Today on American Foam we pit the Stryfe against the Spectrum in a battle to see which brands “flagship” blaster will come out on top. #nerf #adventureforce #dartzone
Modders may prefer the stryfe because of the potential, but for your typical "nerfer" who just wants to grab a blaster and play, the spectrum totally outperforms the stryfe with greater FPS and much better darts.
I think thats a reasonable conclusion to reach, but I also think that's a reasonable conclusion to reach for September 4th, 2020. Stryfes arent rare by any stretch of the imagination, but that's only for now, and the Spectrum is available right now and presumably will be for some time. Yes, the Stryfe has a lot more kits available for it, but again, that's true right now, maybe not a year from now. This, of course, is only just my opinion, but i feel that the modding *potential* of the two is nearly identical, which means to my mind that if the spectrum can be modded in all the same ways that the stryfe can, it's only a matter of time before the availability of the spectrum will make it the "default" semi-auto flywheeler, much in the same way that the availability of the MA40 will become, over time, the "default" bullpup flywheeler, not to mention the higher performance ceiling due to, ironically, the MA40s lack of barrel drag(For others reading this, no, that wasn't a typo. The MA40 does not have a standard width inner barrel, it's closer to a .70" inner barrel diameter, meaning darts dont rub against it when firing, and as such it doesnt lose velocity to barrel drag like the rayven does, which is why the MA40 gets about 5 FPS higher than a rayven on average, despite having a 2.5x longer barrel). Essentially, I think it's only a matter of time before we have mod kits for the spectrum that essentially give it as much flexibility and moddability as the stryfe. With that in mind, it's my opinion that pushing the spectrum as just a flatly superior item regardless of user intent will only serve to hasten the pace of modding support for the spectrum. Wide adoption means wide support structure, which is what happened with the stryfe when it came out. Perhaps i'm looking too far forward, but at the same time, when the stryfe came out, we didn't have the kind of hobby infrastructure that we do now, it reasonably took many many years for such wide support for it to appear, but we're capable of moving faster nowadays. In 3 or even 2 years time, the mod support for the spectrum could rival that of the stryfes, in addition to just being a superior blaster in stock form. Just my take on it, though.
It's not a matter of time but international availability. The reason Stryfe has so many kits is because it was in China. Not everyone has a 3D printer in their house so tehy can just get stryfe kits from worker. Also stryfe is so much smaller and you can have it on a holster. It's clear if you can mod and find one stryfe is the way to go.
The Stryfe may be the modder’s choice, but I say that we need to give the Spectrum insane love if we’re ever to be able to have kits on it and keep Prime Time Toys delivering quality product. They’re the first major company that has listened to the modding/blaster community. Make sure that you share Adventure Force mods & kits online. Let’s reward them for their loyalty to us.
The reason Stryfe got popular is because of its availability internationally like China. worker can't make Spectrum kits if its not available in China.
I have both and the spectrum does shoot harder without mods but it feels and looks much cheaper. You can immediately tell by picking it up that the plastic is much thinner and lower quality.
I don't mod, I don't play, I just shoot into my blanket, but I like both of them cause I've had some issues with my Spectrum, my darts (The AF Waffles) keep shooting crooked out of a barrel, I guess I have a misaligned Flywheel or something. I do have to say, the Build quality is leagues better than the Elite 2.0 Turbine I picked up today...... god damn that blaster feels cheap in the hands, not worth the $60CAD I paid for it at Walmart
Since its a Walmart exclusive blaster, the international audience will have to stick to the Stryfe. For now at least. With this 2.0 Phoenix thing being pressed on us and the Stryfe soon disappearing, I really wish PTToys looks into international distribution via blasterparts for europe etc.
I'd love to see a Villinator vs. Turbo Advance comparison video. I get that practically the Villinator is "better" but I don't have one and I like the horizontal pump on the Turbo Advance. You can also reload one ring on the drum while you're blasting the other.
I really like these comparison videos and would love to see more of them! You think maybe you can a Modulus Longstrike vs Icon Longshot comparison? Genuinely curious to see how that goes since they're both quite different from their original iterations.
