Blendtec Total Blender Classic Four Side TB-621-20

Performance

Not quite as versatile or smooth-blending as Vitamix. In a head-to-head test by one reliable expert, the Blendtec Total Blender Classic Four Side TB-621-20 (*Est. $430) lags behind the top-rated Vitamix 5200 (*Est. $450). Both crush ice excellently, but the Blendtec can't blend frozen drinks, purée soups or grate Parmesan cheese  as nicely as the Vitamix.

Good Housekeeping testers agree that the Blendtec is a fantastic ice-crusher, but "although it purées foods to a very smooth texture, it did leave a chunk of ice in a test batch of smoothies." It's not as versatile as the Vitamix, either. It's "too fast and powerful to use for chopping," editors say, and although the manufacturer says it can produce hot soup (reaching a maximum of 110 degrees Fahrenheit), "it didn't produce mixtures that were hot enough to serve."

Many Amazon.com customers bought the Blendtec to create smoothies, and most love it. "Wow! Now this is a blender!" one writes. "This thing sucked the fruits and ice down into its vortex amazingly well." Another says, "Previous blenders had left me accustomed to fine chunks of whatever I was blending, but the Blendtec could turn a whole unpeeled orange into what looked like orange syrup." Still, a few owners are underwhelmed. One says the Blendtec shuts itself down every time he tries to blend anything thick, like margaritas or milkshakes.

Ease of use

Mixed marks for ease of use. In some ways, reviews say the Blendtec Total Blender Classic Four Side TB-621-20 is a snap to use -- but in other ways, it's a pain.

It "has lots of user-friendly features, like easy-to-read measurement markings and smooth controls," say testers at Good Housekeeping. They like the easy-pour jar and built-in timer, too. But there's no place to store the cord, and there's no "stop" button, instead you have to press one of the preprogrammed buttons to stop the blender.

The six preprogrammed buttons let the Blendtec run on autopilot to make smoothies, crushed ice, ice cream and more. Plenty of users like to simply hit the button and walk away, but others wish for more control, as with the Vitamix 5200 dial that allows speed adjustments.

The Blendtec has a lid with a removable center plug so you can add ingredients while blending. Unlike other models, this blender doesn't come with a tamper accessory for pushing food towards the blades. Users disagree on whether a tamper is a necessity. Some say the blender is efficient enough on its own, while others resort to pre-chopping big items before blending.

Blendtec says its square Four Side jar holds "nearly two quarts," but the owner's manual advises against filling it past the top marked line (32 ounces). The manufacturer sells an identical version with a five-sided, 90-ounce jar -- the Blendtec Total Blender Classic WildSide TB-621-20 ($425) -- but again, the manual advises against filling it more than halfway.

Owners say that Blendtec's recommendation to whiz soapy water in the jar to clean it works. One Amazon.com customer writes, "Cleaning the Blendtec is by far the easiest blender I have ever cleaned." Like the Vitamix, the Blendtec's blade doesn't detach from the jar. Blendtec says the jar can go into the dishwasher -- but only on the top rack, but at 15 inches tall, it probably won't fit.

Appearance

Not as sturdy as the Vitamix. Despite its hefty price tag, the Blendtec Total Blender Classic Four Side TB-621-20 "doesn't look like it costs a lot" -- a con, in Good Housekeeping editors' opinions.

One Amazon.com buyer agrees, saying that compared to the Vitamix, the "Blendtec is not as substantial in construction."

The Blendtec is light (7 pounds), slim (7 inches by 8 inches) and short (15 inches tall). It easily fits between a standard countertop and upper cabinets. The base comes in black, white or red, with a clear copolyester jug.

Durability

If it lasts, will someone help when something goes wrong? Capable of running the ice-crush cycle 45 times in one organization's test, the Blendtec also proves durable in the Food & Wine test kitchen as well as at Planet Smoothie, TCBY and other chains, Grace Parisi points out -- but she doesn't mention which model number.

Ten percent of Amazon.com reviewers give this Blendtec model a low rating, usually complaining that the blender broke. Several blame a black plastic gear fitting around the blade that tends to chip off or melt after two years of use.

Both brands offer a seven-year warranty, but owners say nothing compares to the customer service and reliability of the Vitamix.

Noise

Wear your earplugs. This is a loud blender. Good Housekeeping says the Blendtec Total Blender Classic Four Side TB-621-20 is "very noisy during use." Another testing agency rates it fair for noise (the rival Vitamix 5200 rates good).

Plenty of owners complain, too. One user at Amazon.com shares her experience: "The cat hates me. I got a pair of earmuffs from the shooting supply place to wear while using it. Maybe overkill, but I think that using it twice a day without them would result in hearing damage eventually." One earplug-user finds the Blendtec's noise "almost unbearable ... like running a leaf blower at full power inside your house." Others say the noise doesn't bother them, or they don't notice it being any louder than other blenders.

The bottomline

The Blendtec Total Blender Classic Four Side TB-621-20 costs as much as the Vitamix 5200, but reviews say the Blendtec isn't as versatile, effective, easy to use, quiet or durable. If you need a heavy-duty blender, the Best Reviewed Vitamix 5200 is your best bet.