Older cubers discussions

[pglewis]

So after staying away from stickerless for ... forever really .. I may actually be swayed now. I've been using the stickerless GTS2 these last 2 days and it is awesome. I though I would struggle a bit with the colour recognition after struggling with my stickerless YeuXiao but the shades are great and contrast nicely.

I've been getting much more consistent times with it as apposed to my normal black cubes which between them have different shades. I did 130 times solves yesterday with an all-time high of sub 15's ... 20 in total. Including a 10 (pll skip) and 2 11's which were both full-step. I'm quite impressed with the GTS2, it's a great cube. I'm also equally impressed at the consistent times I seem to get with it.

As another fast cube fan I thought you might like the GTS2. I agree with @mafergut that The Valk is still King when it comes to stability but I would imagine a magnetized GTS2 would close that gap. The one thing I found about adapting to a lighter turning style is it's easier to get "blocked" by the puzzle rather than have it cut, often resulting in an unintended layer turn elsewhere. The GTS2 actually seems less prone to that for me than the Valk and slices don't feel much more sluggish to me than outside layers.

 

[JohnnyReggae]

As another fast cube fan I thought you might like the GTS2. I agree with @mafergut that The Valk is still King when it comes to stability but I would imagine a magnetized GTS2 would close that gap. The one thing I found about adapting to a lighter turning style is it's easier to get "blocked" by the puzzle rather than have it cut, often resulting in an unintended layer turn elsewhere. The GTS2 actually seems less prone to that for me than the Valk and slices don't feel much more sluggish to me than outside layers.

The Valk is definitely more stable out of the box. The GTS2 is faster though and the addition of magnets makes the cube very stable. Comparing the Valk and GTS2 both with magnets, I would take the GTS2. The Valk is more blocky and not as forgiving with small cuts as the GTS2 particularly when turning fast.

I've tried 2 different strength magnets in the stickerless and black. With the stickerless I went with N38 5x1.5mm, and the black with N35 4x2mm. The stickerless as already mentioned is absolutely awesome. The black feels better though from a turning perspective, but I seem to get better times with the stickerless. Having said that though I did get an OH PB last night ( 21.19 ) with the black which is better suited to OH with the weaker magnets.

 

[mitja]

The Valk is definitely more stable out of the box. The GTS2 is faster though and the addition of magnets makes the cube very stable. Comparing the Valk and GTS2 both with magnets, I would take the GTS2. The Valk is more blocky and not as forgiving with small cuts as the GTS2 particularly when turning fast.

I've tried 2 different strength magnets in the stickerless and black. With the stickerless I went with N38 5x1.5mm, and the black with N35 4x2mm. The stickerless as already mentioned is absolutely awesome. The black feels better though from a turning perspective, but I seem to get better times with the stickerless. Having said that though I did get an OH PB last night ( 21.19 ) with the black which is better suited to OH with the weaker magnets.

I have both cubes , magnetised them and I use Gts2 as addition for 2 weeks. i still think Valk is the leader. I prefer stickerles shade of Qiyi. The yellow on moyu is not what I like. I believe gts2 has better springs. Valk springs are its minus. If I want Valk slower, I need to increase the tensions ( and add weight5 lube) and then it is as you say "not forgiving" enough. The magnets help but it could be better. I am trying to find a bit stronger springs for valk, not there yet.
There is something nice and soft about gts2, not shure yet. Both of the cubes can make me turn a slice( usually middle) by accident. I am putting N38 4x2 magnets in my daughters Valk today. I want to see if there will be the difference from N35.

 

[JohnnyReggae]

I prefer stickerles shade of Qiyi. The yellow on moyu is not what I like.

I've not tried the stickerless Valk, but I have just ordered one. Along with another stickerless GTS2 as I have already sold the one I got the other day. Kind of sad to let it go as I think it's an amazing cube, but there is a bigger plan and a sacrifice I needed to make. But on the bright side I'll have a stickerless Valk and GTS2 at the end.

 

[mafergut]

It looks like we all agree on the GTS2 and the Valk. With magnets to give it added stability it can be the best cube ever. I also seem to like a little better the Valk stickerless shades (with the darker red and blue) but I'm perfectly fine with Moyu's as well. The word is not "like" but "tell appart" in less than perfect lighting conditions.

So, have you seen that Moyu is starting to sell the GTS2 magnetized from factory for like $26? I'm definitely getting one.

EDIT: I have already pre-ordered one to SCS.

 

[mitja]

I have put N38 4x2 magnets to stickerless Valk yesterday. It feels really good. I've loosened the tensions and now it is as forgiving as gts2. I like it more then N35, but it is up to turning style.

 

[mark49152]

So, have you seen that Moyu is starting to sell the GTS2 magnetized from factory for like $26? I'm definitely getting one.

Chris Tran talks about it here.

 

[Shaky Hands]

Chris Tran talks about it here.

Very interesting, thanks Mark.

 

[mark49152]

Some nice PBs for @moralsh, including 4BLD. Congrats! http://m.cubecomps.com/competitions/2231/competitors/2

 

[moralsh]

Some nice PBs for @moralsh, including 4BLD. Congrats! http://m.cubecomps.com/competitions/2231/competitors/2

hehe, thanks

I was way too tired yesterday but somehow it didn't go that bad, another 2-3-4 rounds today and mega, let's see what we can do, I'll try to do a full report as usual.

I was very close to get the 3 4BLDs right yesterday, at least I was lucky enough to get right the fastest one

 

[mafergut]

Chris Tran talks about it here.

