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1116 of 1145 humans found the following review helpful.
A comparison to the Artisan Mixer
By ut158
I already own a 5 Qt mixer from the “Artisan Series” but decisive to upgrade to this model so that I could make more spectacular batches of bread dough. For my recipe, a single batch is 2 cups of bread flour. I tried making a double batch (4 cups) in my new Pro 600, but after in regards to 15 min. of kneading, the motor just turned off. I thought I had burned it out, but after consulting the instruction manual, it seems this is normal. Normal?! Yes, that’s what it said–all I necessitated to do was wait for the motor to cool off (it’s likewise “normal” for it to get so hot it is uncomfortable to touch) for 30 min. and then undertake again. I find it hard to believe that this mixer could make bread with 14 cups of AP flour, as the box says. Having said that, here are my thoughts on this mixer vs. the “Artisan Series” mixer I already own:
1. The motor consumes over 50% more electricity (and is surely more noisy) in the pro 600, but how much of that is being converted to extra torque, I’m not in truth sure. What I do recognise is that I may only do a single batch of bread at a time in either mixer.
2. As has been cited in other reviews, the Artisan mixer came with a “coated” paddle and dough hook, whereas the pro 600 has “Brandished steel”. This means the Artisan’s implements are dishwasher safe but the pro 600′s are not. I had assumed those bright, shiny implements that I saw in the store display were stainless steel, but I guess not. If it weren’t for this problem and the big price tag, I would have given this mixer 5 stars.
On the plus side…
3. I love the new spiral dough hook–it is much better than the C shaped one in my Artisan
4. The soft start out feature is a nice touch. Then again, it would be even nicer if there was a speed lower than the lowest one provided.
5. The larger bowl is nice
6. There is more of a divergence amongst speeds 7-10 than the Artisan
Things I’d like to see changed in the next iteration:
–A gear box. I have a cordless drill that has a high and low gear. As could be expected, low is for more power, high is for more speed. Why don’t these mixers use a simple gear selector like that? This would be a HUGE improvement–it would not only provide more power, but the lower speed I would like, as cited in point 4.
–Stainless steel implements as cited in point #2
CONCLUSION:
A very nice mixer, but so is my “Artisan”. If you are going to buy a new mixer (and don’t have an unlimited supply of cash to throw at it), I wouldn’t commend the Pro 600–get one from the Artisan series instead–it is much for less and does just regarding as good a job. There are little vantages to the Pro 600, but even all together, I don’t think they are worth the added price.
565 of 581 people found the following review helpful.
Product Info in regards to gear housing upgrade from KitchenAid
By Living it up
Due to the very high number of complaints regarding the troubles humans were having with heavy responsibility tasks (which is what the mixer will have to have been made for!) due to cheap plastic housing keeping the heavy responsibility metal gears, I contact KitchenAid to find out if this design flaw has been fixed. It has been and here is their response (note that they are saying that if you receive one of the models with the plastic housing they will replace it under warranty with the new metal housing. It is also important to note that the people who’ve had the problem have almost all stated that KitchenAid had outstanding client service and substituted their mixers with no ones with no problems.
RESPONSE FROM KITCHENAID: Thank you for visiting the KitchenAid website!
I would like to reassure you that our technology and product teams have addressed the gear box issue. In fact, we have already enforced a change in the devising of the Pro 600 Stand Mixers to a metal gear box. Although these will be changed out on further and added 5 qt bowl-lift models that include all metal gearing, the time line on that is not known at this time. Although a transparent change, this will insure the long-term durability we expect.
I would like to emphasize to you that will have to you buy a Stand Mixer (with all metal gearing) which has not been assembled with the upgraded metal gear box, and you will have to have a problem with your mixer (as a result of the plastic gear box (failure), we will most surely extend your warranty to resolve the issue in the right manner and effectively.
If you have further and added questions, feel free to reply back to me. Or, you may contact either our KitchenAid Satisfaction Center at 1-800-541-6390, or you may visit our secure KitchenAid Live Chat.
319 of 326 persons found the following review helpful.
SUPER but READ this necessary data BEFORE YOU BUY ONE!!