American Foam Absolutely fantastic comparison video. Thanks for always taking the time to give us all the facts. Great job as always. Keep up the great work. Yes the Spectrum is the hands down winner from a stock blaster standpoint.
Back when toys r us was closing I bought several og stryfes and I'm bummed with myself for giving them out and I sold a few. Should have held onto them. I only have one in package in holding onto
Another great video, I was waiting for someone to do this kind of comparison. I have a question, did you buy yours or was it sent to you. Me and my son are waiting to buy some but they aren't in stores near us, I was actually wondering if they were online only. Keep up the good work!!
I held one of these guns, the spectrum has a bad barrel, if you try to use speed and aim for different targets fast it can hamper with the accuracy, The stryfe has a short custom barrel that can hold a spectre barrel which is one of the bests Basically you are getting a ak-47 vs m4a1 No this has nothing to do with accuracy, The ak or spectrum has stronger power but is less comfortable and more heavy The m4a1 or stryfe can be customized easily with the best accessories And is (debatable for the m4, not the stryfe) more accurate If i went to a nerf war i would use a stryfe even if it was unmodded
Great job sir, I agree, old blasters have more mod options, maybe revisit when the spectrum is the same age as the strife is now, but you can really mod any blaster to do whatever you want it to be.
I agree with the other comment that this will prob be the standard semi auto mod base in a year or so, especially if worker starts making kits for it. New Stryfe’s are already hard to find for a reasonable price (somewhat easier finding used/thrifted tho) and won’t get easier (and few people want to put in the effort to bust open the Phoenix) It’s not quite as easy to make the Spectrum look real steel so it won’t cut into the vector/AK fanboy market as much, but a solid stock that doesn’t require the Villainator would be really nice (even a bit longer than the Villainator stock would be ideal imo) and something nice and grippy with finger grooves to slide over the AFG. When I get one I’m def gonna hacksaw the muzzle to minimize it (I believe it’s removable but I want to keep some orange for safety). Might dremel the AFG down to smooth/rounded as well if their isn’t a slip on grip available.
Not sure if I missed it but the Spectrum runs on 6 batteries (9v) and the Stryfe is only 4 aa (6v) so stock the Spectrum should be better by definition. Also the stock Stryfe has the annoying locks and thermistor which always get chucked when you mod. Sadly, not being US based I can't buy a Spectrum, and I do want one in my collection. Curiously I have heard that Stryfe's aren't that easy to source new in the US anymore, whereas I could get a new one without difficulty, although I have so many I don't really need another, lol.
Very nice review. One critique I have is that when comparing accuracy, I wished you would've used the dart zone waffle head darts. This is for a couple reasons. 1. They are more accurate and represent a better accuracy rate then the Accu-strike darts. 2. Since they are more accurate, AND cheaper, more people will be using dart zone waffle head darts. Wich means more people will be using them and it would be better for a viewer to know the accuracy of the actual darts their using. But overall, it's a small critique, and it was a great video. (I would also personally disagree that the stryfe is the modders choice because the spectrum requires less work, 100 fps is acceptable and you don't have to remove locks)
The new version of the spectrum, the Dart Zone Thunderbolt, is an improved version of the Spectrum. Nerf's Stormcharge is still the same thing as before.
I really like the way the stryfe feels and looks in pistol form (stripped down like in the video) just put in 2 IMRs and 2 dummy batteries and it performs like a stock spectrum. I also really like the way the spectrum looks in rifle form (forward grip and fully extended stock) and it has great performance the way it is with regular AA batteries.
One thing that is never going to change between them is cosmetic mods. The spectrum looks like a thing, the Stryfe doesn't particularly. You can make the Stryfe look like so many other things, I don't think you can do that with the spectrum without shell cutting a good bit
For me, I either by the Spectrum to simply have a good, solid blaster, or I go with a fully 3d printed blaster, because the stryfe really has nothing to offer me. The hummingbird is a lot more my speed.
