The
New Appliance
Report from ApplianceAdvisor.com
DACOR
800-772-7778
Maker of high end appliances
2006
Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Dacor Dishwasher Relaunch
Rumor has it that Dacor's first attempt at a 30" dishwasher was a bit worse
than disastrous........and we don't simply mean low sales. Evidently Dacor
returned to the drawing board, and solved these technical problems. Though
we wish them more luck than they had in 2003, our
original query stands: "Why would anyone want a 30" dishwasher when
(2) 24" dishwashers is so obviously the better choice?" Feel
free to see our comments on the first launch below in 2003.
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2006Appliancephotos/2006dacor2.jpg
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2006Appliancephotos/2006dacor3.jpg
http://ww2.dacor.com/products/product_page.asp?ID=ed30
Fancy Range Controls and Full Width Doors on Ranges
The new controls pivot when pushed, they light up when on. They do all
sorts of fancy things, though not as fancy as Wolf's.
Dacor also launched full width doors, deleting the side fenders which were not aesthetically
pleasing.
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2006Appliancephotos/2006dacor4.jpg
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2006Appliancephotos/2006dacor5.jpg
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2006Appliancephotos/2006dacor6.jpg
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2006Appliancephotos/2006dacor7.jpg
http://ww2.dacor.com/products/product_page.asp?ID=er36d
New Induction Cooktop
Promised but as of November 2006, not delivered.
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2006Appliancephotos/2006dacor8.jpg
2005
Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Refrigeration, side by side
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2005Appliancephotos/2005Dacor3.jpg
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2005Appliancephotos/2005Dacor4.jpg
http://ww2.dacor.com/products/producttype_index.asp?ptype=REFR
Chimney hoods with glass touch controls
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2005Appliancephotos/2005Dacor5.jpg
New Sourced Products: Built-in Espresso Machine from Sirius, Kitchen
Entertainment from Icebox
Dacor adds the Sirius unit, and foregoes the unit they originally showed from
TecnoWind in 2004. This is the same unit sold by Kuppersbusch. Dacor also added a kitchen media center supplied by Icebox (a Salton company)
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2005Appliancephotos/2005Dacor2.jpg
http://ww2.dacor.com/products/producttype_index.asp?ptype=COFF
http://ww2.dacor.com/products/producttype_index.asp?ptype=DKEC
2004 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Bribery Based Bias: Dacor gave the press lovely parting gifts
which included a faux stainless steel wine opener, and Wine Spectator's
"Pocket guide to Wine", but alas no wine. Had we received the
wine we most certainly would have been bought and paid for.
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2004Appliancephotos/dacorbooth.jpg
New Oven
Dacor introduced a line of new single and double, 27" and 30" wall
ovens. These sexy numbers feature hidden dual ribbon heating elements for
both bake and broil, dual speed convection, a meat probe, and fancy shmancy LCD
glass touch controls with LED backlight, the color of which can be user re-programmed. When off, the controls simply disappear. Very very
cool. The ovens feature a 4.17 cu ft cavity. Dacor promises
availability by September, but as of January 2005........we see nothing on the
market. A very cool unit and best of show. They will sell a million
of them, if they ever figure out how to make that first one.
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2004Appliancephotos/dacordoubleoven1.jpg
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2004Appliancephotos/dacordoubleoven2.jpg
The "Way Out of the Box"........Countertop
Cutout
Box that is......Cooktop
Dacor just ran with the ball. The Dacor MGT gas cooktop features
electronic gas controls (seemingly sourced from Caldera), but instead of
following a million years of appliance builders before them, dis-intergrated the
controls from the cooktop so that they could be remotely located on the
counter. The unit features burners: (2) 9.9K, (2) 12.5K, and (1) 15K BTU each adjustable to 21 heat settings, electronic ignition using glo plugs (which
eliminates clicking), auto restart, and gas shutdown if restart fails. Also
features child lockout (is this the world's first child lockout on gas?), full surface cast iron grates,
and a 10 second cycling
simmer system similar to Thermador's XLo system. The remote controls are
touch controls on ceran glass. The cooktop sports (2) almost invisible air
snorkels under the center grate (standard gas tops bring in air through
the knob-shaft holes). The only obvious flaw in the package is the
second counter cutout for the controls. What do you do to replace it with when the time comes?? This is a clear example of
the kind of incredible pre-production work Dacor is capable of. Dacor claims availability
in September, but as of January 2005, we see nothing on the market.
