Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

I don't really see the reason Miele, out of all, is seeking to make even quieter vacuums than it already does but the company has recently put out a low-noise canister, the S6290. It's a straight-suction machine that Miele says will rout pet hair well. I have been searching for reviews but as I'm not a Which? subscriber, who's just reviewed it, I'm finding it difficult to dig up either a user review or one from a consumer organization. Thanks, Venson

Hi vacmanuk,

How's it going?

Thanks so much for all the info.  It's highly appreciated.  Feel free to call on me for anything I can dig up from Consumer Reports if need arises.  I'll PM a personal email address.

I found out we that do have it here -- and carrying the new nozzle -- except it has been retagged as the "Jasper".  Just for clarification, do either or both of the brushes on this new nozzle design, front or back, come in contact with the floor when it's set for carpet mode or does it just employ the usual red "lint-picker" strips most Miele straight-suction combi-nozzles do?

http://www.mieleusa.com/usa/vacuums/product.asp?cat=1&subcat=1&model=658&series=145&nav=&snav=&tnav=&oT=184&menu_id=5&active=Our%20Products&subm=Vacuum%20Cleaners&thirdL=Canisters&fourthL=&

The U.S. also draws 1,200 watts which is considerable for an American suction only vac.

Thought I might try out the new nozzle here to see what it does but the last genuine Miele combi- floor nozzle I bought cost a handsome 75 bucks.  I like it but when I think of the money . . .  Needless to say, that idea has been scrapped.

Thanks again,

Venson

Venson wrote:
Hi Venson. Don't waste your money - the AirTeq principle is to employ a heavier footprint when it is used with the "Eco" vacuums, using the force of suction and it's extra weight to maintain pick up and there's no design change where the stiff brushes are concerned - the lint pickers and wider suction channel do the work on carpets, pretty much the same effort as the older 550-3 floor head. The UK models that have 1800 to 2000 watts (UK voltage) need the machines to be selected into the higher power when the floor head picks up sufficiently. Miele get around this by using the AirTeq designs on their Eco versions, which have a higher rate of power and suction in the lowest dial selections of the vacuums. The Jasper model has the awful floor head as mine, and it's heavier than the "SBD 550-3" model that comes with the S5 (seen here on the left):






Now, the 550-3 model used to be featured with the Miele S5 canister. However, the press button release has a fancy rocker window, which shows which floor type is selected but you'll get a sore foot unless you use shoes on your feet to change the floor setting! That one has a softer rubberised base in which a whole perimeter of stiff brushes come down for hard floors. The next floor head (the one to the right) which was supplied with the S4 Ecoline is the AirTeq "type 1" floor head (SBD 295-3) and is about the same weight as the 2 pedal AirTeq floor head that comes with the Jasper model (SBD 650). In both cases, a whole wall of perimeter brushes come down to sweep hard floors just like the previous 550-3 - see pics below. There is nothing new other than a rubberised grey wall that protects surfaces and both are heavier compared to the Miele S5 550-3 floor head and the standard single rocker switch floor heads available on other Miele models. The lightest floor head is the pedal floor head that is supplied with the Miele S2 series, a whole plastic affair that is very light (model SBD 265). Im also not keen on the complete metal strip (there's a black rectangle, but that must have been the reflection of the camera at the time), and only the basic lightweight all plastic affair that comes with the S2 has an all-plastic soleplate.






Finally, as with both AirTeq floor heads (either the more modern 2 pedal type or the 1 pedal type), both have articulated necks that don't really do much that standard Miele floor heads can't. Infact I find it to be a right nuisance! This is because whenever the S6 is being used and inadvertently the cord at the back is being pulled out and plugged in, when the floor head is parked at the back and lifted off, the cord can get tangled right in between the ribbed tube and the angled floor head cover that can't be taken off. This doesn't happen with the older AirTeq floor head - but you don't get the grey rubberised bumper on that one.

Hi again vacmanuk,

Thanks for including the very descriptive pictures.  The SBD 550-3 nozzle you uploaded is indeed the one I purchased and though, yes, the mechanism for lifting and lowering the brushes is rather stiff, I find it pretty serviceable and better than the expensive SBB300 tool on bare floors.  I also agree that the "new" nozzle that comes with the Jasper doesn't show much to recommed it.

Thanks,

Venson

By the way Venson, I've just made an accompanying You Tube video of my S6 Ecoline.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd824IXa1I4

Venson wrote:

Hi vacmanuk,

Wow! You did quite a bit of work on this.  Thank you. 

My only disappointment was that I was expecting to hear some sort of landmark level level of quiet when the machine was set to high.  Think I'll keep the Miele I've got.

Best,

Venson