avet SX or Calcutta 400b?

i have been looking at both these reels and i really like them both but can only get one. 

the avet sx my only gripe is that i never owned a casting reel without level wind, so this would be something new for me to learn but man the features on it are awesome!

the calcutta 400b is nice also and it has level wind on it.

i am leaning more towards the avet sx...just curious on what you guys think?  i am gonna pair either reel up with a shimano ml trevala rod 7'0

What do you plan on using it for?

primarily bait fishing for halibut, striper or rockfish off a kayak. 

You can go much cheaper than either of these options like a Shimano Cardiff 400.  For me it has been a great RF reel on my TVC-MH66.  I dont own either of the others, but have  been wanting to get an Avet since they are American made.

I currently use a shimano corvalus that does really well for me for lures and jigs, i just wanted something with a lil more oomph and also better quality when trying for trophy fish

I got an avet sx for Christmas last year, and although the lever drag takes some getting used to I do really like the reel. It performed great on a couple of big halibut last month.
Mine is paired with a calstar graphiter rod and the rig is my 'heavy' setup for kayak fishing. I'm using 30lb braid on it.

For more oomph, you might look into the Abu 7000i. Really nice reel for the price, tons of line capacity, comes with a power handle, clicker, levelwind.  Really good value 

I haven't tried the Calcutta, but I just picked up a lefty sx 6.4. It felt solid and I can't wait to try it. Also, I was under the impression that lefties only came in silver and chark**** had them in gunmetal!

How do you like the ml trevala?

i actually like the ml trevala, i got it to do some yellowtail fishing in socal when i was down there.  Has great backbone and really light. 

LOVE my Lil' Avet, paired with the trevala ML it is a wonderful rf and live bait rig. 

I had it paired with a trevala MH when i got my avatar rooster (60#).  Lever drags rock.  It takes getting used to casting, but if you are RFing and live baiting you aren't casting anyway....

primarily bait fishing for halibut, striper or rockfish off a kayak.

I own the SX but it's my "heavy" kayak fishing reel for things like sturgeon or heavy/deep rockfishing. When I'm going for halibut, striper or general rockfishing I usually use the Revo Inshore, which is a bit steep in price. If all you are looking to target are the species you mention then I'd go with the "old stand-by": Abu 6500 C3.

I own a couple sx's and a couple calcuttas ( prefer the 400s with no levelwind), running them for all the usual suspects using all the usual techniques for about 4-5 years now.  Its a classic Ginger vs Marianne comparrison.  The sx has a little more playboy factor to it, all machined, leverdrag (although it really isn't the best as the #lb drag difference between full and strike is alot more than I'd like), powerhouse in a nice compact size, solid solid solid feel to it, it'll give you all the oomph you're looking for and then some.  After some serious time in the yak and little maintenance I had a bearing freeze up on one of the reels and opened it up to find a nice bit of corrosion, seems like it was a common problem on alot of the reels at the time.  After some torching and a couple baths in corrosion x I got everything freed up and greased down and give them an annual once over in the off season which prevented further issues (for both reels).  The SX is gonna be higher maintenance. 

The calcuttas have been pretty much bulletproof, no issues after a couple years of major abuse on the boat, yak or shore (I did have a levelwind break on one of the smaller models though....broken pawl or something, can't remember).  They're not flashy but they're a workhorse.  Its not a knock on the reel but the 400 is basically an oversized baitcasting reel, so the feel of it is different....plastic thumbar, small handle, a bit bulkier (wider) than the sx.  Its probably gonna be a better kayak reel for potential abuse factor though and still very competent. 

I'm not a fan of trevala rods so I don't have alot of experience with them but If you're gonna marry the reel up to one I'd wager that the SX would provide a better feel.  They're both great reels, hard to go wrong with either of them though.

I agree with Agarcia. Having owned both reels, I ended up selling the Avet and stuck with the Calcutta (401 TE). My calcutta saw less maintenance over the Avet.

I can't say anything about the Avet as I have never used one. The calcutta 400 w/o the levelwind, righthand, is what I use. It has multiple applications for me. With braid it is part of my heavy outfit for the bigger rockfish lures/bait. I use it for sturgeon. I use it for salmon trolling as well as running big plugs on rivers for the same fish. When I lived in Half Moon Bay and was into the surf stripers it was paired with a 9' conventional rod and tossed 5/8 oz Hairraisers with ease and distance.
No levelwind means less moving parts, less breakdowns, as well as making it easy to work on backlashes, (not that I get backlashes). I've been w/o the levelwind for so long that my own thumb and forefinger on the reel-hand is it's own levelwind. I don't even think about it.
The only problem I've had w/ the 400 is the anti-reverse bushing that tends to go out. I think I heard they were going to fix that issue.

primarily bait fishing for halibut, striper or rockfish off a kayak.

If all you are looking to target are the species you mention then I'd go with the "old stand-by": Abu 6500 C3.

That is my go to on my heavy AND light set ups...heavy has 50lb, light has 30lb....best $90 spent. They may not be "cool" but my cool reel is sitting on the bottom of shelter cove. I swore after that to spend my money wisely and avoid the "cool" factor. I do have a avet and can't wait to use it for so cal species.

I also used the Abu's for my WSB's last year...did just fine! Never spooled and had enough drag to whip 'em