Differences in DI quality from one model to another

If you look at the offerings from Lowrance for Hook2 7" models you will see many of the same features spread over quite a price range. Some model might cost $600 and have Chirp 2D and DI and SI. Another cost $399 and has the same features, minus mapping of some sort. My question is about the quality of DI and SI in a lower priced model as opposed to the same features in the higher priced model. Are they the same, or have corners been cut? I am not the least bit interested in mapping, but I do appreciate GPS that allows me to see the speed at which I am getting hopelessly lost !!! ;-)

I got by just fine with my Hook2-5 on my kayak, and even had it on my new 17' boat a few weeks while I decided what to buy. It has DI, 2D sonar, and the mapping with a Navionics+ card that came with it is completely adequate for the lakes I fish. The cheaper models have less adjustments and settings than the full-featured MFDs, and rely on auto settings a lot. Probably have less power and transducer choices as well. I know I caught a lot more fish after I got it than I did without it.

Thanks for the reply, but I want to clarify what I am asking. Given any manufacturer, is there a difference in the function, readability, etc between a high and low priced unit, considering SI and DI? Are the transducers the same? Is the hardware and software the same? Are the pixel counts the same.......etc?
Thanks

Humminbird- with straight Di it is going to give you a better picture than Si/Di unit because they blend the two Si shots into a Di shot using the internal computer. Now I think but not positive but on the new high end mega units they may have a separate Di ducer on the Si.

Lowrance uses a separate transducer for their Di VS Si. And that ducer works across a broad range of units. So I would figure the quality would be more of a function of the number of pixels in the screen. Lower end unit less quality.

Garmin I have seen seem to have the same quality of picture spread across their entire line.

I would expect to have a little less quality from the lower end units than the high end units.
But if your talking about the same unit ( Lowrance hook2 7 ) one with gps and one without and that price difference then no you would not suffer on quality nor on any other unit.

The image produced on the Lowrance units is the same whether or not you have mapping. I already had a HDS5 GPS on my boat. I bought the Hook 2 7x without for this reason. Only disadvantage is having two units on console vs one. It does give me the advantage of running full screen GPS on one and full screen imaging on the other. Saved $200 also.

RayMarine has the best of all, 7" model is around $500.00- it is the pro 7, everyone who looks at mine is amazed at how sharp it is on DI, maps are ok and the Sonar is fine. My 2Cts.

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Originally Posted by trypman1

RayMarine has the best of all, 7" model is around $500.00- it is the pro 7, everyone who looks at mine is amazed at how sharp it is on DI, maps are ok and the Sonar is fine. My 2Cts.

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Please post some screenshots from your Raymarine unit. Not many images from Raymarine on here or on any of the other forums that I visit. I would really like to see some images.
Thanks!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Roy

Please post some screenshots from your Raymarine unit. Not many images from Raymarine on here or on any of the other forums that I visit. I would really like to see some images.
Thanks!

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bassboatcentral has a raymarine forum that has bunches of images. pretty impressive