Excuse our terrible photos.
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2004Appliancephotos/dacorcooktopremote1.jpg
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2004Appliancephotos/dacorcooktopremote2.jpg
Intelligent Design?
Charles Darwin was correct. The new 30" and 36" PGM gas cooktops
are evolutionary improvements over past cooktop configurations (see
"Evolution" below). The layout is simply picked from its competitor's
catalogs. The effort here was mostly expended on the (2) double ring
burners with very (VERY) high and very low BTUs, and the backlit knob. The 36" unit features an 18K BTU
burner which simmers at 500 BTUs, two 12.5K BTU burners, one of which
turns down to 400 and (2) 9.5K BTU burners. As best as we can figure this
cooktop has jammed more BTUs, 62,000 BTU, into a 36" cooktop than any of it
competitors. The knobs feature a blue
backlight which flash on when pressed. Why? To indicate which knob
my finger is on!!?? Why?? The pocket protector class loves the unit. Available June......and
surprise surprise, it is actually on the market.
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2004Appliancephotos/dacorcooktop36.jpg
http://www.dacor.com/products/product_page.asp?ID=pgm365
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2004Appliancephotos/dacorcooktop36b.jpg
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2004Appliancephotos/dacorcooktop36c.jpg
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2004Appliancephotos/dacorcooktop36d.jpg
The Evolution of the 36" PGM Cooktop
10 years of design evolution and technical development leading to the Dacor PGM.
-DACOR started the ball rolling in 1992 with a revolutionary 36" cooktop featuring 4 sealed burners, full surface cast iron grates with curves on front and back, and a single piece brushed chrome maintop. Ahh, those were the days, back when "Brushed Chrome" was a selling feature.
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2004Appliancephotos/dacorsgm364.jpg
-THERMADOR answered Dacor in 1996 with the SGC design with many improvements over the Dacor original, including a new 5th burner, a 304 stainless steel single piece maintop, the new right-front idiot-proof control layout, grates with curves on the sides which resulted in non-interchangeable non-idiot-proof grates, and Thermador's proprietary simmering system as an option. It was spectacularly successful.
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2004Appliancephotos/thermadoroldcooktopSGCS365.jpg
-DACOR upgraded their 4 burner with a 5th burner (was it 1997 or 1998), dumped the brushed chrome for 304 stainless steel, but steered clear of the asymmetric control location chosen by Thermador, probably because Thermador had it. Instead Dacor adopted a layout putting its customer's digits into the valley of fire, each and every time they adjusted the flame.
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2004Appliancephotos/dacorsgm365.jpg
-THERMADOR SGS chucked their 6 year old design in 2002 (gave it to sister division Bosch) and introduced a mutation with central controls, increased BTU output, increased grate area, and with the addition of star shaped burners.
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2002Appliancephotos/thermador36gascooktop.jpg
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2004Appliancephotos/thermador36gascooktop2.jpg
-BOSCH NGT took the hand-me-down cooktop from Thermador in 2002, dumped the simmer and bumped up the BTUs. Without much investment they have priced it to sell.
http://www.boschappliances.com/cooktops/80_1286.asp
-WOLF CT. In 2002 Wolf introduced backlit knobs and a complex burner system for improved simmer, and have since also increased their BTU output to keep up with everyone else. See our 2004 Wolf Cooktop Comparision Chart
http://www.subzero.com/wolf/description.asp?category=cooktops&id=4
-DACOR PGM: In 2004 Dacor jacked up the BTU output to a leading 62,000 BTU with an interesting double ring burner that also promises very low BTU simmer settings. Also added was a gimmicky press to backlight-the-knob function. It is with the PGM that Dacor finally embraced the overall layout originally introduced by old arch nemesis Thermador in 1996.
