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Is the new model 530 as good as older Vornados that established the company as a quality innovator? In this review, I compare the new 530 to two older compact models that I own. These are the excellent model 180 compact fan(infinite speed, no longer available) and the very good 510 compact (3-speed and in very short supply watch out for merchants who substitute the current model 530 for the 510). These (and the larger, venerable model 280) have great features, quietness, quality, and durability. My comments should apply to the model 530 regardless of the color of the plastic case, since color has no bearing on performance in this product.
FEATURES
The 3-speed compact design is similar to that of the older models (note that some slightly more expensive Vornado models have infinite speed control instead of 3-speed but are otherwise the same). But the 530 has one major disadvantage that you're likely to miss in the promo copy. The fan head doesn't tilt as much as those in the older models. This model tilts only about 50 degrees, while the older fans tilt about 80 degrees. The older design is much better at getting air from the floor to the ceiling.
QUIETNESS
The whirring fan blades make as little noise as the older models (whisper quiet on low, moderate amount on medium, a lot of "whoosh" on high), but the 530 has an irritating low-pitched motor noise the older models don't have. Because it's low frequency sound, it will even go through walls.
QUALITY
Personally, I think the motor, because of the noise, must not be up to the quality of previous models. One of the fan blades on my 530 still had plastic from the molding process that hadn't been removed. Definitely a quality-control problem. My older models were all manufactured in the US; this one in China (judging from a recent visit to a store that had a number of Vornado models, the company's moved manufacturing of most, if not all, of their consumer market fans offshore).
DURABILITY
We'll have to see. Comes with a limited 5 year warranty (you must get an RMA and ship to Vornado in Kansas and other reviewers have complained about shipping and handling costs nearly equaling the cost of a new fan).
BOTTOM LINE
In my view, this fan departs from the Vornado tradition of quality and quietness. I don't recommend using the model 530 in a bedroom or other place where you need quiet due to the low-pitched motor noise. Note that the user manual pictures both the model 530 and the R2D2 looking model 630.
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Vornado is well known for producing quality consumer fans. My 530 moves more air than much larger box fans. It also moves air in a more controlled, concentrated fashion. This is great for moving cool air from one room to another. It is also nice for ventilating a room at night where outside noise a problem as the window need only to be open ten inches or so.The raw power of the fan is useful for more than just circulating air through a room. It allows for an intense cool blast of directed in face during my cardio workout. It is also good for drying towels and carpeting.
Despite my continued enthusiasm for the product, I did have some problems. The first is the rather loud motor noise/vibration at lower speeds. Secondly, there was an apparent problem with the first fan I purchased. It was dropped about two feet onto padded carpeting. This caused one of the fan blades to break off. Fortunately, Bed Bath and Beyond has a no hassle return policy.
It is interesting to note that Vornado frequently pitched "American Made" in their marketing collateral. When I checked the model number on the base for this review, I noticed the "Made in China" sticker on the bottom.
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I made the terrible mistake of purchasing 4 of these "Vornado 530L High velocity 3-speed air circulators" from Amazon because of the glowing reviews and after doing a little research the fan looked nice in the images and I liked the idea the grill would snap off for easy cleaning. It didn't take long for me to realize I wasted a lot of money ($39.99 for each fan)... The problems started when fan 1's blade would seize up and stop turning. I would have to turn it offunplug it then take the grill off and try spinning the blade a few times (I think thats how my grandfather started planes back in world war one ^__^) it worked about a week then finally died. The problems continued with fan 2, it started making this terrible high pitched sqeeeeal at the worst possible times like for example 3am while I'm trying to sleep. Its like having nails being dragged across a chalk board continuiously, I couldn't deal with that for long so I put it out near the garbage pick up for my pillaging garbage pickup person to pick up. Now on to fan 3... Fan 3 is special because it started over loading my electrical outlet so I would have to reset it. I tried moving it to another area of my home but it still over loaded my outlets.So out of the four fans that I've puchased last year, I only have one still working and it makes sqeaking sounds but not so bad as to keep me awake. For the purchase price of these fans I expected very good quality but I've gotten quality worse than cheap Lasko fans, in fact I've had Lasko fans that worked 4 and 5 years while these expensive vornados haven't lasted 8 months.
Very disappointing purchase and I don't recommend these fans at all. Buy at your own risk.
Honest reviews on Vornado 530L Compact Whole Room Air Circulator
I smoke so I use this fan pointed out my window to extract the smoke. I had one that lasted 8 years and it was on practically every minute.Pros: It's easy to clean, which maybe why it lasted so long, and is quiet at lowest setting. The only reason I had to buy another one was because I had an accident cleaning it and I got too much water in the motor. oops
Cons: They'll probably stop making them by the time I have to buy another one!
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This is our second Vornado of this size. (Our other is at least 6 years old and still going quietly strong.)We live in an older two story house. The builder put small 4x10 registers IN the floors of two of the bedrooms upstairs, but in the master a register 3" above the floor in the corner and pointed at the window! One of the bedrooms is now my office (the kids are GONE!)
We just got a new HVAC. As powerful as it is, there is a three to five degree difference between each of the upstairs rooms. The 1973 vintage ducts and registers fight back against such power. But the Vornados do the trick, and they do it quietly and efficiently to the point that the AC can be turned down 5 degrees during the day, and off at bedtime! When it's 101 outside, we're comfortable at 74-76 (and freeze at 73, but that's age not temperature).
The reason is that the Vornado truly CIRCULATES air through even the largest of the three rooms, and we put both in front of the registers pointed upward and on LOW. They're whisper quiet, and ... I can't say there's a breeze, but there's a flow of air that can be sensed rather than felt and the rooms cool off. I sleep like a baby, a very old baby, but the point is that I sleep.
Our AC and electric in general will probably be down another 10%. It's already down 16% because of the more efficient HVAC. And if I haven't stressed it enough, the Vornado is reliable, well built, and WHISPER QUIET!
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