By Lynnster
NEWLY EDITED 11/30/07:
IF YOU ARE ABOUT TO BUY a PRO 600 & you have done your research, you already know there is a plastic/metal parts issue, so PLEASE read my info: KA client service KNOWS which Pro 600s have the metal transmission cover “fix” (via serial numbers), but some reps are refusing to give you the serial numbers to look for; but they might “allow” you to call them from the store with the serial number off a Pro 600 box before you buy to ascertain it has the metal transmission cover. So, be insistent! Here’s my story:
The initial rep I called was a supervisor “Kelly”, who refused to tell me which serial numbers to look for! Nice! I expended too much time researching ,so I called back & the next rep (Rachel) gave me her extension & told me to call her from the store & she would tell me if the one I found was made after the “fix”. By the time I found one I wanted – at the second store visited – KA cust serv was closed. I purchased it anyway, crossed my fingers, & called the next day. “Rachel” wasn’t available, but another rep told me the serial number was one of the newer mixers I wanted. (pls read all the “negative” reviews here for good info)
IMPORTANT: This rep likewise gave me crucial I want to pass on as it’s the data I tried to get before I purchased my mixer – the serial numbers of the Pro 600 6 qt, 575 watt mixers with the metal cover “fix” (made from mid-April 2007)begin with numbers higher than “14″ (my serial number is WU1503109, so it’s above “14″) Depending on the rep you get, only a couple are more than willing to affirm this info, so be prepared for feeling of annoyance at being hindered or criticized but just hang up and keep attempting until you get a good rep.
ALSO IMPT: There are a few 6 quart KA mixers made – I am only speaking of the store purchased PRO 600 6 QT, 575 watt mixer found in stores like Bed N Bath/Linens N Things. So, read all these reviews conservatively & note the dates they were written – I think there is a possibleness of people writing both pro & con reviews in regards to 6 qt mixers that might be different. However, the plastic issue is the same, just the power would be different. For example, QVC sells a 6 qt KA mixer with a littler motor, and there’s a Williams Sonoma 6 qt mixer as well.
I wanted this powerful mixer as I have a 30 yr old KA mixer with a 250 watt motor, but it has a little bowl. My old mixer has never had a problem with a thick batter cookie I make each year at this time. I was anxious for the huge bowl & to see how my new “workhorse” with it is 575 watts would handle this batter because a good deal of have complained that it burns out on thick doughs/batters. UPDATE: I just made my thick cookie batter with my new 575 mixer & it did a super job!( My recipe uses 1 1/2 lbs of brown sugar, 8+ cups of flour, one pound of butter and 2 cups of Karo syrup – no other liquids or eggs so it’s a tough batter for any machine) Once I begun to add the flour (using the nice pouring shield) I never went above speed 2 (as suggested by KA for heavy batters/doughs) & speed 2 was all that was needed. A nice rep also suggested to rest the mixer if I necessitated to mix beyond 7 mins, but I never came close to that.
SIDE NOTE: when I opened the box last nite, the electric cord was folded in half & tied into a knot; there was a very sharp/jagged piece of metal on the lifting guide; a blob of dried paint on the top of the bowl holder; & bits of white crystals in the bowl that tasted like salt. Of course I called KA & Robert, with permission from his supervisor, offered a alternate without delay which I didn’t ask for & surely wasn’t expecting! He said the “presentation upon opening the box” wasn’t professional & they wanted to rectify that. He likewise told me to go in front & use this unit until the alternate arrives! WOW! Once it arrives, KA will send UPS to pick up the one I bought. Another WOW! I then told Robert in regards to my Serial Number fiasco & he said that he would have provided the S/N selective information before I shopped! He also said that he stood by his fellow reps, but he accorded that someone like me, who had done hours of research, will have to have been given the requested info from the primary call & surely not have been forced to call from a store! In my case, I wanted a mixer made after the mid-April date which is the date KA begun putting metal transmission covers on rather of plastic.
My WARNING: There is old stock, with the plastic cover, out there, yet KA still insists there is not one thing faulty with this, so I’m giving you a big head’s up..
Until I made my batter, I rated this mixer a 2 for the lousy client service/runaround I got from 2 of 5 reps. Now that I’ve made my batter, I am vamping it up to 5 stars BUT KA needs to get more reps like Robert and the other guy who helped me. (If not for them, KA would NOT have this sale) So, while I wasn’t treated right at the beginning, I am happy now & have edited my review accordingly. KA has quality issues re cust serv, in particular supervisor “Kelly”. (Try to keep out of the way of her as she thinks she works for the CIA.) I hope I have saved at least ONE person from all the feeling of annoyance at being hindered or criticized I suffered through to get what I wanted. In the long run, I think you’ll be happy & client service is outstanding IF you get a good rep!
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