PRO NINE by PIPELINE / DICODES

Commercial characteristics

• Sponsor having loaned the product for the magazine: The Little Vapoteur 
• Price of the tested product: 229 Euros
• Product category according to its selling price: Luxury (over 120 euros)
• Mod type: Voltage and variable power electronics with temperature control
• Is the mod telescopic? No
• Maximum power: 60 watts
• Maximum voltage: 12
• Minimum value in Ohms resistance for a start: Less than 0.1

Reviewer comments on business characteristics

The PRO EIGHT and the PRO NINE represent the entry into the running of PIPELINE in this universe of Temperature Control (TC mode) box mods already well supplied.

The wait will have been long for fans who were hoping for the arrival of the brand in this segment. It is clear that the wait (too long anyway) offers us today the presence of premium "High End" equipment which visually already promises a lot. It's sober, refined, elegant and it exudes quality.

The positioning and the price of this PRO NINE are high for a model delivering 60 watts, so we are entitled to claim a lot from it.

Before continuing this discovery, note that this box is guaranteed for 2 years by PIPELINE.

Physical characteristics and felt quality

• Width or Diameter of the product in mms: 30
• Product Length or Height in mms: 80.5
• Product weight in grams: 272
• Material composing the product: Stainless steel, Aluminum, Copper
• Form Factor Type: Flange
• Decorative style: Classic
• Quality of decoration: Good
• Is the coating of the mod sensitive to fingerprints? No
• All components of this mod seem well assembled? Yes
• Fire button position: Lateral near the top cap
• Fire button type: Mechanical metal on contact rubber
• Number of buttons making up the interface, including touch zones if they are present: 3
• Type of user interface buttons: Mechanical metal on rubber contact
• Quality of the interface button (s): Good, not the button is very responsive
• Number of parts in the product: 2
• Number of threads: 2
• Quality of the threads: Excellent
• Overall, do you appreciate the quality of manufacture of this product with regard to its price? Yes

Rating of the vapelier as to feelings quality: 4 / 5

Reviewer's comments on physical characteristics and perceived quality

Of respectable size, the PIPELINE PRO NINE is a very beautiful object. The quality of the materials is indisputable for this box manufactured in 1.4305 stainless steel and aluminum.

Its ergonomics are ideal thanks to its "9" shape (there you go! We know the origin of its surname) and will perfectly fit the shape of your right hand.
This shape is also due to the use of a 26650 battery which should guarantee good autonomy.

The different buttons have a very nice touch and their little "click" also demonstrates a good quality.

The spring-loaded pin is made of beryllium copper* for improved conductivity. It is on the narrowest part of the mod allowing atomizers of 22 and 23 mm in diameter to be "flush". The part corresponding to the battery measures 30 mm.

The OLED screen seems small but it is finally sufficient because its readability is perfect.

Once the bottom cap of the battery is opened (with a coin; it's the most practical) the entrails are nickels too. This hatch, practical or not depending on everyone's taste, has the merit of being pierced with 2 degassing holes.

At this stage, I really have no complaints about this PRO NINE. It makes me think of these beautiful fabrications that are found among car manufacturers across the Rhine. It must also be said that, as for this reference, the price is to match; so it better be done right.

One last point for this chapter. Below the box you will see a small hole with a copper stud inside. It is a terminal. Pipepline will offer (still in development at the time of writing this review) a recharging base in order to deposit the PRO NINE on it.

*Cupro - be or alloy of copper and beryllium (CuBe), if it is recognized for certain interesting specific properties compared to copper alone, such as: better conductivity, better mechanical resistance and resistance to certain corrosions, does not seem to present a stainless character which would concern us at the highest point. Despite research, I have not found any trace of publication evoking this eventuality, it would be good for your feedback to inform us on this point in the near future, we are counting on you.

Functional features

• Type of chipset used: Owner
• Connection type: 510, Ego - via adapter
• Adjustable positive stud? Yes, through an adjustment by thread.
• Lock system ? Electronic
• Quality of the locking system: Good, the function does what it is for
• Features offered by the mod: Switch to mechanical mode, Display of the charge of the batteries, Display of the value of the resistance, Protection against short circuits coming from the atomizer, Protection against the reversal of polarity of the accumulators, Display of the current vape voltage, Display of the power of the current vape, Display of the vape time of each puff, Display of the vape time since a certain date, Fixed protection against overheating of the atomizer resistors, Variable protection against overheating of the atomizer resistors, Temperature control of the atomizer resistors, Adjustment of display brightness, Clear diagnostic messages, Diagnostic messages by alphanumeric codes
• Accusability: 26650
• Does the mod support stacking? No
• Number of batteries supported: 1
• Does the mod retain its configuration without batteries? Yes
• Does the mod offer reload functionality? AC adapter charging sold separately
• Is the recharge function pass-through? No
• Does the mode offer a Power Bank function? No power bank function offered by the mod
• Does the mode offer other functions? No other function offered by the mod
• Presence of air flow regulation? Yes
• Maximum diameter in mms of compatibility with an atomizer: 23
• Accuracy of the output power at full charge of the battery: Excellent, there is no difference between the requested power and the real power
• Accuracy of the output voltage at full charge of the battery: Excellent, there is no difference between the requested voltage and the actual voltage

Vapelier's note regarding functional characteristics: 4.8 / 5

Reviewer's comments on functional features

A PIPELINE has never been easy to use and it is better not to start without understanding the thing at least.
Downloading the manual is therefore “mandatory” if you want to take full advantage of the many functions offered by this mod: http://www.pipeline-store.com/manual/PPNINE/index.html

