First spotter, is swarovski worth it?

[Spiral Horn]

Had the ATS, ATX, 883, S2, and Nikon Monarch ED all side-by-side a few years back. IMO the ATX, 883 and S2 were all clearly a step up from the ATS. The S2 was right there but the ATX & 883 may be the slightest sliver sharper (883 has best focuser). Did a lot of back and forth between the 883 and ATX and my eyes preferred the ATX. However, since the ATX kit was about 2.5x the price of the S2, I bought the Meopta. It gives me 95% of the ATX performance and after several years of vigorous use I am very satisfied — great optics and built like a tank. The biggest surprise was the Nikon Monarch ED 82mm. It was surprisingly good, but this one had the aftermarket wide-angle eyepiece that is not offered as a kit with the spotter. Pity, as the kit eyepiece is nowhere near as nice with a notably narrow FOV.

So to answer the OP’s question specifically. To get Swarovski performance better than the competition the ATX is the standard. If looking at a lesser model I’d opt for the Kowa or Meopta.