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2004Appliancephotos/dacorcooktop36.jpg
Built-in Capuccino Machine
Dacor showed a coffee machine, but no pricing or date of availability was
provided. Looks like Technowind might be the supplier. Forgive the
poor quality of the photo. Also compare to the photo of the Franke unit
which we
also believe to be from Technowind.
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2004Appliancephotos/dacorcoffeemachine.jpg
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2004Appliancephotos/frankecoffee1.jpg
2003 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Partial Birth Abortion or Dacor Drops its Drawers........(we can't
decide which title to use)
The Dacor Fridge Drawer program, introduced with such fanfare and promise in 2001,
was terminated. The drawer was based on an unusual solid-state refrigeration
system that Dacor never got to work, or never got to work at the right
price....who knows. Sub-Zero invented the drawer concept using compressors.
The concept was proved this year by U-Line's new, hot-selling
drawer. If Dacor had focused on the consumer benefit of the drawer,
instead of the technical elegance of solid-state, perhaps they wouldn't be
outside looking in. Dacor reached too high and promised too
much.
There is often a desire to introduce prototypes at KBIS to hear what the field
has to say, but there are risks. For most Dacor launches, the excessive
time between introduction and production (or cancellation) might lead one to conclude that they are inept.
For the fridge drawer it was all the more embarrassing as it was
introduced at two consecutive KBIS shows with at least two missed production
dates (12/01, 7/02). It was
a very important high level project with high visibility both internally and
externally. They were excited, we became excited, they
wanted it, and yet they still didn't pull it off.
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2001Appliancephotos/Dacorfridgedrawerphoto.jpg
First Knobless Range
Dacor claims the first knobless 30" range. The Millennia ceran
electric range uses touch controls so commonly found on electric cooktops. Why
did it take so long for this feature to reach the range? Probably because 30"
ranges are
for the poor and decrepit and the margin isn't there to give them the good
stuff.
http://www.dacor.com/products/product_page.asp?ID=mre30s
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2003Appliancephotos/dacorknoblessrange.jpg
First 30" Wide Dishwasher
Washing dishes is not cooking, yet Dacor set the goal to get into dishwashing in
a big way, with the largest dishwasher ever (they claim). The Dacor
24" and 30" dishwasher are 24" deep. The 30" model has added
a clever
"side spinner" nozzles on the left & right sides to supplement the
main washer arms. Both the 24" and 30" dishwashers feature:
stainless
steel interior, hidden electronic controls, toe-kick indicator light, 20+ place
settings (30"),
Energy Star rating, 9 wash levels, 8 gallons per wash, in line water heater, NSF
rating, condenser dry, and child
lockout. Available in stainless and an integrated unit which accepts custom
panels. Dacor claims this is one of the quietest on the market, which of course
has no meaning without the data! For swinging for the bleachers
we grant them a Best of Show. Does it clean the
dishes, does it flood the basement, are the bugs out, does Dacor know what they are doing?? We have no
idea. Also available in a 24" width. Why would anyone want a
30" washer when two 24" washers are obviously the better and more
efficient choice?
http://www.dacor.com/products/producttype_index.asp?ptype=DISW
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2003Appliancephotos/dacordishwasher.jpg
Second Downdraft Ventilation for Pro
Can Dacor succeed where Viking tripped? Dacor is now selling their
telescoping downdraft
as a ventilation solution for their Pro cooking line. What are they thinking? Downdrafts barely suffice for boiling water, and
they are not up to the job of indoor BBQ, or high intensity cooking of any kind.
A bruised Viking no longer recommends this installation and we agree.
http://www.dacor.com/products/product_page.asp?ID=erv48
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2003Appliancephotos/dacorprodowndraft.jpg
Ah Yes Another 60" Range, Just What We Need
60" Range Seems to be (2) 30" ranges
bolted together.
http://www.dacor.com/products/product_page.asp?ID=erd60s06
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2003Appliancephotos/dacor60range.jpg
2002 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Fridge Drawer Remains an Unfulfilled Promise
First introduced at the April 2001 show with a December 2001 availability date,
reintroduced at the April 2002 show with a June / July 2002 availability date. It is nearly
November and like
the readers of this report, we still wait.
