Recommendations for Barlows / Powermate

I guess my eyes are going - hopefully just a bit and slowly. The 5 mm EP I used so much 7 years ago is a serious hassle today. I have a 2x Meade APO Barlow which makes viewing much more comfortable. I recently changed out my WO 2" diagonal for the stock 1.25" and put the diagonal into the barlow for 2+ (maybe 3x). Wow. Even better. So now, I'm in the market for 3x or maybe 4x.

I've found a few 3x barlows out there ranging from $30 to about $110. Sirius Optics and Televue each make a 3x around $90 (sirius) to $105 (TV). Any users?

Anyone know of any manufacturer of a 4x barlow?

Televue also makes the Powermate. A bit more expensive, but I can get 4x in a 2" version. At 1.25" its either 2.5x or 5x. Anyone use the Powermates? How do they compare with a barlow?

Comments and recommendations appreciated.

The Powermates will better preserve focus position because they are positive amplifiers, not really Barlows. There is a new 2X x 2" Powermate, but the 2" format is much more expensive than 1.25".

I use the Tele Vue 5X Powermate, 3X Barlow, 2X Ultima, and the 2" AP 2X BARCON to good effect. All perform very well. Avoid variable Barlows or those with a simple plano-concave (negative) lens.

TAL makes a 4x Barlow in the 1.25" format:

http://www.talscopes.com/order/index.cfm#BARLOWS