New Sebo Felix

[luxlife]

I enjoyed mine while I had it.

The brushroll was a little too aggressive for some of my older rugs and I had four dogs at the time, so I went through bags pretty quickly.

 

[madaboutsebo]

Love your Felix Blackheart, they are great vacuums. Hope you enjoy using it.

I've had my Felix Classic 8 years this August and it's been used a bit over the years and have had no issues with it love it. One of the best vacuums I've used/owned apart from my new purchase (Vorwerk Kobold VK150). I've yet to change both filters on it although the pre motor filter does want changing now. They do run hot but I don't tend to use mine on full power all the time only for tougher jobs. It's the vacuum cleaner that got me back into bagged vacuums. Glad it did!

The new 700 watt Felix vacuums in the UK/EU do not run hot like the original 1300 watts versions. I tried one in John Lewis dept store and was very impressed with the performance of the new 700 watt version. Same power if not slightly more power, well that how it felt.

 

[ralph123]

Fred said: "I also like the bare floor tool that came with it - although I took the front brush strip out, and it seems to now draw the dirt in, instead of getting stuck to the bristles."

That sounds like a really good tip. Do you happen to have a picture of your floor brush modification? I have a similar problem with some of my bare floor brushes. May have to try something like that.

 

[oliveoiltinfoil]

@madaboutsebo - The motor on the Felix ECO has 24 blades versus 6 on the 1300 watt model !

@luxlife - I don't know about the states but in Europe you can buy a softer bristled brushroll for the felix for that exact reason. I has green bristles and is a good option for more delicate surfaces.

 

[madaboutsebo]

Thanks oliveoiltinfoil I forgot about that about the new Eco 700 watt motor. The SEBO demonstrator in John Lewis Southampton told me about the new motor when I test one out. Thanks again for that information on the new motor. You can tell the new motor has great airflow I was impressed.

 

[oliveoiltinfoil]

No problem my friend. According to the technical specs on both models, the airflow rate is exactly the same at 50 litres per second.

 

[madaboutsebo]

Thanks . That's interesting to know. Hence the more fan blades on the 700 watt motor to give the same performance for using less power and less heat generated too.

 

[sebo_fan]

Hence the probable solution derived from the E1 series cylinder vacs. They're more about airflow noise than anything else IMHO. The K1 700 relies on the older motor and has a certain whine to it.

Lovely Felix though! Just one question though if I may, Blackheart - does this have the height adjustable pull flap at the front? I know some U.S models are different where a height adjustment on the handle isn't an option.

I agree with Oli regarding SEBO build. They are far more durable and better built than Miele. That's not to say I dislike Miele but its a constant expense with Miele versus SEBO on running costs.

 

[blackheart]

Adjustable handle

Yes it does, it's sooo much nicer having that for using it in it's "portable mode".

The last Felix i had was a used model which did not have the telescopic handle or the speed control. They were basic models used to test the market. All Current felixs now have both, except the windsor commercial versions.

Having both a Miele S7 and now a Felix i do prefer the Felix it's a lot lighter and more nimble than the Miele, plus it has a lot more airflow (6.5 vs 3.5) there are certain things i like better about the miele, like the longer cord, bottom mounted hose, headlight, and the ability to shut off the brush from the handle. Overall though i do prefer the felix.

 

[oliveoiltinfoil]

As someone who has also had both an S7 and Felix, which do you think has better performance?

I personally think the felix, not only because it does have noticeably more airflow, but I think it has better agitation. I found the S7 to bunny hop as I think its called over my plush pilled carpets, not digging in enough.

The felix is a more simple design, more simple airflow path, just better built and more simple.

 

[sebo_fan]

Oh that's good to know. I know that some markets still get a basic Felix 1 type model which has a flxed handle and no brush roll on/off button. Also there's the Felix Kombi which as you might know is just a Felix with variable suction control and a suction floor head on it, hence no brush roll on/off option on the SEBO handle.

I know in the U.S you can buy a shoulder strap for it, though I shudder to think how inconvienent that would be given the weight of the body alone.

In the UK, the current Miele uprights (now known as "Dynamic U1") are listed on Miele's site as having a 10.5 metre cable - the Felix has a 9.5 metre cable. I thought the S7 originally had a lot more.

I owned an original S7210 when they first came out. Not for me. Clearly designed for the U.S market or bigger homes. But that's not to say that it isn't a bad upright. It is nicely designed in some ways and exudes the typical Germanic Miele plastics with only a few downsides. It was the main hose stitched in by two screws which got me every time. I had to undo them a couple of times when dog hair got stuffed up at the bottom release.

The brush roll can't be removed either which I found a bit disappointing. Clearly Miele don't want to upset SEBO in offering a similar catch and release type mechanism.

Where the Miele scored better was the near silence of its motor in my opinion. I find their cylinder vacs far more manageable; the S8340 I own has a 9 metre cord, so its only 0.5 metres off the Felix.