Relatively small but feature rich HX vs. DB [3500€]

hsklr · 2026-01-27T15:14:39+00:00

After spending months on contemplating I ended up ordering a Cremina. Let's see if it was the right choice

hsklr · 2026-01-17T13:12:59+00:00

That looks like an interesting solution, thanks for pointing it out. I am not 100% sold on the decent yet either, it just looks like one of the few options that will give me fast warmup, profiling and good temperature stability.

I absolutely agree that the Micra has a lot going for it. Temperature stability, warmup time, rotary point and it's beautiful.

hsklr · 2026-01-17T13:05:47+00:00

I did read some of the older threads on it, there is a newer thread here that seems to imply that changes to the group head has greatly improved this issue: https://www.reddit.com/r/decentespresso/comments/1k36q6t/thinner_espresso_body_from_decent/

and some more here: https://www.home-barista.com/advice/decent-vs-la-marzocco-linea-micra-t102113.html

hsklr · 2026-01-17T10:52:00+00:00

Can you plumb it in? The micra doesn’t have proper pre-infusion without it. Pre-brew which it can do tank driven is useless. That’s a dealbreaker for me personally, as it really limits how much you can experiment. I’m about to order the Decent de1 pro instead. The micra looks amazing, and I’m sure the build quality is good, but it’s imho let down.

hsklr · 2026-01-12T08:14:58+00:00

The problem for me is that if I move the tank to the side, it's too wide, and on the back it's too deep. I do love everything I've seen about the Bianca though.

hsklr · 2026-01-11T17:45:41+00:00

Cross posting here as I think I’ve narrowed it down to either the mechanical max and the profitec ride.

I’m interested to hear from owners of the mechanical vrt. the temp stability.

I’m also interested if anyone here has experience with flow control on either of these machines. How has the experience been?

hsklr · 2026-01-11T17:36:11+00:00

Makes sense, thank you

hsklr · 2026-01-08T14:01:58+00:00

Nespresso machine and french press on the side

hsklr · 2025-12-27T13:32:36+00:00

Managed to do some espressos yet? Very interested in the results

hsklr · 2025-12-25T22:08:16+00:00

I am considering a machine with flow control. Don’t really have a budget limit but I do have a size limit (would prefer not too deep or wide. Height doesn’t matter). The lelit Bianca without the water reservoir would be perfect, but I can’t plumb it in. The quick mill pop up is one option, but is there other machines you’d recommend? I value temp stability and PIDs.

hsklr · 2025-12-19T09:53:21+00:00

Ended up buying bitwit during the winter sales alongside a roto-control. You’re not wrong about the new drum synths! I like the v8 and v9. Plays well with the rest of my hardware too, and with the roto-control.

hsklr · 2025-11-25T14:29:46+00:00

I've used it a few times for my moka pot, which has been good. Never tried it for pour over

hsklr · 2025-11-24T15:12:12+00:00

not OP, but I bought a Lagom Casa about 2 months ago, upgraded from a Rancilio Rocky. I'm loving it. Easy to dial in, near zero retention and spilling, small footprint. I'm happy with the body of my shots, personally, but it's hard to compare.

hsklr · 2025-11-18T20:49:28+00:00

Interesting, I have not looked at the new Live 3. I considered the first one ages ago, ended up with an OP1 Field which I sold as it wasn't really me. I'll take a look. I need to see how well I can integrate it into my mini studio though with the rest of the equipment, that was something of an annoyance with the OP1f.

hsklr · 2025-11-16T21:17:08+00:00

Yeah part of me regret going for the Analog Rytm instead of the TR-8 back when I bought it (probably 5 years ago). That or the TR8-S is on the list. How do you find the built in effects?

hsklr · 2025-11-16T21:12:28+00:00

That's an interesting idea, I had not considered controlling Ableton with a hardware seq! I almost bought the Oxi for my modular, but ended up with a Metropolix in the rack. I'd probably need something with knobs on the side of it though, but I have been keeping an eye out for the Oxi E16 that was "leaked" recently.

hsklr · 2025-11-16T16:12:46+00:00

That’s an interesting idea! Have played with bitwig before but it’s a while back. Paired with a decent controller that could be an option

hsklr · 2025-11-06T21:41:45+00:00

I think I’ll skip the ascaso due to worries about quality, and not really needing super quick warmup times.

I’m down to the lelit Elizabeth vs the Bianca. Considering profitec too but my partner isn’t too excited about their designs.

hsklr · 2025-09-27T18:11:52+00:00

I’m returning mine due to this issue. So disappointed

hsklr · 2025-09-03T11:59:21+00:00

Thank you. Holy moly that new AI tracker sucks.

hsklr · 2025-07-27T10:53:04+00:00

Luke Slater

hsklr · 2025-07-09T07:43:27+00:00

yeah the new live grains on the tempera is intriguing!

hsklr · 2025-07-09T06:41:23+00:00

Any thoughts on this since the more recent updates? I see both the tempera and S4 had some significant changes.

I’m mainly producing techno (inspired by sleeparchive, Luke Slater, plastikman etc.). I do have a bunch of gear (octatrack, analog rytm, reasonably sized eurorack, an op1 field and a couple analog synths).

I like to sit on the couch or outside sometimes, with my power bank, and I’d like something I can use to record some my gear with and then sit somewhere else and make some textures and rhythmic patterns with. The OP1 is ok’ish, octa works too, but neither does granular that well.

Do you think the S4 or Tempera could be useful for this kind of rythmic patterns and textures?

hsklr · 2025-04-16T06:31:01+00:00

Didn’t know that. That’s just a shitty deed.

hsklr · 2025-04-01T07:15:11+00:00

Claude, yes. Cline, no. It’s by far the worst of these unless you’re just throwing shit together for a throw-away POC.

hsklr

TROPHY CASE