Widest Wall Oven in the Industry Our Dreams
The 36" Epicure single electric wall
oven will have convection, self-clean and a 4.34 cu ft capacity. Though
Dacor claims it will be the largest in the industry it will be short lived claim
if KitchenAid's 36" oven with 5.25 cu ft enters production.
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2002Appliancephotos/Dacor36oven.jpg
Largest Residential Dishwasher on the Planet
Dacor showed off their 30" dishwasher prototype (no photo) by invitation
only. Our invitation must have been lost in the mail. Dacor is an idea machine. They
are 3 times more creative than the next 2 competitors combined. Touch
controls, full surface grates, BBQ halogen lights, solid state refrigerator drawers, and now
the 30" dishwasher and 36" built-in oven. If Dacor ever executes
with the speed and attention to detail equal to the creativity with which they conceptualize,
the appliance world would be different place indeed.
Indoor Outdoor Towel Warmers
This integrated warming drawer for indoor and outdoor installations to warm food or
towels has an element on the bottom as opposed to the top. The drawer is "Sabbath
Compliant", fits into Dacor's existing 52" grill cart, has temp settings
from 100 -200F, has a 1.38 cu ft capacity, and holds 4 dinner plates or 4 bath
towels, or 2 white bath towels and 1 plate of spaghetti and 1 plate of stuffed
haddock.
2001 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Bribery Based Bias: Dacor gave the press a cookbook signed by the
author, and juice drinks. I kept the book. I had drinks.
New Self-Clean Convection All Gas Range
The Epicure ERG 30" all gas self
cleaning range with infrared ceramic gas broiler, halogen lights and a
convection system to keep from cross pollinating the smells from 2 different
dishes (like say Mackerel and apple pie), and closed door broiling for energy
efficiency. Since broiling is radiant cooking, the Advisor asked how closed door
broiling can keep from baking the food instead. Dacor’s answer is that the
regular door opening and turning of the food by the cook is enough. We wonder
about that. Why wouldn't Dacor just put the 'detent' in the oven door so it
stays open? Also includes the standard Epicure electronic touch pad controls,
timers, and other bells and whistles and an optional "slide-in" look.
http://www.dacorappl.com/html/news/dec2000epicure-pr.html
http://www.dacorappl.com/html/epicallgasrange.htm
Outdoor BBQ with Fantastic Built-in Halogen Lighting
New outside BBQ, with halogen lighting under the canopy so you can cook in
the dark, stainless steel grates, 36" wide, and 48" wide with (2) 17K
BTU side burners, electronic ignition, brass burners, "on" indicator
lights telling which burner is on, stainless steel flame diffuser (no lava), and
smoker tray with "Dacor" stamped vent holes. When the press saw that
BBQ halogen light, we all scratched our heads and wondered if both we the press,
and all Dacor's BBQ competitors were idiots for not thinking of this idea
before. Dahhh! Light covers pop off for machine washing. "Late summer
availability" means that they missed this year entirely. Dacor claims that
informal research shows that Christmas is the 2nd largest BBQ selling
time. Perhaps, but the drop-off from summer must be bottomless-pit-like. Dacor
said that pricing will be competitive for the segment.
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2001Appliancephotos/DacorBBQphoto.jpg
http://www.dacorappl.com/OutdoorFrameset.html
Dacor Enters OTR Microwave Hood Business
Microwave part: 1100W with over 60 automatic settings including; Defrost,
Keep Warm (keep food warm for up to 30 min), and Sensor Mode (detects when foods
are cooked)
Hood part: Rated to go over 60,000 BTU (same as 30" pro). Uses inverter
technology which instead of the old way (set 50% power, get 100% power 50% of
the time) this is a new way (set 50% power, get 50% power 100% of the time). New
way is actually the way it used to be when microwaves were young, Dacor says.
