OK Rich, I'll see if I can get to it over the weekend.
Modern KA mixers
- Thread starter JaredH
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There's not much to it. #34260 in this same forum.
www.automaticwasher.org
There's not much to it. #34260 in this same forum.
20% OFF KitchenAid
This might be of interest to someone... http://dealnews.com/457318.html
www.automaticwasher.org
Pro 600 and Pro HD
I took the motor housings off of both mixers and was surprised with what I found. Both mechanisms look identical (like the Olong motor seen on Rich's "Tale of Two KitchenAid Mixers" thread -- link below) except for one thing. The much noisier gravel crusher Pro HD has the plastic gear case and the very quiet Pro 600 has the metal one.
This goes entirely against all that has been stated and/or speculated about the gear case housing material having an influence on noise level. The only thing I noticed that might be associated with noise is the cooling fan in the back. When rotated (with mixer unplugged) on the Pro HD, there is a distinct sound of light scraping from within the motor itself and a slight sense of resistance. When the fan is rotated on the Pro 600, there is nothing but smoothness and silence.
I wonder even more now if perhaps KA got so many complaints and/or returns due to noise level that they took steps to quiet down the motors.
I took the motor housings off of both mixers and was surprised with what I found. Both mechanisms look identical (like the Olong motor seen on Rich's "Tale of Two KitchenAid Mixers" thread -- link below) except for one thing. The much noisier gravel crusher Pro HD has the plastic gear case and the very quiet Pro 600 has the metal one.
This goes entirely against all that has been stated and/or speculated about the gear case housing material having an influence on noise level. The only thing I noticed that might be associated with noise is the cooling fan in the back. When rotated (with mixer unplugged) on the Pro HD, there is a distinct sound of light scraping from within the motor itself and a slight sense of resistance. When the fan is rotated on the Pro 600, there is nothing but smoothness and silence.
I wonder even more now if perhaps KA got so many complaints and/or returns due to noise level that they took steps to quiet down the motors.
Well, that is certainly interesting, Ralph. Thanks for checking out the innards.
I stopped by Costco today and was able to plug in the display Pro550HD mixer. It seemed to me it was noisier than my Epicurean, but perhaps slightly quieter than my Pro550HD at home. But of course it's really tough to compare noise levels in completely different environments and separated by time and distance.
If the gear housing doesn't have a major effect, then perhaps KA stuck a plastic gear into the Pro600 to quiet it down. I don't know if I'm willing to pop the gear housing covers on my mixers just yet, but on the other hand it is an eventual operation in order to refresh the gear grease. I would be disappointed to see a plastic gear in the Epicurean; but I'd be totally shocked to see a plastic gear in the Pro550HD, which is supposed to have an all metal transmission.
I stopped by Costco today and was able to plug in the display Pro550HD mixer. It seemed to me it was noisier than my Epicurean, but perhaps slightly quieter than my Pro550HD at home. But of course it's really tough to compare noise levels in completely different environments and separated by time and distance.
If the gear housing doesn't have a major effect, then perhaps KA stuck a plastic gear into the Pro600 to quiet it down. I don't know if I'm willing to pop the gear housing covers on my mixers just yet, but on the other hand it is an eventual operation in order to refresh the gear grease. I would be disappointed to see a plastic gear in the Epicurean; but I'd be totally shocked to see a plastic gear in the Pro550HD, which is supposed to have an all metal transmission.
I've had a 325-watt KA mixer in Majestic Yellow for about 12 years now and it has never caused me any trouble. I probably never pushed it to its limit, but for the jobs I have asked it to do the machine has worked like a champ.
A couple of weeks ago, my local Costco had a KA 300-watt mixer for $169. They only had it in only black or silver, but it came with a bowl shield, paddle, dough hook and whisk. The bowl didn't have a handle on it. I happened to have a Costco coupon for $50 off, so I ended up with a silver one and paying $119 for the machine. It is now at my cottage, where it has already help produce loaves of bread and dozens of cookies. In all cases, it seemed to operate just fine. So, I guess I'm a fan of the KA mixer.
A couple of weeks ago, my local Costco had a KA 300-watt mixer for $169. They only had it in only black or silver, but it came with a bowl shield, paddle, dough hook and whisk. The bowl didn't have a handle on it. I happened to have a Costco coupon for $50 off, so I ended up with a silver one and paying $119 for the machine. It is now at my cottage, where it has already help produce loaves of bread and dozens of cookies. In all cases, it seemed to operate just fine. So, I guess I'm a fan of the KA mixer.
