Magimix 4200XL

Performance

Handles almost every task with aplomb. All reviews say it's great for slicing, chopping and puréeing, but one professional test finds it only so-so at whipping and grating. One reviewer on Williams-Sonoma's website agrees, saying the Magimix leaves large chunks of potato and apple that need to be chopped by hand. Two professional tests find the Magimix very good for kneading bread dough, but The Wall Street Journal reports that it "didn't exactly produce restaurant-quality bread." (To be fair, cheaper models tested couldn't meet this standard either.)

Ease of use

Controls are simple, but the machine has some quirks. It comes with three mixing bowls, measuring 6, 12 and 14 cups, but the smaller bowls can't be used on their own; you must stack them inside the largest bowl. Owners say this isn't just fussy, it also requires more cleaning because the smaller bowls overflow. Like many food processors, the Magimix has trouble processing liquids without leaking; KitchenAudition.com editors suggest puréeing in small batches or using a blender instead. The Magimix can also be messy to work with in other ways. One Williams-Sonoma user says dry ingredients often work their way up the feed tube, while processed mixtures can end up in the blade tube itself. Blades and other removable parts are dishwasher-safe, but without a dishwasher, many parts are hard to clean. The biggest cleaning chore is the two-part feed tube assembly: a wide-mouth feed tube that can handle whole vegetables and a narrower insert for carrots and the like. The unit's 17-inch height can make storage a problem, but on the plus side, it includes a case to keep attachments organized.

Durability

A solidly built machine. Its heavy base (over 14 pounds) contributes to stability, and testers at KitchenAudition.com say it churns through 2 pounds of bread dough with no difficulty. We found a few complaints about durability from owners on Williams-Sonoma's site, however. Two owners say the plastic bowls are flimsy and easily cracked, and one complains that after a year the machine stopped working at high speed. A problem like this should be covered under Magimix's warranty, which is the longest we've seen for any food processor: three years for parts, one year for labor and an astonishing 30 years for the motor. We found no reports about customer service experiences.

Noise

Quiet. It gets top marks for noise level in one professional test, and Williams-Sonoma users praise its quietness.

Bottom line

With its large capacity, long warranty and assortment of accessories, the Magimix 4200XL has plenty of pluses to make it a good recommendation. However, in terms of performance and ease of use, it doesn't appear to be significantly better than the Cuisinart Prep 11 Plus DLC-2011CHB (*Est. $200), which is quite a bit cheaper. For most home users, we consider the Cuisinart a better value.