[Review] Moyu 7x7x7 AoFu

[PeelingStickers]

This thread is for reviews of the Moyu Aofu (7x7x7). You can vote in the poll above, but please only vote if you own this particular puzzle.

When posting your review, please follow a template similar to this:

Where the puzzle was purchased:
When the puzzle was purchased:
Thoughts on the puzzle:

What are your thoughts of this puzzle? Please vote one of the options above - but please only vote if you own and have used this puzzle extensively!

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Where the puzzle was purchased: thecubicle.us
When the puzzle was purchased: It arrived on 23/07/2014 6 days after shipping on standard shipping
Thoughts on the puzzle: When I first unboxed it, the entire cube fell apart as two sides had been tensioned as loose as possible. This was frustrating as I had to spend 45 minuted re-assembling it. Fortunately nothing was broken. I don't blame thecubicle for this as they don't tension every cube they ship out. Once re-assembled the cube was good to go.

Pros:
The cube is unbelievably smooth. There are no awkward lockups in between the third and fourth layers that you might have experienced on the mini shengshou 7x7x7.

Corner cutting is more than you'll ever need (more than one piece on all layers).

Pops are virtually non-existant with less than perfect turning unlike other big cubes (SS8X8-10X10). Personally the cube performs just as well with lube as without.

Cons:
In my opinion the stickers are a little too small - the centre cubies are about the same size as the mini shengshou 7x7 centre cubies, however the stickers are a fraction smaller - this makes recognition a little harder on all stages. I recommend you replace them if you are considering making this your main.

The cube is almost too smooth - layers can misalign on certain stages (edges and 3x3) making lockups somewhat frequent.

If you're not used to the pillowed shape, 3x3 stage may be tricky for you. Gripping the outer layers for algorithms is somewhat tricky compared to the SS mini. Hopefully this will improve with more solves.

Conclusion:
Overall I'm happy with this cube. I still average ~20-30 seconds faster on my shengshou mini (~4:20 average), which I can see remaining as my main for the foreseeable future; hopefully I can get the Moyu Aofu up to scratch and competing with it with more breaking in.

 

[CiaranBeahan]

Where the puzzle was purchased : thecubicle.us
When the puzzle was purchased: Thursday the 3rd of July(I think) Arrived: Monday the 14th of July(I think).
Thoughts on the puzzle: When I first unboxed the puzzle the entire blue side was tightened to the tightest tension it could be. This was annoying as I had to spend an hour and a half disassembling, tensioning and reassembling the cube. A after it was good to go I done a solve. I got 40 seconds above my normal average. This was frustrating as I didn't know why I couldn't get as good times on the Aofu as I could on the Shengshou.

Pros:
The cube is really smooth and does not require lube to make is turn fast.

If you are younger and haven't got as large hands this cube is the right size. Its smaller outer layers are much more fitting than the Shengshou's outer layers.

Despite the stickers being quite small, the stickers are extremely strong and don't peel very easily. This means you don't have to replace the stickers very often.

Cons:
The stickers are small and this makes it difficult for recognition. However, if you are considering making this your main cube I would not replace the stickers.

First impressions are not that good. Get your screwdriver ready if you are going to order this puzzle. The chances of getting all 6 sides turning the same seems to be unlikely at the moment.

I have noticed that the second cubie in on the second layer in pops every ten to twenty solves. This isn't a lot but can be devastating in a competition solve.

This cube is pillowed, this makes it difficult to grip the outer layers.

Conclusion:
First impressions aren't good. But if you spend some time breaking it in and getting used to the cube you can get good times. I will be attempting to retake the British Isles record with this cube and I would recommend to you, only if you are willing to spend time solving the cube.

 

[Future Cuber]

Woah .... 2 gigantic posts
;D

 

[Chree]

Where: thecubicle
When: the split second I saw it offered for preorder
First Impressions: Out of the box, mine had an assembly issue. One of the center piecces wasn't completed seated to the core, so one side was very loose, turned horribly, and popped a lot. The very first thing I had to do to the cube was take one side apart and reassemble it after pushing the center stalk down, and re-tension it. After that it's been a great cube.

Pros: Everything everyone else has said.

Cons: Everything everyone else has said. Also, it pops. And when it pops, it erupts. Putting it back together is not at all easy either.

 

[Cubes4Speed]

Where the puzzle was purchased: Cubes4Speed.com
When the puzzle was purchased: About 2 weeks ago (late October)
Thoughts on the puzzle: Out of the box, it turns great, and only gets better with extensive use. The corner-cutting is very impressive, and it can even reverse cut about a third of a cubie. It feels somewhat scratchy, like the AoSu, but not nearly as much as it. As far as setting this puzzle up, I haven't had to lubricate it at all.
Now, this puzzle is nowhere near perfect. The inner layers (mostly when turning just 2 layers) can lock up, and result in very bad pops. It will also lock up if you try to corner-cut to much on the outer layers. And of course, it is pillowed, which is not very desirable to me.
Overall, I'd say that it is better than the ShengShou, and a great puzzle, but I will have to wait and see how the cubic version is before I can get an accurate comparison.

Here's a video review I did on the AoFu recently.

 

[SpeedCubeReview]

How are the perfect exes compared to a SS and v-cube? Is someone able to do a side by side comparison of the pieces?

Also, I always had popping issues on my V-cube but never on my SS. How does the Aofu compare?

 

[biscuit]

Why can't they make a cube shaped aofu? If they extend the pieces it would be a bit more expensive but then they have a cubic aofu. Would the cube be to big?