kalyson | Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Vitamix makes excellent products. I have owned this one for about 7 or 8 years and just purchased a Blendtec a few months ago, as well.

Both are great blenders. Comparison of differences:

1) Motor - Blendtec has a more powerful motor. Noticeably more powerful - 3 HP vs 2 HP.

2) Construction - Blendtec is not as substantial in construction. Vitamix feels more heavy-duty, and is heavier. Vitamix will not rock and shake as much. Both are made in the USA with BPA

Michael Armocida | Saturday, May 08, 2010

Everything the Vitamixer does my $100 Cuisinart blender does better! I got a Vitamixer hoping it would live up to the hype. This thing is expensive (almost $400) and is ok when it comes to making frozen fruit ice cream or smoothies but my Cuisinart blender/food processor makes them just as good (in some cases even better). The claim to fame of the Vitamixer is that it can make whole juice so you get all the vitamins and fiber of the fruit or vegetable. However, this is where it fails miserably, when trying

J.R. | Friday, April 02, 2010

Easy to operate, super easy to clean. We use it every day, just sorry we did not buy this sooner.

K. Fredrick | Thursday, March 11, 2010

I ordered this product and was anxiously counting down the days until I received it in the mail. It was processed and shipped quickly, as always. I love Amazon! I did, however, return this. I discovered, after this shipped, that it is an older model no longer sold by Vita-Mix. I went on the Vita-Mix website to check things out. For just $40 more, I got the new fangled (refurbished) version with the variable speed (LOVE IT!!!) and the new lid design (heard that the old lids are hard to get off) PLUS a 7-year warranty and free shipping. The 4600 sold through Amazon only has a 5 year warranty and it's the older design. Why not pay an extra $40 and get the awesome higher powered 5200? I'm so happy I did. I'm sure I would have liked the 4600, but I would have kicked myself for taking the older model I think. LOVE the 5200. I use it every day, usually more than once. It is worth every penny. Buy one now and get healthy!!!

Andrew | Sunday, March 07, 2010

Probably like you, I agonized about whether to treat/spoil myself by getting this outrageously expensive machine. Absolutely worth it, because it's a unique tool and draws me, a hardcore meatlover, to eat more fruits and veggies. Makes superb smoothies and terrific soup. I have made more soup in the couple months I have had this than I have made before in my entire life. Yum. What a way to eat broccoli, squash, asparagus.

The jar doesn't seem to need to seat too well on the base. The rotor grabs onto the base of the jar all by itself.

Cleaning is actually fun--just rinse once, fill halfway with water, add a couple drops of soap, and don't forget to put the little cap back on top of the lid, then whoosh, rinse again, done. Amazing.

I fussed about whether to spend more money to get one with the variable speed control, and now that I don't have that, just high/low, I don't think I'd use it. High/low is all I need.

I hope you smile the first time you use it, like I did.

Queen Bee | Thursday, March 04, 2010

I bought this after purchasing a juicer and realizing that was not what we needed. My folks had a Vita-Mix when I was young but I never used it. So I had some history with the product. I did my research and came to the conclusion that this was the right machine to do the job. So the price was a little high but as far as what you get for your money then it is actually a great buy. Made in the US which was a huge plus.
This blender rocks. I have used it every day since we bought it and I love, love, love it. Can't wait for summer to try some ice cream like things.
Don't even bother with the other blenders - just get this one. Another big plus is that the container, while plastic, is BPA FREE. Company did their job and took care of that.

Daniel Morman | Sunday, February 28, 2010

First off, this review is for the Vita-Mix 1700 Turbo Blend 4500, not the 5200. I heard some people remark that the motor was a bit loud. Not an issue with me at all. It is recommended that you quarter apples before placing in the blender, and otherwise not filling it to the top before you start. Otherwise, this machine is a dream come true. I was never able to down vegetables even though they're an essential part of the diet. Not a problem any more with the Vita Mix. It blends quick and easy and I get a raw, healthy nutritious meal. My digestion has significantly improved as well. As for the crackpot that gave this machine a one star rating, I checked into his other ratings, and apparently he simply has issues with blenders. This is a five star machine all the way.

Oh, and for those of you considering the lesser priced Montel Williams HealthMaster, don't throw away your money. The reviews for that machine are terrible. This one is sturdy and will last for years.

Lon & Dora | Thursday, February 18, 2010

I would have given this 5 stars if not for the funky gotta use 2 hands to remove-apply the lid. It keeps the stuff in the container but is a pain to get on and off. I have blended everything in this, nuts, apples with skin on, raw vegies and everything comes out smooth! It is very tall and won't go under counters.

Jason W. Angle | Friday, February 12, 2010

While the price may seem high for a blender, after having this for a while now I can tell you that it is worth every penny. Whatever you are making, whether it is a smoothie or peanut butter this gets it done. The quick recipe guide will keep you busy with it for a while... couldn't be happier with it.

Jeffrey Lopez-Stuit | Sunday, January 24, 2010

This blender is the best investment I've ever made in a piece of kitchen equipment. It's used at least twice a day in our home - usually more. I definitely wish it was quieter, but we're willing to put up with the noise because the thing is so useful. There are more expensive models that are quieter and have more speeds than the two this unit has, but this unit gave us exactly what we wanted at a fair price.

