ok so ive been flying whoops and a couple prebuilts for about a year now and finally decided to just do a proper 5inch freestyle build from scratch. got a Mamba F7 stack that i picked up on sale and im looking at frames, motors, the whole thing. problem is every time i think ive settled on a motor kv i go down another rabbit hole and change my mind.

right now im leaning toward 2306 2450kv with HQ 5x4.3x3 props on 4S but my buddy keeps telling me to just go 2207 1950kv and run 5S. he flies 5S and swears by it but honestly i dont know if i want to deal with 5S charging yet, already got like 6 4S packs. also not sure if the 2306 vs 2207 thing even matters that much or if im overthinking it which i probably am. the frame im looking at is a ImpulseRC Apex but open to suggestions if anyone has a better idea in that price range.

basically just want something that feels good for freestyle, not racing, not trying to go fast just want smooth lines and good flip/roll authority. any input appreciated

honestly the 2306 vs 2207 debate is so played out at this point, the difference in real world flying is pretty marginal especially for freestyle. what matters way more is the stator quality and winding. that said if you already have 4S packs just stay on 4S, theres zero reason to switch unless youre chasing efficiency gains or whatever. 2450kv on 4S with those HQ props is a totally reasonable setup, plenty of guys are flying basically that exact combo and loving it.

the Apex is a solid frame but its not cheap. if budget is a concern the Source One v5 flies surprisingly well and costs like a third of the price. not as stiff but for freestyle you probably wont notice unless youre doing really aggressive stuff.

im in a similar boat actually, just finished my first 5inch last month. went with 2207 2450kv on 4S and HQ 5.1x4.6 props and its been really fun. probably not the most optimal combo but it flies and i learned a ton building it so thats what matters i guess. the Apex looks sick btw, jealous on that one