Daiwa Sol TD 2500 vs Daiwa Advantage 2500A

[luke-k198]

Hi Guys,

I'm having a tough time trying to work out if the Sol 2500 is a $54 (US) better reel than the Advantage 2500. I have settled on these two because I need the reel for multi-purpose use : bait fishing for whiting, soft plastics for snapper, jigs for squid.

Here is how they line up:

Daiwa Sol TD 2500 $179 US ea
Model: TD SOL
Number: 2500
Action: ML/L
FW/SW Bearings Gear: 3CRBB, 3BB
Ratio: 4.7 : 1
Line Per Handle Turn: 27.6"
Wt. (oz.): 9.2
Line Capacity (Lb. Test/Yards): 6/210, 8/170, 10/140
Drag Max(lb): 15.4
Spare Spool: Yes

Daiwa Advantage 2500A $125 US ea
Model: TD Advantage
Number: 2500A
Action: ML/L
FW/SW Bearings Gear: 2CRBB, 6BB, 1RB
Ratio: 4.7 : 1
Line Per Handle Turn: 27.0"
Wt. (oz.): 10.2
Line Capacity (Lb. Test/Yards): 6/210, 8/170, 10/140
Drag Max(lb): 15.4
Spare Spool: Yes

So the question is : Is the Sol a $54 (US) better reel than the Advantage?

Are the only key differences the weight and the extra CRBB?

You can check the specs on both here :
http://www.daiwa.com/Reel/spinning.aspx

Having just visited the store again, spending 5 minutes with each reel, doing side by side tests, smoothness tests, etc, I am struggling to find key differences. Both are made in Thailand by the way!

The advantage and sol share most of the same components on the outside. A noticeable difference being the bail arm and assembly, which is slightly better on the sol. The advantage is a longer reel (the gear housing seems to be about 10mm longer) which would explain the increase in weight.

Obviously the internals are different, but I had no success in find any difference in smoothness. I guess there will be unit to unit manufacturing variations, and this may account for some of the comments about smoothness (also, we are talking shop demo stock - who knows what damage previous testers have done to the product before you check it out).

From the outside and a smoothness point of view, there is definitely not $54 worth of difference....but the insides might be a different story, as might be the performance after 5 years of use.

There is a good review of the Sol here:
http://www.tackletour.com/reviewtdsolspin.html

Review info on the Advantage is much harder to find.

Food for thought...sometimes too much choice is a bad thing.

Cheers
Luke

[Mr_Luvias]

I had this same dilemma when I bought my advantage. Once I checked the specs on Daiwa site I just figured there was really next to no difference and just went the advantage and it's been a great little reel! Hope this helps your decision. Cheers

[jugglerman]

I'd go the Advantage because the saving that you'd get on an australian bought model would be quite reasonable, whereas the Sol can be bought for around $250 here.

Extra $50 or so then you get a local warrantee- worth it down the track if something goes wrong I reckon.

[cleetus]

Having the same dilemma myself but the TDA's Ive found are @$140 US/ SOL's @ $190.

[BlackBreamer]

Get a Team Daiwa catalouge there are differences it's up to the indavidual in the end, i have sol's good reels but not great had a few problems but they have done ok...

[luke-k198]

I'm looking at a Daiwa Tackle Catalog 2008 and the marketing people made a mistake because it looks like they have copied and pasted the Advantage Specs onto the Sol (it shows same weight).

A careful analysis of the features shows there are no differences (not ones that I have spotted), expect for a slight re-layout of the features and some extra spacing between them to make it look like you get more with the Sol (I should know, I do the same tricks with my technical marketing).

I have no doubt there are differences, but they are most likely different internals and not externals, which makes it harder to explain to a buyer (this model has valves, and this model has sodium filled valves argument).

The problem is the $54 (US) difference. I can't see it, but if they are selling Daiwa Advantage reels as cheap as $125 then you can be gaurenteed the retailer is buying them for less than that. Assuming they are buying Sols at a similar margin, the Advantage is being sold by Daiwa to US retailers for a lot less than a Sol. Generally speaking this means the Daiwa Sol must be a more expensive reel to make (or the sales volume is much lower).

I did the sums - after amatizing postage I save about $65 Australian per Sol, and about $105 Australian per Advantage. (I'm going to by at least 3 of them).

Interesting.

Cheers
Luke

[cleetus]

1 extra (CRBB) bearing on the Sol.

[crusty]

Be careful there are two model advantages. The ones I have seen at 125 are the older model (black and gold) which appear to based off the capricorn internals/externals rather than the sol.

Where are you shopping at.

I have a Advantage new red and black one similar to a sol and find it fantastic. Haven't used a Sol so really can't comment on the differences.

[luke-k198]

Crusty,

Check your pm for where I am shopping.

I can definitely confirm this is the newer model. I had to check myself because the photo on the website showed the older model. The shop confirmed they have not updated their web yet, but are shipping the newer model.


Here is an extract from an email from a guy I found on a Florida (USA) forum.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luke -

They are not EXACTLY the same. However, the TDA is built on the same
platform as the Sol. The Sol has a bit better bail system AND a little
smoother retrieve ... but the gearing, drag, etc. are identical. IMO, the
TDA is definitely a better value.

BTW, Exceler and Tierra are one platform, TDA and Sol another and finally
the Certate and Steez are the final shared platform. Daiwa is going to
release a new reel this fall ... the Daiwa Coastal spinning. I would
imagine it will be on the Tierra platform, due to price around $120-125. At
that point, I think the TDA will jump up a few $$$.

I am a dealer and buy wholesale, but my personal $$$ is still on the TDA.
IMO, to get something that is noticeably better - you have to buy a Certate
at $370. I won't do it ... theft and loss can happen no matter what type of
care you give to your equipment otherwise.

Of course, I fully believe that the rod is more important than the reel -
except for certain applications where "winching" a fish or intense use of a
drag is involved (grouper fishing, tuna fishing, etc.).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cheers
Luke

[jugglerman]

You wouldn't mind passing on that info about where I can get that sweet deal on the TD advantage as well?

[MeePee_99]

Def the sol!!!!!!!!!!!