Oliver | Monday, December 28, 2009

I think the best thing about the 5200 is this: you CANNOT TASTE fresh spinach in ANYTHING. I got mine for Christmas. My husband will not TOUCH anything dark green. As a result of this and just as importantly is his serious illness from a DIET SODA HABIT (five to six cans per day)I had to figure out a way to sneak spinach into his
ice cream smoothies. And aloe vera juice, unflavored. And yogurt; he'd never touch them either. Here is a delicous recipe guaranteed to fool ANY picky eater:
1/2 to 1 cup fresh spinach, out of the bag, which I freeze;
1/2 cup unflavored yogurt
1/4 fresh and/or frozen strawberries, partly thawed;
1/4 cup aloe vera juice, UNFLAVORED
strawberry ice cream, sugar free.
Put in vitamix, blend 5 seconds on one, then turn to ten for 5 seconds. It is delish.
***ASPARTAME KILLS***
For constipation--
1cup mint choc chip ice cream
1 little cup Milk of Magnesia
1/2 cup fresh spinach
1/4 CUP unflavored aloe vera juice
Blend as above.
***ASPARTAME KILLS***

B. Seeman | Tuesday, November 24, 2009

This is, no doubt, a very expensive piece of equipment for a home kitchen. But...I had a Cuisinart blender/food processor for a long time. We make smoothies every day: 1 type for my kids and 1 type for my husband and myself. Our blender got a workout. That being said, no matter how little or how much I put into the thing, it took FOREVER and I always felt like it was going to explode, I had to shake it to prevent the ingredients from getting logged and actually had to defrost any frozen fruit prior to using or it would not blend them thoroughly. And, it always bugged me that the machine was made in China. When I decided to look for a new one, I specifically did a search for a blender made in the USA and found Vita Mix. I researched and reviewed and decided to take the plunge given they have such a great warranty and also have such a great reputation. I called Vita Mix directly and they couldn't have been more pleasant to deal with. The woman answered every question I had in great and thorough detail. They had some 'specials' running and I mentioned that some of the things included weren't things I needed so she offered to replace them with some other items that I actually did need!
The machine arrived quickly and it was easy to use out of the gates. I use it for small batches and large batches of smoothies. Just make certain you use the tamper if you have a good deal of solid versus liquid in the blender. I haven't used it for juicing because I use a Champion brand juicer for that. I'm going to start making my own almond milk; the recipe book that comes with it is great and has a ton of recipes that are very practical/doable.
I noticed one of the reviewers mentioned the 'play'/movement of the container on the base of the machine. I definitely agree that there is a little movement, but I never thought twice about it. I stand there while it's mixing and just stabilize it a bit. I did notice that the rubber 'legs' were wearing a bit and called customer service to see if I was doing something wrong. They said it's normal but offered to ship me a replacement without my asking for it. Again, the customer service was great (which you should expect; you get what you pay for!). I also like knowing that I am buying a product that is made in the USA and not in China.
If you are even slightly on the fence, I recommend you get it. I used to dread using my old blender, cleaning it, etc. This one is a breeze to use. It's loud, but my 18 month old sleeps right through it every morning!

Bill Womac | Monday, November 09, 2009

I have worn out other brands but see this as a long term product. You can tell the quality. Simply built but sturdy and functional. I use this blender daily for my morning smoothie. Frozen berries, almonds, and ice are no problem. Great product.

Jackie Hebert | Friday, October 09, 2009

I've had many mixers and juicers.. this by far is the easiest to blend with, and easiest to clean up. I highly recommend this to those that enjoy smoothies, juices & soups. Yes, it actually heats liquids to an enjoyable temperature when blending for more than 4 minutes.

G. Harkness | Thursday, August 27, 2009

We purchased this blender in desperation after dealing with failure after failure of various consumer level blenders. We tried Oster, Waring, Kitchen Aid, Hamilton Beach and a few no names through the years. All of them did the job well at first, but in the end failed well before one would expect for a modern major brand appliance.

Many of them were plagued by poorly designed drive systems that used parts that were not strong enough to handle what I would consider normal blending applications. One day the drive system would simply snap in half or shread, leaving you up the creek without a paddle.

After reading all the raves about the Vita-Mix line, we figured it would be worth paying 3 times more than a high end consumer blender, IF the thing delivered reliability and solid performance.

We were sadly disappointed with how this product worked for us.

Here are our issues:

1) The jar fits on the base using four rubber guide posts which are mounted to the motor base. We assumed these would fit snuggly into the square shaped base of the jar. In our case, it seemed that the square shaped base of the jar was much wider than the dimensions of the posts, so that the jar did not fit snug and securely on the base like every other blender we have ever used. It could be rotated a good 5-8 degrees from side to side and tipped back and forth with no effort at all. A slight tug on the jar's handle using one finger would tip the jar off the drive system and into your hand. I have never seen a blender that had such a strange way of mating to the motor base. I would be very afraid to run it without always keeping a hand on top of the jar in fear that the jar could tip over while the motor was running.

