Thank you for the compliment, Whit461, but I am only one of many who have contributed to the NXR threads. The OP wants a cooktop for a peninsula and NXR only offers ranges. Also, NXR comes with a built-in 4-inch high oven-vent backguard. It is not removable and there are no options for other venting. I think those things would make it unsuitable for mjsbth's peninsula location. [EDITED 2-22-2013: Well, the NXR now can be used in an island configuration, after all. On Dvorson's web site, I discovered that there is now an island trim kit for the 30" and 36" NXR ranges.) Likewise, I'm not sure if deeageaux's Bluestar recommendation will work, either, alhtough Thermador does make cooktops. AFAIK, the BS unit is rangetop rather than a cooktop. For $1500 to $1600, I think Thermador made or makes a 5 burner 30" cooktop which likely could be dropped into the space occupied by the existing electric unit. But, If I were looking for a gas cooktop, I think I might be more inclined to look at the very similar Bosch 30" five burner cooktop. Bosch and Thermador are part of the same company, with Bosch being less premium priced. IIRC, the Bosch 30" five-burner cooktop is about $500 less than its Thermado corporate sibling, running around $1k. The $500 savings could go towards a telescoping (aka pop-up downdraft. A decent downdraft can be pretty expensive, so the savings may be welcome. My recollection from a pass through our local Lowe's was that Bosch has a pretty decent 30" downdraft which rises up to 13 or 14 inches, but it cost something like $1100 or $1200 which was as much or more than the Bosch 30" cooktop. Seems to me that I saw a Maytag or Kitchenaid "retractable" with a 12 or 13 inch rise that cost something like $900. Frigidaire had a pop-up with only a 10 rise for around $650-$700. The least expensive telescoping unit that I recall hearing discussed was Broan's Eclipse (??) which was less than $500 but only raises up (I think) about 8 inches high. This post was edited by JWVideo on Fri, Feb 22, 13 at 17:30

Hi---I see this post is back from 2012 but I wondered if I can "reactivate" it! I live in Western Ma and am redoing my kitchen. Will be buying a 30" LP cooktop and am having a hard time figuring out which one would be best from a BTU perspective (understanding I'm losing power converting to LP--we don't have access to NG) as well as useable cooktop space on the grids. Am looking at the Wolf 4 burner and Bosch 4 burner. Anyone have luck with them? The 5 burner 30" cooktops don't seem to be as user friendly for multiple pots on at once. Any advice would be appreciated! Thank you!

I am not sure why you are getting zero response to your question. I too am having a difficult time deciding between two brands. My request for advice wasn't answered either. So without the benefit of others sharing their experience the best way to decide is probably side by side comparison. List the pros and cons of each as you see them and perhaps one will stand out more than the other. I don't have gas but I do have a GE convection wall oven and a GE cooktop. The cooktop has had to have the elements replaced three times in the 8 years I have owned it. The convection oven has had fan issues from the get go. First the fan in the oven started sounding loud and was fixed. Now it has noise coming from an internal fan and you'd think a plane was landing in the kitchen. So, Jenn Air, with it's extra features may be worth the extra expense if it holds up better than the GE. I'd check their repair history. Good luck with your remodel and enjoy your new kitchen!

Whichever one has baffle filters (not mesh filters) and a canopy shape, not a flat shape. Quiet has to do with your ductwork from the hood to the outside. If it is narrow, like 6" diameter, it will be noisy, and it won't matter what brand of hood you buy with respect to the noise. Also, be realistic, that an exhaust hood DOES have a motor operating almost right in your face. Impossible to be really quiet. People have imaginary expectations of a hood being quiet.