At a Glance: Aquatech Dynamic X8 (Gen 5) Scores 3.5 Out of 5
Scoring based on Solar Choice’s independent heat pump scorecard which evaluates price, company backing, warranty, customer reviews, and functionality.
$$ Price – With a retail price under $2,500, the Dynamic X8 falls into the “Lowest Cost” category, offering one of the more affordable options on the market.
- Company Backing & Trust – 3/5: Aquatech has operated since 2009 and distributes products beyond heat pumps. It maintains a physical office in Burleigh Heads, QLD, but is a very small team.
- Warranty Offer – 2/5: The unit is covered by a 5-year parts warranty (including tank, heat pump, and electronics), but only includes 2 years of labour—shorter than several competing systems.
- Customer Reviews – 5/5: Verified customer feedback through Solar Choice shows high satisfaction, with an average rating of 4.88 from 24 reviews.
- Functionality – 4/5: It delivers strong performance with 12.9W/L heating power, WiFi app control, multiple heating modes, and an integrated LCD display. However, it does not meet the quiet operation benchmark — measured at 49 dBA at 1.65 metres, which suggests it may be louder at the standard 1 metre distance. This earns Hydrotherm 4 points for functionality.
Aquatech Company Background
Aquatech has a physical office in Burleigh on the Gold Coast, Queensland, where they offer local customer support and warranty claim assistance.
Aquatech Heat Pump Models
Aquatech currently offers two main models under their brand:
- Rapid X6: 210L tank capacity
- Dynamic X8: 260L tank capacity
This review focuses on the Dynamic X8, which is better suited to medium-sized households.
Dynamic X8 Overview
The Aquatech Dynamic X8 is an all-in-one heat pump system that integrates the compressor and storage tank into a single vertical unit. Key specifications include:
- Tank Capacity: 268L (heated volume: 263L)
- Dimensions: 1800mm height x 620mm diameter
- Weight: 118kg (empty), 378kg (filled)
- Refrigerant: R290, environmentally friendly with low global warming potential
- Noise Rating: 49 dBA (measured at 1.65m per ISO 3745:2012)
- Compressor: GMCC Toshiba rotary type
- Heating Modes: Eco, Hybrid, Hybrid+, Element
- Control: WiFi app via Tuya (no integrated LCD panel)
- Programmable Settings: Includes multiple heating time slots
- Anode: Non-sacrificial impressed current (reduces maintenance requirements)
- Heating Output: 12.9W per litre — this exceeds Solar Choice’s benchmark of 10W/L for effective performance, indicating strong heating capacity and faster water recovery times.
Rapid X6 Gen 2 Overview
The Rapid X6 is an all-in-one unit designed for smaller households (up to 2–3 people):
- Tank Capacity: 225L (heated volume: 222L)
- Dimensions: 1580mm height x 620mm diameter
- Weight: 103kg (empty), 328kg (filled)
- Noise Level: 42 dBA (measured at 1.65m)
- Heating Power: 15.6kW in Standard mode
- Control: WiFi-enabled app (no LCD)
- Heating Modes: Eco, Standard, Hybrid, Hybrid+, Element
- Compressor: GMCC Toshiba rotary
- Refrigerant: R290 with low global warming potential
Rapid X6 vs Dynamic X8 Comparison
| Feature | Rapid X6 Gen 2 | Dynamic X8 |
|---|---|---|
| Tank Size | 225L | 268L |
| Suitable Household Size | 2–3 people | 3–4 people |
| Dimensions (H x D) | 1580mm x 620mm | 1800mm x 620mm |
| Noise Level @1.65m | 42 dBA | 49 dBA |
| Heating Power (Watts per Litre) | 15.6kW/L | 12.9kW/L |
| Refrigerant | R290 | R290 |
| Control | WiFi app (no LCD) | WiFi app (no LCD) |
| Anode | Non-sacrificial | Non-sacrificial |
Household Suitability
The Aquatech Rapid X6 is designed for smaller households, ideally 2 to 3 people. Solar Choice recommends allowing 50 litres of hot water per person per day, with a 1.5x buffer for storage. With a 225L tank, the X6 meets this requirement for compact homes. It offers the same core features as the larger Dynamic X8, including multiple heating modes and WiFi control, but in a more space-efficient form. The X6 is quieter than the X8, with a 42 dBA sound rating—however, this was measured at 1.65 metres instead of the standard 1 metre, meaning it may sound louder in practice. This makes the X6 a better option for households that are short on space and need a quieter unit.
Warranty Coverage
Aquatech offers the following warranty for both models:
- Tank, Heat Pump, Electronics: 5 years
- Labour: 2 years
- Valves: 1 year
While parts coverage is typical, the shorter labour warranty places Aquatech at a disadvantage compared to some brands offering 5+ years of labour protection. Warranty terms are clearly outlined in the user manual, and claims can be made through Aquatech’s local support line.
Aquatech do have a local support team at their head office on the Gold Coast in Queensland. They can be contacted on 1300 769 904 for technical support and warranty claims.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Competitive price for a 260L all-in-one system
- WiFi-enabled with Tuya app control
- Non-sacrificial anode reduces long-term maintenance
- Uses environmentally responsible R290 refrigerant
Cons:
- Labour warranty limited to 2 years
- No integrated LCD display for on-unit control
- Above-average noise level (49 dBA measured at 1.65m), which exceeds the standard 45 dBA benchmark for quiet operation
- Limited model range with only two tank sizes
Is the Aquatech Dynamic X8 Worth It?
