Looking for recommendations of specific persimmon varieties

Has anybody had particularly good luck with any particular persimmon variety from any particular nursery? In general is it better to get an American or an Asian?

which type of persimmon do you like? the astringent ones that turn sugary and jelly like? or the firm crisp apple like ones?

I think I'd prefer the American and astringent as far as fruit goes, I hear they're more complex in flavor. I only have less than an acre though, so I need to base the decision more on production/space, fruit set and the tree's growth characteristics than the actual fruit. I'm sure I'd like either one more than neither.

make sure to get ones that ripen in your area. I bought some American seedlings 20 years ago and never have had the fruit fully ripen. deer eat them in the winter so its not a total loss

this is a fruit where named varieties make a difference
look for early varieties in zone 5

Asian persimmon need more warm climate (zone 8 )

The OP didn't state where he/she lives.  I would kill for the ability to grow Asians here, I've tried a few times with the hardiest varieties and with the hybrids Rossenyanka and Nikita's Gift, but always end up losing them to winter kill.  I have to content myself with my Meader, which is an awesome variety, and the only one that has done well long term.  I had previously Ruby and Garretson growing and fruiting, and even lost both of those above the ground level to a particularly harsh winter back in the 1990s.  I do have two small trees of Prok started, although both have only been in the ground one winter, hopefully they'll also be hardy, as they were developed by NY State at Geneva, IIRC.

I put in five different varieties of asian persimmons this spring from Rolling River Nursery.

The trees were good size and healthy in getting started, so we'll see how it goes in a few years.

They have a pretty good selection, including some that are reported to do well down to zero F.
http://www.rollingrivernursery.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=57&Itemid=26

DenninMi - have you tried Izu?

Ok, I'm sold on American. I'm on the edge of Asian temperatures, and I think I'll like the more complex flavor better.

So does anybody know of an online nursery I can get some good quality, inexpensive American Persimmons?
Has anybody found that specific grafted varieties do better? I.e. Nikita's Gift, Meader ect