Part I: Out of box specs and impressions
I shot many of the 2023 bows. They were all great, but decided to go with the Prelude. Materials used, design, direct sales, individually owned, history, and quality are many of the factors I considered. The e-system appears to be one of the most stable, no fuss tuning systems available. It uses no shims, top-hats, clips, special tools, gears, or threaded axels. You do not even need a press for fine Left/right and up/down. Just apply thumb pressure to the side of the e-cable yoke to create slack on the other side and + or - a twist or two. Gross changes do need a press, and are made by twisting the entire string or cable. Darton has also provided a cool little hash mark on each cam that allows you to measure to the exact center point of the string.
Part II: Set up and initial impressions
This bow is ridiculously easy to set up. Integrate site mount eliminates need to level. Just set to 13/16 and done. The little hash marks on the cams allow you to measure and verify the exact center point on the sting and tie a D loop. I measured and marked the center point of the string, then followed the traditional square/level method and ended up in the exact spot I marked. Three shots to verify then 1/2 yoke twist top and bottom plus 1/64 rest move and I was done with the paper tune at 5 yards.
Draw cycle is firm from the get go and gets hard at the very end, but no big transition into the valley. Compared to the WAKE it is different but no better or worse. I think the draw cycle will be a turn-off when shot back to back in a shop buy someone who is sensitive to this sort of thing. There is a build up on the backend that I did not notice with the other flagships I shot. Some don't like the stacking. I think all draw cycles are fine, and within a shooting session or two muscle memory takes over.
Vibe/sound. It has much less vibe an is quieter than the WAKE. I would put the Prelude on pare with the Omnia and P4/V3 in terms of vibe and dbs. Sound comparison is a good guess as I was in totally different environments, but bet I would not be able to hear the difference.
Grip. What can I say, its a compound bow grip, which is to say a squared off broom stick. The angle/feel is like all the others. I prefer the grip on my Heli-m or better yet W&W ilf.
Balance. Prelude has neutral balance bare, with no top heavy tendency. I did something unique with the quiver and mounted it under-slung and quite close. No stabs necessary; not a competitive archer and never shoot past 40 yards. Complete package is very compact. All function over form.
Part III: Chrono and Final Thoughts
Chrono Results: 30", 85%, 460gr. Chrony Beta Blue testing outside/overcast. ATA and BH only changed 1/16 from 80# (0 turns) to 61# (7 turns).
80# 319fps Calc. IBO 347.3
75# 308fps Calc. IBO 344.7
70# 298fps Calc. IBO 343.0
61# 279fps Calc. IBO 339.0 - Did this one out of curiosity. 7 turns out is specified by Darton as the max number of limb bolt turns while still having full thread engagement and limb lock clearance. Resulted in only 1/16 change in ATA and BH. Butter smooth on the shot and no issues.
For comparison, my Mathews WAKE (352 IBO) tested at 75# and same specs at the same time clocked 313fps.
I have set the mod at 30.5" and am using the #2(5%) let off tab with the felt pad attached. This is the first time I have had a bow with 1/4" DL and Let-off adjustability. This combo results in 30.25" at 80% which seems to be ideal for me.
Final thoughts. I have around 500 arrows through the Prelude and am thoroughly impressed. One thing that I have not yet mentioned is this factory string. Zero creep, twist, or serving separations. Darton makes their stings in-house using 452x. So far they are as good as, or better than, any strings I have previously used. Its great to know I can buy directly from Darton at a reasonable cost. Another great feature is the roller slide (same as used on the Elite) which I was able to adjust inward (low profile 4 fletch) to relive some side pressure on the cables.
Darton knocked it out of the park with this bow. I shot 2022/23's form Prime(22), APA 33"(22), Mathews P4, Elite Omnia, PSE Levitate, and Hoyt(22). IMO this Darton is superior in tuneability, materials, and design to all of them. Prelude is a great name for this bow. It's clear Darton is back in the game, and I do hope we see them become another major competitor in the years to come.
I shot many of the 2023 bows. They were all great, but decided to go with the Prelude. Materials used, design, direct sales, individually owned, history, and quality are many of the factors I considered. The e-system appears to be one of the most stable, no fuss tuning systems available. It uses no shims, top-hats, clips, special tools, gears, or threaded axels. You do not even need a press for fine Left/right and up/down. Just apply thumb pressure to the side of the e-cable yoke to create slack on the other side and + or - a twist or two. Gross changes do need a press, and are made by twisting the entire string or cable. Darton has also provided a cool little hash mark on each cam that allows you to measure to the exact center point of the string.