The Aquatech Dynamic X8 is a mid-market heat pump that delivers strong efficiency and app-based control at a competitive price point. They have been in the heat pump space for well over 10 years and the Solar Choice customer reviews are very positive. However, it lacks an integrated LCD display and produces a relatively high noise output of 49 dBA, which is measured at 1.65 metres—further than the typical 1 metre standard used in most industry comparisons. This sound level is roughly comparable to light street traffic or a conversation in a quiet office, which may be a consideration for installations near living areas. Customers should weigh these trade-offs alongside the system’s solid heating performance and smart connectivity features.
heat pumps have performed well over the last 15 years they have been available on the Australian market.
Reviews from Australians who have installed Aquatech Heat Pumps
Hot water is nice and hot and heat pump is quiet.
Price was certainly a major factor as well as size & warranty. The heat pump I installed had many positive reviews, had a wi-fi app, was relatively quiet, has 5 heating modes & a back up element if required.
We chose Aquatech because my brother inlaw has one and gave it a thumbs up and it is also rated highly by Solar Choice. I was warned to stay away from the cheaper heat pumps.
Excellent. Very satisfied with aquatech.
I have only had the unit installed for 2 weeks. So far very happy with the performance of the unit
Heard that this was a reliable brand even if a little more expensive
I wanted WiFi access, with automation options for element boost and a decent size tank. The Aquatech ticked all those boxes at a really good price. Very happy so far!
Reviews and information I found made Aquatech the obvious choice for me. First impressions are very good. water is hotter than my old instantaneous gas unit. Noise was a concern for me, but this Dynamic X8 is so quiet you can barely hear it from a couple of meters
It looks great, works well and was recommended by Powrhouse
Review left 1 year after system installed
Aquatics X8 Dynamic is a very silent system with low noise. Water heats up quickly and never runs out. We have 4 people in our house and the 268 litre tank seems good enough for us. Another highlight is the low electricity consumption. Despite the vintage look of the tank, it works perfectly with no issues. I recommend this system.
So far I'm very happy with the Aquatech heat pump. The phone app which controls the unit is simple to use, but a little unreliable however.
No complaints. Working well at this stage.
Works well - we only have it on during the day (9-4pm) and it stays hot for ages afterwards (at least 24 hours).
Happy with the appearance and the size. Happy with the noise level, if fact It is very quiet. Only one problem is that the app needs 24Hz WiFi but I use 5G; so I could not use the app.
Happy with the choice and thrilled that it has various settings that can be controlled using an App. Finding the most suitable program for my circumstances took a while but I have a good knowledge now to get the best out of the hot water system with lots of savings. If I have a change in my circumstances I can adjust the program to suit. I understand that most people would not go to these efforts to learn and would prefer set and forget.
The Aquatech unit itself works extremely well. I can already see a reduction in power use, the water is hot and it is quieter than I thought it would be. Quite impressed. And the wi fi connectivity and control is both easy and excellent.
Quiet, large, powerful. So far reliable!
Nice new heatpump and not very noisy.
Performs exactly as described.
We purchased the X6, the units settings are very limited, due to the limitations of the direct user interface, and issues with the 3rd party app (aquatech customer service is aware of this, said the app is buggy, and suggests not to use it) 2 people, 1 shower with a very low flow shower head (4.9 Lpm) Even in summer (Victoria) The unit is only capable of a couple of showers before needing to reheat. The issue with this, is a very strong chance of the unit turning on in the middle of the night/very early morning before morning showers, or during morning showers (6-7am). The unit is very noisy, even though it is supposedly one of the quietest ones. It is not suitable to use the heat pump between 8pm and 8am. Even with windows shut, the unit is easily audible inside the house when running. Neighbours are in close proximity. The control restrictions due to app issues (I have not noticed any "bugs" so far, but the settings are simply incorrect, meaning you cannot change modes), mean that you cannot set timers, or scenes (the 3rd party app terminology for advanced timers). There is no point having multiple modes (eco, standard, hybrid, hybrid+, element), if you cannot even set them to run at different times of the day. You are locked into using only mode via the timer. for us to use this unit effectively, we would ideally be using eco mode during the day, and element only mode (ideally with control of manual trigger points) during the hours where we, and our neighbours are trying to get some sleep. I have contacted Aquatech and found the customer service to be bad, after a couple of emails they now appear to be ignoring us, their first reply admitted the app was not what it is meant to be/advertised to be, and basicallhy said bad luck, deal with it. They responded very, very fast the first time, now it has been a day and half with no response, and a direct question ignored. I contacted the app company (tuya) yesterday, time will tell if they respond, or fix their issue. Aquatech suggested it is unlikely, since they claim to have contacted tuya about the issue, and have not received a response themselves. This unit is marketed as having wifi and app control... but has a 3rd party app that can be used to control multiple other brands products, so would never be ideal, even if it did what it is meant to do. Very regrettable purchase at this stage. I only found this review while looking for ideas, and information, about how to make this thing feasible. The unit itself is not particularly ugly, however once plumbed, it is a definite eyesore (as per the photo). It also has an indented top, so it holds rainwater, which should evaporate at a resonable rate I guess, but seems a very odd choice.
