2020 Premium Rangetop Dilemma: Wolf vs Thermador vs Viking - Dacor?

3 years ago

We're having a tough time settling on a rangetop for our kitchen remodel. I am inclined to go with Thermador, since the star design and patented intermittent extra-low settings appear to offer wider range of temperature control than the other brands I'm looking at. I also like the durability of brass burners over Wolf's aluminum.

Wolf has that reputation though, and seems to have better warranty service. And I have a friend who's a professionally-trained chef who swears by Viking as having been the least finicky rangetops she's worked with. We have a Viking currently, and it's been fine.

And then there's Dacor, easily the most attractive of the bunch but an absolute terrible history of reliability. I hear they were bought by Samsung five years ago, however, and that in the last two years, the focus on improving reliability has made great strides.

Since we're not looking at a full range, just the rangetop, is there really much that might go wrong if we just pick any old one we like? They seem like fairly simple machines.

Would really appreciate some feedback on the state of things for rangetops in 2020.

Featured Answer

wekick

3 years ago

I would look at BlueStar, RNB too.

The Star is a a totally different type of star.

BlueStar, top

The Thermador has a burner cap which causes more flare as you turn the burner up. The BS has burner ports along the side so the flame stays within the footprint of the burner.

This is how the burners work. He has a French top on this one.

https://youtu.be/MZdZxyOUX58

The term “open” is used to mean a lot of different things in marketing. All burners were open until the mid 80s when they sealed the burner tray and added a burner cap to make the burners in theory easier to clean. Viking was the first to use “open burner” in marketing. By “open” they just mean just the burner tray. It still has a cap.

This is the open gap.

The cap is what affects performance by causing the burner to flare.

To really answer the question, different ranges work better for different cooks.

What type of cookware do you have? How many do you cook for? What size pans?

What type of cooking do you do?

Would it bother you to clean an open burner tray? This is a video about cleaning the BS

https://youtu.be/3K2DR2ub1sA

To evaluate simmer, look at the BTU rating on the low end.

Wolf and Thermador are about the same, but Thermador clicks off and on. Wolf also has dual stacked burners which helps the amount of flare and allows the very low continuous simmer. BlueStar does not disclose their simmer rating but anecdotally, most say it is adequate. I had a Dacor some years ago and the knobs were ver flimsy and one broke just turning it about 6 mos in. They bought it back because of issues with the oven though.

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Comments (13)

Shannon_WI
3 years ago
Out of those, I’d pick the Thermador, because as you said, it has the star-shaped burners, an advantage. I’d also look at the Bluestar rangetop which has the original Garland star-shaped open burners which are so fantastic, and the cast iron surface. Also, make sure you have a proper exhaust hood setup for these powerful rangetops with the properly sized exhaust duct.
Mr B thanked Shannon_WI
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madeline, I think Viking and Wolf are both good products. Most of my friends and aquaintenances have either or. Most seem to like them well enough. I have Viking AG with open burners for over 10 years without much problems. I had to have the oven ignioers replaced a few years ago. My DH did it for the price of ignitors which was about $50.00 each. I am not even sure if the newer gas ovens even have ignitors. I really like having an infrared gas broiler in the oven. I have never used an electrical oven with broilers that were as powerful. But others can correct me, if I am wrong. I also have a Miele Speed oven as a second oven. My Viking AG oven is not quite as even as the Miele speed oven. There are hot spots. On the other hand, the Miele oven does not have an option where the convection fan is NOT on. It maybe the fan that makes the oven more even. I also have a built in BBQ with infrared rotisserie which is right outside of my kitchen. I think you need to evaluate your total cooking package. For me, it was important to have adequate of everything I needed: broiler (gas infrared rather than electric broiler), good even oven (Miele speed oven) and an easy access to a grill.
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joanhp
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We've had our Wolff all gas range for 15 years and love it. There were issues when we bought it with ignitors and after a year Wolff just offered (yes, they offered) to replace the unit completely and never had a significant problem since. Now that's a company I'll do business with again.
opaone
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Wolf is a much different product today than it once was. The burners throw heat out to the sides so the sides of pans get hotter than you'd usually want and the cook gets hotter (and sweatier). OTOH, Wolf has the best griddle/flat top of all consumer ranges or tops.

I agree w/ @wekick, look at Bluestar, particularly if you like to cook or cook a lot. One thing to keep in mind w/ BS though is that many people have complained about poor customer service from them.
tcsoccer1
3 years ago
Whatever you do don't pick Dacor. Our oven hasn't worked since we bought it and getting them to honor their warranty has been a nightmare. Been dealing with them for over a year. Hoops and hoops and my cookies still burn any time I cook them in the top oven. The Dacor fridge hasn't been much better it has already had to be serviced because the water line freezes and then the water dispenser won't work. Stay away from Dacor! Way over priced for a crappy product.

We had Theramdore in our last house and miss our Thermadore appliances terribly.
megs1030
3 years ago
Had a Thermador cooktop in my last house and LOVED it!
ktj1224
3 years ago
Is the Bluestar as big a pain to clean as some make it sound?
Michelle misses Sophie
3 years ago
Dacor is not premium. They are Samsung designed and built. Samsung just bought the old Dacor name
crcollins1_gw
3 years ago
bluestar +1
Dana Groulx
2 years ago
So, what did you decide? My Miele 36” induction cooktop bit the dust. I’m thinking of a gas rangetop, either Wolf or Thermador. It was a struggle finding a Miele repair person in my area, so I will be going with an appliance store that provides service for everything they sell. That means no Miele, no Bluestar. The sales person recommended the Thermador for ease of cleaning. It’s easy to wipe under the burner. I have maids once a week, so this isn’t a deal breaker. I didn’t like the fact that only one dedicated burner can simmer and it clicks on and off. The Wolf, with the high-low burners can simmer on any. Plus I like the Wolf has different BTUs on burners from 9,200 to 20,000 where the Thermador is all 18,000. I do have some smaller pans and I read that the wide star shape burner is just too wide of a flame for a smaller saucepan. I’m actually waiting on the quote to repair my Miele, but I am starting the search for a replacement.
Michelle misses Sophie
2 years ago
Do you have an adequately-sized gas supply, and plumbing to the cooktop location, to go with gas, or are you having that installed as well?

Have you considered either Thermador or Wolf induction?
ktj1224
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Bluestar is suppose to be amazing, but the reliabilty of Wolf and Thermador is better between (3-8%). Futhermore, BlueStar has a bad reputation in our area. Many a horror story, but the final nail for me to scratch it off my want list...60 inch range for top executive in the area and they had to fight Bluestar to cover issue after all within the 1st year! Our appliance store is pulling them after this year as coporate has been so diffcult time and again. When they work they are the best, but they have to work! I loved my old Thermador, but the intermient on-off simmer was really annoying. It was very easy to clean. Struggling to determine if I go back to it or pick Wolf. Thermador has changed offerings on 36 to 3-18K BTUs (front burner) and 3-15K BTUs (back burners).
ems0216
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
I have had a bluestar 30 inch all gas for 4 years and dont like it, have had issues since purchasing, the stovetop doesnt light if the oven is on. Frequently the gas ignitors dont work - the company I purchased from ABT in Chicago has been fantastic but the damn stove isnt reliable and of course when its heating up there is always a loud bang in the oven. But boy was I sold on their look, customized the color, the cool color knobs to go with my kitchen reno... I am not looking at replacing it with Wolf or Thermador & the reviews there are all over the place too. who knows what to get?

2020 Premium Rangetop Dilemma: Wolf vs Thermador vs Viking - Dacor?

wekick

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Shannon_WI

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