Virtuoso or Ricoh SG3110?

[finchandthefallow]

Hello,

I currently design and sell greeting cards but am looking to move into mug sublimation aswell. I am looking at which printer and mug press would be best for me. I understand that Ricoh produced the Sawgrass Virtuoso but just wondered how much difference their is between the Sawgrass A4 Virtuoso and the Ricoh SG3110?
Is it worth paying the extra money for the more 'specialised' Virtuoso? Also which mug press would you recommend? I was looking at maybe a Genie or Galaxy...but would love any recommendations and advice. Obviously I am looking to keep costs as low as possible, however I also want to make sure not to buy any inferior products that will cause me problems later on.

Thank you in advance for any help

Martin
Finch and the Fallow

[Justin]

SG400 is supposed to have 26% better gamut range with newer inks. I seem to remember the inks are a little cheaper but may be wrong. Also, printer is badges Sawgrass so warranty is easier.

Both printers are adequate for day to day printing but remember these are business printers not photographic printers.

Genie is getting good reviews, 10% off this if you join our premium membership. Not sure about the Galaxy.

[technick]

I am not too happy with the overall quality of the SG3100 print to be honest, if what Justin says about the SG having 26% better Gamut range, i would look into the A4 Virtuoso.

[Justin]

I'm yet to see this or indeed use the Virtuoso, this is the basis of then selling the newly rebadged machine.

[UK Printed Mugs]

We use both 3100 and 400 and indeed the 400 is a lot better.

[mags1892]

ITS THE SAME PRINTER :-

The Sawgrass SG 400 is almost the exact same printer, but the duplexer has been removed thats the only difference ( this is from CONDEs site)

[Justin]

...and it's rebadged and the warranty is different.

[mags1892]

...and it's rebadged and the warranty is different.

Thats true as Sawgras give the warranty (they can afford to with the silly ink prices ) .

[Scotty@BMS]

A year additional warranty, for anything and everything. On the SG3110, Sawgrass will only offer a warranty replacement as a result of a failure of the ink delivery system. Any other problems, you're up slack alley. Also the SG400 prints bi-directionally, eliminating banding issues.

[mags1892]

A year additional warranty, for anything and everything. On the SG3110, Sawgrass will only offer a warranty replacement as a result of a failure of the ink delivery system. Any other problems, you're up slack alley. Also the SG400 prints bi-directionally, eliminating banding issues.

SCOTTY - BIDI is the Same on 3110 as the SG400 with latest firmware. Bidirectional to be honest isnt that important as speed isnt really that important as the machine is fast enough anyway. Uni directional gives a more sustainable result in ALL printers. On the wide format epson for example an engineer does a UNI direction THEN a Bidirection setup which is tagged in to firmware this can alter slightly for every paper you print on . BI DI if anything increases banding it will never reduce banding if its on UNi Directional it will ALWAYS make it worse.