If I understand it correctly, he says that Cubicle Labs magnet option is better than what Moyu has come up with in their mass produced GTS2M? And, I would assume, also better than what you can achieve with a DIY GTS2 with cylindrical 4x2mm N35 or similar? Has anybody actually looked inside the pieces of a Cubicle GTS2M / Valk3 M... to see which magnets they are putting in there? Because he says that they cannot put rectangular ones due to assembly issues so... what then? Just curious, as I have already ordered my Moyu GTS2M to SCS.

 

[One Wheel]

If I understand it correctly, he says that Cubicle Labs magnet option is better than what Moyu has come up with in their mass produced GTS2M? And, I would assume, also better than what you can achieve with a DIY GTS2 with cylindrical 4x2mm N35 or similar? Has anybody actually looked inside the pieces of a Cubicle GTS2M / Valk3 M... to see which magnets they are putting in there? Because he says that they cannot put rectangular ones due to assembly issues so... what then? Just curious, as I have already ordered my Moyu GTS2M to SCS.

That was a little hard to follow, but I think what he's saying is that moyu uses 3mm diameter magnets and theCubicle uses 5mm diameter.

 

[Lid]

... just can't get that sub1 avg5 for 4x4 ...
last 16 of todays session: 58.80, 1:12.41, {56.92, 1:21.99, [1:01.49, 57.79, 1:02.84}, 1:06.61, 1:03.80, 1:08.69, 1:07.91, 1:05.04, 1:00.82, 1:07.28, 54.24, 1:02.95] = [1:03.65 a12] & {1:00.71 a5}

 

[Jason Green]

I finally beat my a5 that had been around for several months with a 15.34. My a12 and up on my signature need to be updated but I really don't know what they are, and because I sometimes delete goofed up solves I don't want to put an invalid average. Maybe I'll do a clean session soon to update them.

 

[teacher77]

Two new PBs during the very same session tonight :
mo10 at 23.22 (down from 23.64)
mo5 at 21.66 (down from 22.10 !!)

Oh and the Ao5 is exactly the same at 21.66 while the Ao12 is 23.14

 

[JohnnyReggae]

It looks like we all agree on the GTS2 and the Valk. With magnets to give it added stability it can be the best cube ever. I also seem to like a little better the Valk stickerless shades (with the darker red and blue) but I'm perfectly fine with Moyu's as well. The word is not "like" but "tell appart" in less than perfect lighting conditions.

So, have you seen that Moyu is starting to sell the GTS2 magnetized from factory for like $26? I'm definitely getting one.

EDIT: I have already pre-ordered one to SCS.

Cubezz has them now for $19.99

http://www.cubezz.com/Buy-5307-MoYu+Weilong+GTS2M+Magnetic+3x3x3+Stickerless+Speed+Cube.html

http://www.cubezz.com/Buy-5308-MoYu+Weilong+GTS2M+Magnetic+3x3x3+Speed+Cube+Black.html

I'm tempted to get one, but I've just ordered standard black and stickerless GTS2's from Cubezz.

 

[moralsh]

Mixed emotions as usual with my last comp, here's my report.

2x2: Disaster, forgot the bar-diagonal PBL and got it 6 times in two rounds, I almost ended up with my worst average ever
3x3: After getting Ao12 and Ao50 PBs a couple of days earlier I just didn't get it right in neither of the rounds. the 27 was a case of CFOPOP after a messed G Perm.
3x3OH: A disappointment, I was trying to get under 30 average to qualify for worlds and ended improving only slightly my average
3x3BLD: A bigger disappointment, DNFs were as worse as the valid solves except the one in which Berta got the ER on I just couldn't retain my memo.
4x4: Fell .40 short of qualifying for worlds but I'm very happy with the second round, in the 1:08 I had a mental lapse for several seconds because I tried to save a free pair before doing the last edge swap and just forgot what I was doing, it could even have been sub 1 or close.
4x4BLD: Very happy with the PB, but I was close to getting a mean:
- First solve was OK until I needed to twist the last corner (UBR) and decided to do it with OP, I did RBU sticker and undid the setup with R instead of R2, then did UBR right but damage was done.
- Second solve was slow but only off by an edge 3-cycle because I executed RF instead of LF (or the other way around, can't remember)
- Third solve was around 5:30 memo and fluid execution, the only problem I got is that I forgot how to undo the setup to do the PLL parity at the end, in fact I ended doing it again and undoing it twice. It could definitely have been sub 9.
5x5: a couple of bad solves messed my average.
5x5BLD: first solve was memoed ok but I had some recalling problems. Also must have executed poorly because it was off by some 25 pieces. Second solve was a mistake altogether xD
6x6: Nice single, all parities and some lockups in the other 2 solves prevented me from getting a better mean
Mega: again 2 very bad solves messed my average should have been sub 3. Next time I guess
Skewb: Nice single. I could have done a better one earlier but forgot how to do the U Perm and messed up a couple of times afterwards, ending up doing 1+ minute.
Pyra: I suck at pyra

 

[mark49152]

Nice report @moralsh. So frustrating when those big BLD solves get screwed up right at the end!

I just smashed my 4BLD PB while warming up for the weekly comp. 4:25 down from 5:14. Methinks that PB will stand for a while. The scramble was 12/22/7. The easy centres made the difference because once I chose the orientation and saw there were only 12 centre targets I rushed the rest of the solve too.

 

[Shaky Hands]

Great report @moralsh. Thanks for sharing.

Time for another signature update @mark49152. Well done fella.

 

[h2f]

I just smashed my 4BLD PB while warming up for the weekly comp. 4:25 down from 5:14. Methinks that PB will stand for a while. The scramble was 12/22/7. The easy centres made the difference because once I chose the orientation and saw there were only 12 centre targets I rushed the rest of the solve too.

Wow! Congrats!