- The fit an finish are as good or better than any competitors
- No plastic or rubber pads or washers anywhere on the bow
- There is a plastic insert with the Darton logo on the handle that is cheesy, but will be covered by grip tape
- Limb pockets are locking. The design also uses pins to align each limb
- Threaded steel inserts for all 3 stab mounts and barrel nuts for the limb bolts
- Out of box 81.32# and set at 29"
- ATA 32 1/8 BH 5 15/16
- Cam to Cam 37 3/4" (34 1/2 at full draw and 70#)
- Reflex is a forgiving 2 3/4"
- Timing was spot on out of the box
- Cam lean appears to be perfect (arrow shaft along flat of cam aligns exactly at nock point)
- Let off is adjustable form 65 to 80 (it's 85% with no tab) with provided tabs.
- Weight is 4.85 without the chubby and 5.29 with
- Limb bolts are coarse thread and tough to turn. 4 turns out took it from 81# to 69#
- Total bow weight 6.75# (VaporTrail GI8, Black gold 5pin fixed, Alpine archery 4 arrow quiver, additional limb saver stubby damper in front stab location, and 4 550 grain arrows)
- Bow balances perfectly- no rear bar necessary
- 30" #4 cam position is actually 30.25". With the 65% let off mod it would be spot on at 30.
- Draw cycle is stiff and smooth, weight builds on the back end but actual transition into the valley is smoother than the omnia or pse cams. The valley is deep and stable, zero jumpiness.
Part II: Set up and initial impressions
This bow is ridiculously easy to set up. Integrate site mount eliminates need to level. Just set to 13/16 and done. The little hash marks on the cams allow you to measure and verify the exact center point on the sting and tie a D loop. I measured and marked the center point of the string, then followed the traditional square/level method and ended up in the exact spot I marked. Three shots to verify then 1/2 yoke twist top and bottom plus 1/64 rest move and I was done with the paper tune at 5 yards.
Draw cycle is firm from the get go and gets hard at the very end, but no big transition into the valley. Compared to the WAKE it is different but no better or worse. I think the draw cycle will be a turn-off when shot back to back in a shop buy someone who is sensitive to this sort of thing. There is a build up on the backend that I did not notice with the other flagships I shot. Some don't like the stacking. I think all draw cycles are fine, and within a shooting session or two muscle memory takes over.
Vibe/sound. It has much less vibe an is quieter than the WAKE. I would put the Prelude on pare with the Omnia and P4/V3 in terms of vibe and dbs. Sound comparison is a good guess as I was in totally different environments, but bet I would not be able to hear the difference.
Grip. What can I say, its a compound bow grip, which is to say a squared off broom stick. The angle/feel is like all the others. I prefer the grip on my Heli-m or better yet W&W ilf.
Balance. Prelude has neutral balance bare, with no top heavy tendency. I did something unique with the quiver and mounted it under-slung and quite close. No stabs necessary; not a competitive archer and never shoot past 40 yards. Complete package is very compact. All function over form.
Part III: Chrono and Final Thoughts
Chrono Results: 30", 85%, 460gr. Chrony Beta Blue testing outside/overcast. ATA and BH only changed 1/16 from 80# (0 turns) to 61# (7 turns).
80# 319fps Calc. IBO 347.3
75# 308fps Calc. IBO 344.7
70# 298fps Calc. IBO 343.0
61# 279fps Calc. IBO 339.0 - Did this one out of curiosity. 7 turns out is specified by Darton as the max number of limb bolt turns while still having full thread engagement and limb lock clearance. Resulted in only 1/16 change in ATA and BH. Butter smooth on the shot and no issues.
For comparison, my Mathews WAKE (352 IBO) tested at 75# and same specs at the same time clocked 313fps.
I have set the mod at 30.5" and am using the #2(5%) let off tab with the felt pad attached. This is the first time I have had a bow with 1/4" DL and Let-off adjustability. This combo results in 30.25" at 80% which seems to be ideal for me.
Final thoughts. I have around 500 arrows through the Prelude and am thoroughly impressed. One thing that I have not yet mentioned is this factory string. Zero creep, twist, or serving separations. Darton makes their stings in-house using 452x. So far they are as good as, or better than, any strings I have previously used. Its great to know I can buy directly from Darton at a reasonable cost. Another great feature is the roller slide (same as used on the Elite) which I was able to adjust inward (low profile 4 fletch) to relive some side pressure on the cables.
Darton knocked it out of the park with this bow. I shot 2022/23's form Prime(22), APA 33"(22), Mathews P4, Elite Omnia, PSE Levitate, and Hoyt(22). IMO this Darton is superior in tuneability, materials, and design to all of them. Prelude is a great name for this bow. It's clear Darton is back in the game, and I do hope we see them become another major competitor in the years to come.
