Dyson upright differences

[eluxca]

For the Dyson experts out there, are there major cleaning and usability differences between the DC14 and DC17? I have looked at both and noticed that the brush roll on the DC17 is noticeably stiffer than the DC14, so that model concerns me in terms of damaging carpet.

There is a brand new DC14 Complete for sale in town for $289 in a nice color scheme of charcoal and deep red. It peaked my curiosity, not that I really NEED another vacuum....

John

 

[vintagehoover]

DC17:

the DC17 was the first vacuum cleaner Dyson designed specifically for the North American market, and addressed some of the concerns the US had encountered with the previous DC07 and DC14.

The brush-roll has incredibly stiff bristles, and is powered by its own motor. The bristle spacing was altered to make the brush better-suited to thicker American carpeting.

It has the distinction of being the only Dyson upright so far to utilise the 3-stage 'Root Cyclone + Core Separator' technology; the most efficient of any multi-cyclonic system on the market.

It's hard to make a recommendation of this model, because I haven't personally used one for any length of time. Of the people I know who have used them, I've heard mixed reports: some people love the brush-roll, others feel it pulls out more carpet-fluff than they're comfortable with!

 

[kirbyultimateg]

What about the Dyson DC28 upright?

 

[vintagehoover]

DC14:

Internet explorer just crashed half-way through what I was writing about the DC14, but luckily I took a screen-grab of it before it vanished!

Continuing from what I wrote below...in addition to the clutch problem, America also seems to feel that the brush-roll in the clutch control models is ineffective on thick carpeting. In Europe, we got round this by buying the Origin models, equipped with a round brush with 3 rows of bristles, which I personally feel is much more effective. However, the US doesn't have this model. This is why Dyson introduced the DC17's brush, which can be over-aggressive on some carpeting!

To sum up, the DC14 is a nice, user-friendly machine, and one of my favourite Dyson models, but perhaps not well-suited to the US market.

 

[kirbyultimateg]

What is the difference between the Dyson DC17 and the Dyson DC28?
Thanks.

 

[vintagehoover]

Pic of my DC14 Origin:

 

[vintagehoover]

So, John - those are the facts, the rest is up to you! Is there anywhere you'd be able to try out both models before making your decision?

Rather than either the DC14 OR the DC17, I'd actually suggest that the DC25 is a superior machine to either! If I could have just one Dyson to use for the rest of my life (ignoring what wonderous technology they might come up with tomorrow!!), I wouldn't hesitate to go for the DC25. It's Dyson's flagship machine, accounting for 50% of all Dyson sales in the UK - and they look forward to the day when they can phase out wheeled cleaners entirely!

 

[vintagehoover]

Hi Rob - here's a video which explains the DC28 Airmuscle better than I could!

<object width=873 height=525><param name=movie value=></param><param name=allowFullScreen value=true></param><param name=allowscriptaccess value=always></param><embed src= type=application/x-shockwave-flash allowscriptaccess=always allowfullscreen=true width=873 height=525></embed></object>

 

[kirbyultimateg]

Thank you Jack!

 

[joe22]

like the look of the dc14, even the walmart has the dc25 now. compaired to my fave the royal metal upright they seem over complicated.

yet i do want some for my collection, the canisters interest me the most.

joe

 

[vintagehoover]

Joe - I'm sure a Royal is a wonderful cleaner (I don't own one myself, I think I've seen them come up on eBay in the UK twice in six years!), but it's essentially employing 1908 J M Spangler technology.

While that's still a very sound method of cleaning carpets, we now live in the age of AutoCAD and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)! We can afford to get a little more complicated without it necessarily being a negative thing.

Look at this machine that Kirby *may* be coming out with in the near future; all those belts and gears - it certainly looks complicated, but knowing Kirby, it will be tested up to the hilt before it's made available to the public. They have too much at stake to launch a reliability-nightmare! And I'm told Dyson come second only to Kirby in CR's latest reliability survey?

