etha didn't you like?

I would love to know too... we have had nothing but great reviews from the people that bought them in our shop

[Goshawk]

Originally Posted by The_Creech_fr

What i do not like around the Etha:
- not possible to order Shaft 4 back only (in europe)
why sending kits of 2 backs (0,693 + 0,68x) while the first one is delivered with the gun ?
What i like around the Etha :
-PE aftermarket quality & support. good job guys !

They are sold in the sizes you need, specifically for the Etha and ETEK 4. They may be hard to find in Europe, but they are available in the States. It comes in .685 and .689
Here is an example: http://www.ansgear.com/Planet_Eclips...barreldblk.htm

[Fenix001]

http://paintballshowcase.com/planete...barrelkit.aspx "Etha Shaft 4 Boost Kit"

[recoil101]

Was at my local store in Berlin and he kit has a .685 and a .689.

[DriverJ]

Originally Posted by The_Creech_fr

here my mind :

why i like my etha :
-Price
-light weight
-accuracy (shaft4 is awesome)
-easy to use and maintain
-ROF
-packages


what i don't like in my Etha :
- the little "ping metalic sound" when i shot
- missing firing mode "1 shot pull / 1 shot release the trigger"
- bad poppet spring quality (solved with the spare part available in the box)
- Shaft 4 back size 0,693 (it is really too big)

What i do not like around the Etha:
- not possible to order Shaft 4 back only (in europe)
why sending kits of 2 backs (0,693 + 0,68x) while the first one is delivered with the gun ?

What i like around the Etha :
-PE aftermarket quality & support. good job guys !

Eclipse stock boards have never had 1 shot on pull , 1 on release as far as I can remember, if you really want that, as always an after market board will come out.
Of the 4 of them on my team, only one of the Ethas has made the ping, it's not an occurance on all guns it seems.

Several others have commented correctly about the Etha/Etek shaft4 kits.

Originally Posted by Goshawk

They are sold in the sizes you need, specifically for the Etha and ETEK 4. They may be hard to find in Europe, but they are available in the States. It comes in .685 and .689
Here is an example: http://www.ansgear.com/Planet_Eclips...barreldblk.htm

Originally Posted by recoil101

Was at my local store in Berlin and he kit has a .685 and a .689.

[Goshawk]

There is an Etha APE board now available by the way. It has the mode you are looking for.
http://www.goapeonline.com/index.php...mart&Itemid=28

[The_Creech_fr]

Originally Posted by Goshawk

There is an Etha APE board now available by the way. It has the mode you are looking for.
http://www.goapeonline.com/index.php...mart&Itemid=28

good news !!



regarding the "ping" noise, it is not a loud sound.
a lot of guys said that they did not heard me on the field, and it shoot very straight. so it is very litle trouble.

I like my ETHA

[Mikebert10]

looking to get a new gun but cannot decide between the AXE and the ETHA.

anyone who has played with both or is an owner of both can you please do a comparison?

it would help me out ALOT.

[FISCHER613]

I have owned the Axe and now the Etha.

The Axe is a good gun UNTIL you break paint in the breach and dirty the eyes....takes you about 15 minutes to take apart the gun, yes take apart the gun to clean the eyes.

I am a common sense man and when you make a marker you think that the engineers would have designed a better eye system for the Axe.



Hope this helps.

[bowgster]

Originally Posted by Mikebert10

looking to get a new gun but cannot decide between the AXE and the ETHA.

anyone who has played with both or is an owner of both can you please do a comparison?

it would help me out ALOT.

axe= smoother and quieter
etha= more durable, backed by planet