Looking for cube reccomendations on 2x2, 3x3x3 and 4x4x4

[beardo]

Hey all, I'm looking for some cubes to buy. (Any advice for places with good reliability and cheap cubes/shipping would be helpful.)

Currently, I'm thinking about getting

2x2: Lanlan ($5)
3x3: C4Y DIY ($6-8), Diansheng 3x3 ($4), Diensheng mini 3x3 ($2)
4x4: QJ (mini or reg?)

I would like a nice 2x2 to drop my times down a few seconds. I want to do a DIY for 3x3 (I have a rubik's DIY coming as a gift at some point I've been told). I figured I'd give the Diansheng cubes a shot since they're so cheap, but is it worth it? I've heard good things about the QJ 4x4, as in it's cheaper and more worth it than the Eastsheen (same for Lanlan).

Currently, I'm thinking about using cube4you.com or cube2you.com (whichever has lowest total cost for my order). I've found what I think in the QJ 4x4 on dealextreme.com as well.

anyway, thanks a bunch!

 

[ianini]

2x2: Lan-Lan
3x3: A-V, F-2, etc.
4x4: QJ mini or normal sized.

 

[Olji]

put in account that cube4you got a shipping price from hell, if you live in europe or america that is

 

[Wickex]

put in account that cube4you got a shipping price from hell, if you live in europe or america that is

Meh, $5 isn't that bad.

 

[Chapuunka]

I'd suggest Lightake because of their great selection, prices, and customer service (although I've never had a problem and therefore never had to deal with customer service; this is just what people have said about it). Their shipping time may take a while, however. There's also Speed Cube Shop and Cube Depot in the US; they'll have slightly higher prices, but fast shipping and excellent customer service (run by cubers themselves).

As for the cubes, I don't know much about 2x2s, but I really like my Ghost Hand, and seen lots of good reviews of them. Eastsheens are supposed to become godly after a whole bunch of breaking in, but aren't as good out of the box. LanLans are supposed to be good when you put mini Diansheng springs in them.

For 3x3, there are a whole bunch of cubes generally considered to be of the best of their kind. AII-SV, FII, AV/Haiyan Memory (modded AV), and GuHong. I personally like my GuHong the best out of my FII, AV, and GuHong. Never tried an AII (once again, what I've read).
AV and FII are very similar (fast, nice corner cutting), the big difference being their feel. AVs have a choppier, crispier feeling whereas FIIs are smoother and more "buttery" (also, plan on needing new stickers if you get an FII; their original stickers suck). GuHongs are super fast and have really nice backward corner cutting. Once again, I don't have an AII so I can't help you much there.

Can't really help you on 4x4.

 

[Kirjava]

2x2x2 - ES or GH
3x3x3 - F2 or A5
4x4x4 - QJ or Maru

 

[pcuber]

The mini QJ 4x4 is good but some people like to use the maru 4x4 which good but I don't have one. Although the maru 4x4 will coast a lot more then a QJ.

 

[vancuber]

2x2: lan lan-awesome when you loosen the screws and can cut corners like almost 45 degrees after

3x3: FII, Alpha V, Haiyan Memory-either of those are good choices

4x4: Maru

 

[Olji]

put in account that cube4you got a shipping price from hell, if you live in europe or america that is

Meh, $5 isn't that bad.

oh, thats right, i only remember the shipping i payed for, semi slowest, didnt want to wait for 2 months >_<

 

[That70sShowDude]

My favs:
2x2 - LL
3x3 - CII
4x4 - Maru

 

[beardo]

Looks like the diansheng cubes aren't favored among you guys?
Any idea what the difference between the 80g and 100g at popbuying.com is for the DS cubes?
http://www.popbuying.com/detail.pb/sku.3x3x3_DS_110g_Magic_Intelligence_Test_Cube_White-27397
http://www.popbuying.com/detail.pb/sku.3x3x3_DS_80g_Magic_Intelligence_Test_Cube_White-27396
(110g and 80g, respective)

I'm kind of surprised that the C4Y diy 3x3 isn't as popular as I thought. I've heard a few great reviews on them. I'll keep the same 2x2 and 4x4 for now though.

Is there a difference in the feel of the black and white F-II's?

 

[Senkoy]

2x2 - LanLan
3x3 - FII or AV
4x4 i was wondering myself. I was going to get a YJ (since the Maru was too pricey to me) but i saw some that didn't have the usual color scheme and i hate that, especially for an even cube. I ended up getting a LanLan so i hope it's good. Not too much info on it out there and from what little there is it's very mixed. We'll see.

 

[daniel0731ex]

If you are good at tuning:

2x2: Maru
3x3: Maru
4x4: Maru


If you are the kind of person who doesn't really put time into conditioning your cube:

2x2: ShengShou
3x3: YJ VVGOO-2 (Type D II-S)
4x4: MiniQJ

 

[beardo]

Any more input?

After looking around some more yesterday, I think this will be my order:
- 2x2 Lanlan
- 4x4 67mm QJ
- 3x3 Diansheng
- 3x3 Diansheng mini
- 3x3 F-II
- 3x3 Cube4You DIY / AV (I would like an AV DIY, can't find one on popbuying/lightake) Any reason to stay away from C4Y diy cubes? I've seen pretty good reviews, and they have colors!

I saw the VJ VVGOO-2 yesterday, and it's cheap! Anyone else reccomend this cube?

 

[RCTACameron]

Any more input?

After looking around some more yesterday, I think this will be my order:
- 2x2 Lanlan
- 4x4 67mm QJ
- 3x3 Diansheng
- 3x3 Diansheng mini
- 3x3 F-II
- 3x3 Cube4You DIY / AV (I would like an AV DIY, can't find one on popbuying/lightake) Any reason to stay away from C4Y diy cubes? I've seen pretty good reviews, and they have colors!

I saw the VJ VVGOO-2 yesterday, and it's cheap! Anyone else reccomend this cube?

I really don't think that Dianshengs are that great. I would recommend getting a Dayan Guhong, which you can get DIY on popbuying and lightake.

 

[beardo]

Any more input?

After looking around some more yesterday, I think this will be my order:
- 2x2 Lanlan
- 4x4 67mm QJ
- 3x3 Diansheng
- 3x3 Diansheng mini
- 3x3 F-II
- 3x3 Cube4You DIY / AV (I would like an AV DIY, can't find one on popbuying/lightake) Any reason to stay away from C4Y diy cubes? I've seen pretty good reviews, and they have colors!

I saw the VJ VVGOO-2 yesterday, and it's cheap! Anyone else reccomend this cube?

I really don't think that Dianshengs are that great. I would recommend getting a Dayan Guhong, which you can get DIY on popbuying and lightake.

What do they feel like? Similar to what type of cube?

 

[TK 421]

Get 2x2 and 4x4 and their stickers from www.marucube.com, this is currently the BEST 2x2 and 4x4 in the market. Black, white, transparent, is available. They also sell riveted, assembled and DIY 3x3, the assembled version offers lots of colours.

If 3x3 I would not recommend MARU, but the HaiYan Memory (the thing you see on top of this forum)

 

[maggot]

to me, guhong is the most buttery cube ive ever had. it is very hard to describe. it is so smooth and it almost seems to assist your turns. it does tend to overshoot, but i think thats just me, not the cube. i personally would reccomend an a5 because it is very forgiving to sloppy turning. the guhong is very very fast.
2x2- ghosthand(shenshou) or lanlan.
3x3- a5 (mod it) or f2 (i might reccomend a guhong to an experienced cuber)
4x4- maru (it is very loud, but it is the most forgiving 4x4)
5x5- vcube