 

[eluxca]

Thanks Jack

For sharing your knowledge of the Dysons! "Aggressive" brushroll is right, the bristles feel like wires on the DC17. You are not the first person to say that the DC25 is the best machine in the lineup. My bias is that it looks rather insubstantial next to the 14 and 17. I guess looks can be deceiving

John

 

[vintagehoover]

The DC25 is tested as rigorously as any of the other Dysons, and guaranteed for 5 years.

I just think they got the brush-roll perfect in that model: no clutch, so no belts to wear out...round, so it doesn't wrap up with hair and lint...the bristles aren't too soft or too stiff...powered by a dedicated motor, so you can turn it off for hard floors or delicate rugs...a cogged belt which won't stretch, slip or break...central intake duct, so suction is even across the width of the nozzle...

 

[shanonabc]

Love the clutch on my DC14 Origin Jack...

Remember I mentioned the AU Origin machines are clutched...

 

[vintagehoover]

Hi Shanon...yes, I recall our conversation about the Origin models - it was only a few days ago. I'm not that old!

 

[shanonabc]

Just because you remember doesn't mean I do!

 

[joe22]

yes in the october 2009 issue dyson was second to kirby. look at how many kirby's from the 50s are still around and cleaning (ebay/craigs list for a reference)

dyson has not really improved on the 1908 technology, a brush spins to sweep the carpet and a fan sucks up the dirt.

sure there were a few tweaks along the way such as carpet height adjustment. making something more complicated is not necessarily better.

just a few thoughts, not criticisms. halftimes over back to coyboys game.

joe

 

[vintagehoover]

'dyson has not really improved on the 1908 technology...

Um, I'd beg to differ on that, Joe! And I never said making something more complicated was better, I just said it wasn't necessarily worse.

 

[eluxca]

Let me throw in another model for consideration...
As you talked about the dc25 being the most desirable machine, how does its predecessor, the dc15, compare? They are still available new and also reconditioned from Dyson, although it is no longer manufactured. Just wondering if the performance and ease of use would be similar.

John

 

[vintagehoover]

The DC15 has a longer cord and a larger bin, but as I see it, that's all it has going for it. The DC25 is much better designed, because they took all the user-feedback from the DC15, and ironed out any 'issues' people had with it.

Here's the 'Which? Magazine' evaluation of the DC15 All Floors:

 

[vintagehoover]

And here's their evaluation of the DC25 Animal:

 

[sleepdoc]

DC17

Being a multi-Dyson owner, including the DC17 Animal and the DC25 Blueprint, I have to say that the DC17 is amazing. It does have stiff bristles, but it picks up so much fine dust that even I am astounded. My house is two years old and is regularly vacuumed with TOL machines: Kirby, Miele, Dyson upright or canister, brand new Filter Queen, new Tri-Star, etc. My house is clean. But this DC17 finds the dust. All the Dysons do - they're all great vacuums - but I can't overstate how impressed I am with this brand new DC17.

Jack, your posts and videos are first-rate, and I want to tell you how much I enjoy reading your writings and watching your videos. I really appreciate all the time you put into this. You've made collecting Dysons fun, and I've expanded my collection a lot because of you.

Patrick

 

[sleepdoc]

DC15

Three characteristics really contrast between the DC15 and DC25, all of them in favor of the DC25. First, the mass. The DC15 is ungainly. It's really big and heavy. The DC25 is nimble, by contrast. Second, the structural rigidity. The DC15 feels as though it has too many joints or moving parts, even brand new. It doesn't feel stable, and I wouldn't expect that to do anything except worsen with use. The DC25 has much less laxity. Third, the DC15's brush motor was ear-piercing. I don't know what they did to change it, but the DC25 isn't so shrill.

The only advantages the DC15 has are that its handle is a little taller and it has a bigger dust bin.

I wanted a DC15 when it came out and didn't get one after I tried it. Thereafter, I've been skeptical of the Ball. When Jack posted pics of the new Blueprint, I liked it enough to try one to see if Dyson had improved the design enough to buy one. They had, and I bought a DC25 and love it. By contrast, the DC15 is the only Dyson I can think of that I would not want. Hope that helps.

