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Anyone own a Thermador SGSX305FS gas cooktop? Comments?

14 years ago

We're likely to replace a 9 year old Thermador 30" gas cooktop with a newer Thermador SGSX305FS 30" Masterpiece gas cooktop. Both the new cooktop and the old one have the extra low simmer on a couple burners which we love. (I know some people dislike the "click" restart when on the XLO settings, but this doesn't bother us in the least...I barely hear it, and when I do it confirms the system is working.)

We love the old cooktop but just want to update the kitchen a bit. The biggest features for us are:

- the lighted control knobs (rather than one red lamp that is hard to see at a distance),

- the large center burner for a big pot (the distance between the center of the middle burner and the control knobs is at least 1" more than on a Bosch; and almost 2" more than on a Viking - this allows for a bigger pot),

- the continuous grates for easy sliding of pots and pans between burners (as does the old cooktop),

- the black glass trim around the "front and center" control knobs - this makes the Thermador somewhat match our Dacor MOV230S double oven's design,

- and the wider work surface (our older Thermador has all controls to one side which somewhat narrows the grate surface).

A big plus is that the cooktop can drop right into the opening now cut into our granite counter.

(I sure do wish we had planned for a 36" cooktop when we originally designed the kitchen. But that ship sailed 9 years ago.)

We had only one in-warranty service call on the Thermador presently installed. That was one week after its initial installation. Since then, not a problem.

Anyway, I'm just asking if there have been recent concerns with Thermador's gas cooktop quality. I'm just check all the bases before we plop down $1600 or so for this updated model. Has anyone heard of the glass control panel breaking?

We live near Chicago so service will never be a problem. Besides gas stoves are really simple, and I generally fix things once the warranty expires.

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Comments (2)

mrtimewise
Original Author
14 years ago
Ok, I'll be my own devil's advocate...

Has anyone experienced spacing problems between a gas cooktop's burners and the setting knobs of a "front and center" control panel? Aren't the control knobs rather close to the front burners, especially in the case of burners to the right and left of the control panel? When a 9" or 12" pan is used in those locations isn't the outer perimeter of the pan nearly touching the nearest control knob?

I ask this is in regard to a 30" cooktop, but perhaps even a 36" cooktop might have spacing problems.
mrtimewise
Original Author
13 years ago
Follow-up a year and a half later...

My spouse and I continue to enjoy the SGSX305FS Thermador cooktop. We have not had one single problem with the product.

The metal knobs on the Thermador do give a solid feeling. The knobs do lift off nicely so cleaning under their perimeter is possible. They are all interchangeable and orienting them correctly after the cleaning is easy as they are all positioned the same way.

The center burner is further away from the middle knob than any other 30" cooktop. (I made that measurement before buying.) The outer front burners are somewhat close to the knobs, but we have never had a problem with a knob being too hot to touch. We are cognizant of the potential heating problem, so we just position the pot or pan on the proper burner.

We love the extra low burners. Some people comment on the clicking as a burner is re-ignited in the super low heat settings. To be honest, the sound is so low in volume that I cannot hear it unless I am standing at the cooktop and there is no noise in the background.

We don't feel cramped with the 30", but I do recommend the 36" if you can fit it in. We would have had to purchase new cabinetry to use a 36" cooktop so we stayed with the 30".
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