If you're reading this page, you probably know a bit about Kinetico's K5 Reverse Osmosis system. It's the best water filter money can buy, with Water-On-Water technology and some of the highest quality media available. If you're as serious about your drinking water as I am, you want only the best. Kinetico, inarguably, is one of the finest options available for the home.
The problem is two-fold. One -- the price. It's damn expensive, $1500-$2,000 depending on various factors and location. That does include installation, however, and they offer a discount if you buy a water softener along with the K5. Still, it's very expensive.
Secondly, you deal exclusively with your local Kinetico Dealer/Service Provider. You literally can't get support or replacement filters anywhere else. The replacement filters, usually, are priced below what many competitors charge, which is part of the value-proposition that Kinetico offers -- a higher upfront cost, lower annual cartridge replacement costs. Problem is that you're dealing with a monopoly in your assigned dealer, and if they should decide to increase costs for any reason, you can't go shopping around for a lower price on your replacement cartridges -- you're stuck at that point.
I like the technology offered by Kinetico, but I don't like dealing with the type of dealer-network they've established. For that reason, I decided to look for an alternative to the Kinetico K5 system, one with similar technology (water-on-water, preferably) and the kind of quality standards one would expect out of a top-notch brand.
After lots and lots of research, I found a suitable alternative, one that matched all of the criteria I wanted, PLUS was more compact AND far less expensive. Best of all, it was offered on Amazon with free Prime Shipping. I liked that because I know Amazon favors customers when it comes to product disputes, mitigating any risk associated with buying this product.
So…what's the brand name of this RO system?
It's called the Aquaphor Morion DMW-101 Compact RO. It's receiving incredible Amazon reviews (click to read them).
- It's got that airless Water-On-Water technology, which allows for similar storage capacity from a much smaller tank. With all of the cartridges, the tank, and the housing, it's about half the size of a traditional RO system, yielding as much water with less waste.
- It's made in Russia by a company that focuses on this technology with teams of lab scientists ensuring consistent quality.
- I love the twist-and-replace cartridges, making it quick to change out filters without ever touching material coming in contact with the water.
- It comes with remineralization media is well, so your water will be totally clean and slightly mineralized, making it more ph-balanced.
- It works similarly to the Kinetico in that it requires no electric pump and works well with low pressure -- only the best systems are this way. 50% less waste water is the result.
- It comes with a european-style designer faucet (looks really good).
- Replacement filters are inexpensive and available directly on Amazon.
So that's more than enough reasons for me to go with this unit, and pass on the K5. The Aquaphor Morion just makes sense for me. Realistically, it's the best choice for most consumers, as long as you're shopping for home-use. Offices would do well with this system too. For restaurants, you might want to search for something with larger capacity.
That's all for my review/recommendation -- this should be more than enough information to make a decision (checkout the Amazon Reviews if you have any doubts). Hope you enjoyed the article!
That's all for my review/recommendation -- this should be more than enough information to make a decision (checkout the Amazon Reviews if you have any doubts). Hope you enjoyed the article!