Power from 5W to 60W
20A output current
Spring-loaded adjustable positive stud
OLED Display
Temperature control (possible with all resistive wires)*
Heat protection mode (internal overheating)
Power Boost mode (great for mounting on “diesel” type atos).
Bypass mode (unregulated but electronically protected against overload)
Possible adjustment of the cut-off voltage of the battery from 2,5V to 3V
Resistance measurement
Display of the battery voltage under atomizer charge
Adjustable screen brightness
Stealth mode, screen off
Setting and displaying the menu scrolling speed
Setting the sleep timer
Measurement of the capacity of the battery (to be taken with precaution, it is more a measurement of the “Health” of the battery)
Information menu
Supported atomizer resistance range: 0,05 to 5Ω
Atomizer resistance range supported at 60W: 0,15 to 2,4Ω
Reverse polarity protection
Overheating protection
Charging connector under the mod (for docking station not included)

*Other : function for resistive wires other than those listed

Everything is adjustable and configurable on this PIPELINE PRO NINE. It is complete and well done. Of course not all the options are of fundamental interest, but it is an excellent chipset which has been developed by DICODES and has been proven for a long time. In this range of High End mods, only the DNA 200 (which requires downloading dedicated software) is even more advanced (who said complex!) but I don't find it more effective.

When you claim 60 watts from the PRO NINE, well the DICODES chipset delivers 60 watts. It's real and there. To be convinced of this, just iron your ato on another mod and compare...
Besides, the manufacturer has no update to offer as the subject is under control. Adding more power would only have the disadvantage of reducing recognized and proven reliability.

Evaluation of the packaging

• Presence of a box accompanying the product: Yes
• Would you say that the packaging is up to the price of the product? Yes
• Presence of a user manual? No
• Is the manual understandable for a non-English speaker? No
• Does the manual explain ALL features? No

Vapelier's note on packaging: 2 / 5

Reviewer's comments on conditioning

Exit the cardboard packaging of the majority of Chinese production or others. Here the High End status is respected and we are in the presence of a case at the height of this box.

Appreciations in use

• Transport facilities with the test atomizer: Ok for an inside jacket pocket (no deformations)
• Disassembly and cleaning facilities: Easy, even standing on the street, with a simple Kleenex
• Easy to change the batteries: Easy, even standing in the street
• Did the mod heat up? No
• Has there been any erratic behavior after a day of use? No
• Description of situations in which the product has experienced erratic behavior

Vapelier's rating in terms of ease of use: 5/5

Reviewer's comments on the use of the product

I have been using this PIPELINE PRO NINE for several weeks and I recognize that it will be difficult for me to return it to its owner.

Of course, understanding a PIPELINE mode requires a little insight and interest in this type of model. It's beautiful, well made and in a high fare class. At the same time, I find it gratifying to learn and dissect the multiple possibilities offered by the beauty. For this type of High End box I am satisfied with this approach and I would even admit that I felt a certain pleasure in sharing this time. She and I became one. I would have been disappointed to go around it in a short time…

In use, I encountered no problems. Only one small downside, I found the chipset a bit energy-intensive when asked for the last third of the available power. I thought that with a 26650 battery the autonomy would be greater. On the other hand, with atos and flavor-oriented montages as I used mainly during these tests, there is no problem. Up to 25 watts the life of your battery is excellent.

My only difficulty is being left-handed. And this box is made for right-handers. Ergonomics will be at the top for them. For me I found my position, but it was upside down to fire with the index finger. If you switch with the hollow of the hand located between the thumb and the index finger, you will be able to find the same comfort as with the right hand.

I found that the Temperature Control was effective and well managed according to the different resistives. PIPELINE/DICODES recommend the use of Dicodes-Wire Resistherm NiFe30 wire to obtain the best results. There is also a sample provided in the package.

Recommendations for use

• Type of batteries used during the tests: 26650
• Number of batteries used during the tests: 1
• With what type of atomizer is it advisable to use this product? Dripper, Dripper Bottom Feeder, Classic fiber, In sub-ohm assembly, Genesis-type rebuildable
• With which model of atomizer is it advisable to use this product? Up to 23 mm maximum diameter
• Description of the test configuration used: Squape x and The Hurricane in 0.5 and 0.6 ohms
• Description of the ideal configuration with this product: I opted for a flavored vape below 25 to 50 watts

was the product liked by the reviewer: Yes

Overall average of the Vapelier for this product: 4.7 / 5

Link to a video review or blog maintained by the reviewer author of the review

The mood ticket of the reviewer

The PIPELINE PRO NINE is of a very Germanic rigor.
To the lack of audacity or creativity raised by some, I will answer that we are, as is often the case with German industry, in proven and mastered high-end. It's classy and understated. The user will not have to fear any quirks or other bugs. With the NINE PRO they can enjoy a mod for a long time.

It's clean, well finished and the DICODES electronics are of exemplary reliability. As a reminder, the warranty is two years.

This is a very nice box that has been long overdue.

More particularly suitable for right-handers, left-handers can still benefit from the excellent ergonomics provided by its 9-shape, if they agree to a change of habits.

The price of 229 euros is certainly substantial but in my opinion justified with regard to what is offered by the competition. And then when we push the door of these famous German car dealerships, we know what to expect, as we know why this price is premium.
I referred to this image often during the review. These are indeed the impressions that I felt.

As one of the Vapelier reviewers often says, you buy or not, it's up to you, it's according to your means, according to your desires... but this PIPEPLINE PRO NINE box mod harvests a top mod.

I reiterate my proposal to exchange information on the antioxidant quality or not of Cupro-be for our use, your feedback is welcome, thank you in advance.

Long live the vape and long live the free vape.

See you soon,

Marquolive

(c) Copyright Le Vapelier SAS 2014 - Only full reproduction of this article is authorized - Any modification of any kind is totally prohibited and infringes the rights of this copyright.