Basically, the jar felt no more stable on the motor base than it did sitting alone on our counter top! We figured that this "can't be normal!"

So I called Vita-Mix to see if we had a defective jar, or a mismatch with some other model's jar. They informed me that what I was describing was totally normal, although it seemed that the person I talked to was not familiar with the use of degrees in communicating the amount of rotation.

She said it could have a "tiny bit of wiggle". 5-8 degrees is a heck of a lot more than tiny in my book. If you use a clock analogy, with center being 6 o'clock, the front of the jar could be rotated left to 7 o'clock, or right to 5 o'clock while sitting on the motor base on top of the four posts. The jar would never line up at the 6 o'clock position on its own since that is in the middle of the "play" where there is virtually no significant contact with the posts. Just seems like a heck of a lot of play and not scure feeling at all. The posts DO NOT hold the jar onto the base, they simply line it up in the crudest sense of the word. Just looked and felt WRONG to us!

2) The jar is VERY tall which makes it somewhat uncomfortable adding ingredients when used on a normal height counter. It also does not fit under most cabinents which we already knew before purchasing.

3) Motor is plenty powerful, but as a result, it can't seem to blend things properly unless the jar is nearly full. This means that if you want to make a single serving smoothie using 1 cup of milk, a frozen banana, and some ice, the contents are thrown up when the blender is started and never seem to really engage the blades well. Even when using the tamper tool we had trouble. Our previous blenders all handled this task much better, which was a HUGE surprise to us. We never imagined that we would be so dubious about the performance of a product that has garnered such praise for so many decades!

Perhaps if we used more ingredients?

We tried making a slushy drink with it, filling the jar to half way up, but even then, the contents bounced up and down and never really ground the ice cubes into a slush. We ended up with a block of crushed ice sitting between the blade and the fluid above and below it. This was the deal breaker for us since we had never had a problem making a slushy drink with any of the previous blenders we had owned. Using the exact same amount of ingredients.

In the end, we just couldn't justify the expence of this blender for the results we got. Perhaps we had a defective unit based on the sloppy fit of the jar with the base. All we could go by was the assurance of the girl at Vita-Mix that told us the fit we were describing was "normal". This product could well be the best choice for those using it for blending whole fruits and vegetables in large batches, but if you want to use it for single serving applications, I don't think you will be too impressed either.

So... we are back looking at the high end consumer blenders that have smaller capacity jars and based on our experience, seems to do a far better job of blending up single to double serving sized smoothies and icy drinks. At least now, we don't blink at the price of any of them after what we agreed to invest on the 4500!

We just ordered this:

Cuisinart CBT-700 Die-Cast 700-Watt Blender

We are trying this latest one out based on our satisfaction with our Cuisinart food processor that we have owned for over a year now without a single problem.

Cuisinart DLC-10S Pro Classic 7-Cup Food Processor

Hopefully this one finally meets with our expectations. Either way, I will be posting a review after I have given this blender every chance to impress me. Apparently the CBT-700 is the latest blender model from the company and so far, reviews have been good. We shall see.

Peter | Tuesday, July 14, 2009

This is the most extraordinary blender I've ever used. It is twice as big as most other ones and has the power to handle it. I also like that you don't have to take it all apart to clean it. Excellent product.

Jennifer | Friday, May 15, 2009

* I am writing this review about the 5000 since it is an older model and I cannot find a better place to review it. I also wanted to include my pictures. *

I purchased this blender after the Cook's Illustrated "Best Buy" winner died (broke) after about a month of hard-core smoothie making...and instead of spending $5 a day on a smoothie, I bought this blender.

And I couldn't be happier.

This thing is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Yes, it's loud. VERY loud. But what it can do completely makes up for it. I had been considering the Blendtec, but went with the Vitamix because I wanted the plunger - and it indeed comes in very handy.

All I have made in this blender so far (and I have had it about two years) is smoothies and mixed drinks...and it excels at both. (I will be trying baby food in the near future.)

The most impressive thing is that you can throw in WHOLE PIECES OF FRUIT (stems, seeds, and all) and have it turn into a perfectly smooth smoothie (see user photos).

I highly HIGHLY recommend this blender, and think it will rock your world. You will never want to use a cheapo blender again.

Eduardo Nietzsche | Friday, January 30, 2009

I recently spent a few months living at a meditation center that had one of these babies...boy was I spoiled rotten! The power and speed is simply breath-taking, and I was told that it was over 5 years old to boot.

This is definitely going on my wish list. Am currently using an Oster "professional series" (ha ha) blender which for fifty bucks from my local warehouse club is adequate for my breakfast oatmeal/banana/whey smoothies, though it is seriously challenged by frozen bananas unless they're cut into 1-2" chunks not 3" halves.

The thing is, one of these Vitamixes would pay for EIGHT of those Osters, so I am unable to justify the cost since I don't really use the blender for serious juicing which would most benefit from the far more powerful Vitamix. I guess the way around that would be to convince myself of the need to regularly consume a lot of pureed veggies, hmmm...