I just received a standalone AMS 2 Pro to pair with my X1C/AMS combo.
I was a little sad to see there were no free spools in the package. I know it didn’t say they would include one on the website, but I thought I remember reading that people who bought a standalone AMS in the past received some free empty reusable spools inside. This is not the case with the AMS 2 Pro. Maybe I’m remembering wrong, but if not it just feels like BBL is cost cutting corners.
Also, here’s my rant regarding combo pricing.
An X1C is $1300. An X1C with AMS is $1549 (+$250). An X1C with AMS 2 Pro is $1689 (+$389). I see the combo with the AMS saving you money, but the combo with the AMS2Pro doesn’t save you the same kind of money. {Also, the H2D is $2099 but the H2D/AMS2Pro combo is $2399 (+$300). So why is it more to bundle the AMS2Pro with the X1C than with the H2D?}
To explain my point, the AMS alone MSRP is $350 (current price $340), while the AMS2Pro is $369. If you buy an X1C combo with AMS you’re saving $90. If you buy an X1C with AMS2Pro you’re not saving anything. Well, ok, let me quantify that further. The AMS2Pro combo comes with an upgrade kit that is valued at $68. So your savings with the X1C / AMS2Combo kit are about $60 since you get a hub/power supply.
[The AMS2Pro upgrade kit sells for $75 and includes the hub (MSRP $49, sells for $39 if you buy an AMS), a power supply ($25.50), and cable ($3). In this case, I see it as cheaper to buy the three items separately instead of bundling them together in the “upgrade kit” if you’re buying an AMS2Pro.]
Just some weird pricing structures built into BBL’s e-shop. /End rant
