ORIGINAL: RaceCity
OS46AX. If you want a motor that you can buy at the LHS and run right out of the box...HASSLE FREE then that's the motor for you.
When you go with the chinese stuff...who knows. You might get a good one....but there's an even better chance you won't.
The best value is the engine that gives you a return on your investment. A more expensive model that gives great performance, and no trouble is a far better "deal" than a real-steal that never runs well.
It all depends on how you like to spend your time. Flying? Or waiting for the UPS truck to deliver the "replacement" engine.
The TT46 has a great rep....I can't comment because I've never run one. The OS46AX? I've run dozens and have yet to see a dog in the bunch.
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It is difficult to beat an OS for just plain old good running and good power right out of the box. However, the TT.46Pro comes extremely close (without problems) to matching the OS.
Some OFs, like me, enjoy tinkering with engines. We tend to look at the Chinese stuff as a challenge and strut around proud as peacocks when we do get them sorted out. Sometimes, most of the time, there's really no sorting out needed. Just once in a while.
I still buy them all. But were I not inclined to tinker, I would choose the OS or the Thunder Tiger first. Super Tigre next, etc. While I do buy a few premium engines now and again, such as Rossi, MVVS, etc., I don't recommend them to low time R/C folks. It's usually just a waste of money and they can be difficult to obtain parts for at times.