I mod and while the stryfe is amazing its also 7+ years old and thats why theres so many options for it, there are actually already pre existing flywheel cages that fit the spectrum and theres already a lot of mods for it i love the spectrum and when its finally not sold out imma get one
I like the Stryfe a lot, and as such, I feel a little bad talking smack about it, but I'll agree that the Spectrum wins overall. Even so, the Stryfe wins in a couple corner cases - using fewer batteries is technically an advantage in its favor, and I think that its silhouette lends itself better to use as a costume prop. While I can see the Spectrum getting cosmetic kits, I don't think it would surpass the Stryfe (maybe get the same number as, but probably not more), much like how the Kronos has remained on top in terms of mod kits compared to the Heracles/Mercury/X-Shot Orbit. In stock performance though, the Spectrum comes out pretty far ahead. If performance modding is considered, the two end up on relatively even footing, but I don't think this adds much to the discussion. I already own a Stryfe, and while the Spectrum is genuinely a superb blaster, I can't personally justify buying a Spectrum when the Stryfe does largely the same thing. I think I'd get an Aeon Pro instead.
I would have liked to see you put two blanks into the spectrum so it would be a true comparison of power and range. I prefer the Stryfe due to it's looks, stock level mod ability.
How is it not a true comparison? I was measuring out of the box performance between two similar blasters. Just because Dart Zone wanted a more powerful blaster, doesn’t mean I should have to handicap it in my comparison.
@@AmericanFoam It was a honest and true comparison of the stock level blasters. With the passage of time Dart Zone was able to improve on the design of the Stryfe. What I was wondering was if all things were equal, [ie, battery power] would the Spectrum still have the its awesone performance advantage. I feel, your assessment on stock performance and mod-ability is right on the money. I hope Dart Zone keeps the Spectrum around long enough for it to get the community following the Stryfe enjoys.
Honestly I’d go with the Spectrum. You get pretty much the same attachments, (except the barrel is built in and you get a scope) the darts are more accurate, and the stock is actually adjustable. Plus it’s $15 USD less, or $20 USD less if you have to get the Camo Stryfe online (which it is actually available online at the time of making this comment, September 4th, 2021). When you compare the Spectrum and Battlecamo Stryfe only in stock form with no mods/other attachments, I’d say the Spectrum wins.
The stryfe definitely still has a place in our hobby, even if the spectrum is better (which it is). The spectrum is much more of a full assault blaster, because it is much larger than the stryfe. The stryfe is more of like a secondary pistol now, where you have it on a one point sling and can bring it up for a second to blast a few people, and then duck and reload your spectrum
Then again you can just be me have no shame and straight up dual wield lol just add a full auto kit or upgrade the internals in general and they can both be a primary
When comparing apples to apples (stock form) the Spectrum wins but when you compare apples to oranges ( modded) nothing can match a Stryfe. The Spectrum strong points are price and performance right out of the box. The Stryfes strong points are reliability repairability and the potential to to turn it into anything you want. I see the Spectrum catching the Stryfe as aftermarket parts become available but for me if it's a grab and go game I choose the Spectrum if I want to look Tactic Cool then I use one of my Stryfes. The kick in head would be a short dart adapter like the DZ Pro
I think if not the big muzzle were on the spectrum, I actually think the spectrum is gonna win even in modded form because it is more balansed but for stock of course the spectrum wins. Me from sweden.
I still like the stryfe better though just because of all the attachments Nerf has already made, if dart zone makes as many attachments as Nerf that that actually useful I might like the spectrum more
Why tf did I buy a battle camo stryfe for 52 dollars at wallmart and now it's 35. And why was my other choice the nerf halo ma40 but now it's 100... :(
People are praising spectrum out of blind love imo. Spectrum is not available internationally. spectrum can't be in holster. Spectrum till now does not have metal cages or cheap kits from worker. I don't see myself getting a spectrum even if it goes international and comes to India because it looks cheap even thought it probably fells good.
Anyone who’s used one that I know loves it for real reasons. International shipping is in the works as we speak. Why can’t it be holstered? There will be mod kits for it in the future, it’s only been out a month.
Why would finish what nerf started. You wouldn't pay for half a meal. The stryfe seems like a way worse deal. Nerf has build quality, but adventure line seems Less modular, and preforms like a finished product