 

[rolls_rapide]

DC15

Didn't it have a geared drive to the brush, rather than the toothed belt of the DC25?

I do agree - the DC15 is an awkward beast to manoeuvre. Even more so, when compared to the Vax Mach Air (which is a dream to push about).

 

[williamr1248]

Dyson differences

Patrick,
You are correct about Jack. After I got my Dyson DC07, I NEVER wanted another Dyson. Thanks to Jacks postings, he helped create an interest in Dyson. I LOVE my DC23 and am now becoming interested in another Dyson. It is amazing not only how much my DC23 picks up but the type of dirt it pulls out of my heavy carpets. I wasn't a Dyson fan but Jack made me give them a second look. Thank you Jack. Not a hint of dusty oder or leaking dust. Now if Dyson would just get my parts I have on order.
Rob

 

[vintagehoover]

Hi Patrick and Rob,

I'm delighted you both enjoy my posts - my greatest 'vac fascination' has always been the vintage Hoover models - the older, the better! Dyson are the only modern company I find as interesting as Hoover. Rather than just following the crowd, they encourage their teams of intelligent, young, uni-grad engineers to push boundaries and come up with new technology, and I really enjoy being surprised at what they come up with!

Dysons aren't for everyone; I totally understand and accept that! However, I currently have 22 Dyson vacuum cleaners (and one Dyson fan!), and I've never had anything but great service from them. I like the constant performance, I like never, ever having to buy consumables, I like the thought that goes into the design and functionality... they just work for me!

Over the past two years, I've bought 6 brand new Dysons, not to mention all the older, second-hand models I've bought off eBay (the DC31 was a press sample, and the AM01 is a pre-production prototype). I wouldn't have spent a single penny of my money of any of them if I didn't believe in the technology and engineering. That's the most powerful proof I can offer of how much I like the products!

Also, this year alone, I've been fortunate enough to have (briefly!) met Sir James Dyson in person, as well as some of the most senior members of his Design and PR teams. They've all been extremely pleasant and interesting to talk to - and each time, I've come away feeling even more strongly about their work!

I thought these pictures might amuse you - I spent this afternoon cleaning at an office which belongs to a collegue of my uncle's. It's a great place to test out cleaners in a commercial environment, because it always gets really dirty! Most new cleaners I get are tested out there (to see how they handle 'office dirt' and low-pile carpeting), and the staff are always interested to see the cleaners I bring along!

Today, they wanted to know exactly how strong my DC08T was. So I showed them:

 

[vintagehoover]

Sorry this one came out blurred, one of the guys took the pics with my useless phone camera...

 

[vintagehoover]

I should add - after that demo, I threw the Contact Head and the bin/cyclone assembly down the stairs! Guess what...neither of them broke! If I thought they would, I wouldn't have attempted it with witnesses, lol. I was more concerned about the stairs!

 

[kirbyg4]

dyson hmmm.

i have actually owned a Dyson before dc14, and from experience they are the most intuitive and most technologically superior vacuums around, the company itself is great. i have never had trouble with the customer service nor the employees that worked there, i had my dc14 for about 4 years. and it out performed every wal-mart or sears bought vacuum i could imagine. another nice thing i like about the Dyson company and they're cleaners is the fact that the whole community it self seem very kind and always will to help somebody out, vintagehoover is an awesome guy i would be honored to have him as a friend i have only heard and seen videos on his "epic" hoover collection. and he seems like a pretty cool character. one thing i thought i would just throw out there, i have the most respect for Dyson, but at the end of the day i am a Kirby guy, lol i don't wanna start anything its just that... well i have grown up around Kirby's and absolutely love them, and as far as suction and durability goes, Kirby wins in my book, i have a 30 year old tradition that has probably seen over 900 hours of use during the course of it's life and it is like new, and my favorite my g4, is 16 years old and i have only ever replaced the belt and brush a hand full of times. anyhow, i am running my mouth. much respect for Dyson and to you vintage hoover, because of you i have been able to respect dyson more than i thought possible. and as far as the dc28 goes, it looks like quite a cleaner.