Vents out top, back or re-circulate with 300 CFM.
http://www.dacorappl.com/html/news/jan2001michoods-pr.html
http://www.dacorappl.com/html/overtherangemicrowaves.html
Flush Fitting Warming Drawer
Dacor claims that their new Flush Fitting Warming Drawer is the first of its
kind in the industry. The big compromise here is that the vapor vents were
removed to make this possible. Dacor claims that the humidity build-up is OK for
most foods. It seems to the advisor that it should have been possible to have
your cake and eat it on this issue. This model allows the drawer to be concealed
in the same cabinetry as the rest of the kitchen. Available in 24" and
27" wide. Includes 4 hour timer and "Sabbath compliant" manual
timer override switch.
http://www.dacorappl.com/html/news/feb2001ovens-pr.html
http://www.dacorappl.com/html/integratedwarmingovens.html
Revolutionary New Technology Cooling Drawer……or so they say
New Technology Cooling Drawer with no compressor, no CFC, no noise, and is
not an absorption type. Dacor claims that it is solid state, "very
efficient", and with patents pending. 10" or 15" high and
27" wide. Can buy 1 OR 2 unlike Sub-Zero. Available by the end of the 2001.
"Pricing competitive" with Sub-Zero, but "probably less". No
freezer drawer will be available. Dacor’s official word about the technology
while they seek a patent is that it is, well, "Magic". Dacor was very
proud and exceedingly cocky about the drawer, but they wouldn't tell anyone how
it worked. Has a small cooking appliance company without a refrigeration line
out-thunk the refrigeration behemoths of the world? Let's wait until after
Dacor's normally delayed launch to find out.
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2001Appliancephotos/Dacorfridgedrawerphoto.jpg
New White Ceran Cooktop
Dacor is somewhat late to this party, and only getting later. Still in the
prototype stage. Avail 3rd Qtr or 2001
New 9" High Epicure Hood line
Stainless steel construction, variable
speed knob controls, halogen lighting, aluminum mesh filters. The EHD model is
available 30" and 36" and ships with a 600 CFM integral blower. The
EHDR model is available 42" and 48" and ships with a 1200 CFM Remote
blower.
http://www.dacorappl.com/html/news/jan2001hoods-pr.html
http://www.dacorappl.com/html/epicurehoods9.htm
New Inline Blowers and Accessories
600 CFM Inline blower for 8" duct now available.
1000 CFM Inline blower for 10" duct coming soon.
Inline blowers are out of the kitchen to reduce noise, and not on the roof or
outside wall to reduce the complaints of neighbors. They usually install in the
attic or basement. These are 2 blowers that the hood world has needed for a long
time. Dacor also showed a prototype of a power pack hood system for custom
hoods. The knobs and filters were kind of ugly but functional
Sabbath Safe
After an arduous 3 year march in the
desert, Dacor has reached the promised land and won STAR-K certification from
the Orthodox Jewish Council for a wide assortment of cooktops, ranges, ovens and
warming drawers. To continue this silly analogy, product admission to the
"promised land" is not retroactive.
2000 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Strange New Epicure Dual Fuel Range
Strangely this little range features a gas top and electric convection self
cleaning oven…..so far ok, AND a gas-flame broiler in the electric oven. They
say, "This 13,000 BTU broiler cooks steaks, fish, and chicken with flavors
normally reserved for the very best outdoor barbecues and restaurant
grills." Why do this? Is this a real feature or just a talking point on the
showroom floor? http://www.dacorappl.com/html/Infraredbroiler.htm
Gas Cooktops Get More Power
In continued competition with Thermador, some Dacor gas cooktops will be
upgraded to receive 14,000 BTU burners. http://www.dacorappl.com/html/prefcooksgm.htm
Warming Drawer Features For The Jewish Community
A new timer over-ride for the Sabbath.
The De-evolution Of Oven Controls
We have heard that the Millennium Series oven looses its glass touch controls to
be replaced with icky plastic membrane controls commonly found on microwave
ovens. This may be an indication that they are experiencing massive service
problems or supply problems, or perhaps some other problem. This would be a
"1 step back" decision.
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Revised: February 21, 2008
