The Comparison, Dyson DC 11.
Written: Sep 25 '04 (Updated May 29 '05)
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Pros: Compact, easy to use, powerful.
Cons: Expensive.
The Bottom Line: This is a powerful and easy to use canister vacuum. If you value your space but want a Dyson then look no further.
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| yakkowarner's Full Review: Dyson DC04PL Canister Vacuum |
This is the smallest and most powerful canister vacuum the average consumer is going to be able to buy.
About the canister system
The Dyson family of vacuums use a bagless canister system. It has two advantages over the other manufacturers. One is these vacuums do not lose suction even after picking up lots of dirt. The other one is you do not have to buy, clean, or replace filters. This will save you some money over the life of the machine.
The DC 11 canister is a two barrel design. It is shorter in height but seems to hold around the same amount as the DC 7. I was not able to see any flaws in the two-barrel design vs. the one-barrel design. You can tell that they had to do something to the canister design so as to keep this unit compact.
How to dump
- Push a release button to remove the canister.
- Hold canister over a trashcan and pull a separate release button. The bottom opens like a trap door automatically dumping the dirt.
- Close the trapdoor bottom and slide the canister back into position.
The DC 11 is as easy to dump as the other models.
The hose
The hose is about 6 feet long and it is made of better material than the hose for the DC07. The hose is not very heavy and was not a nuisance. But the hose is shorter than the DC07. The shorter hose is not a problem because it is not a hassle to drag the body of the vacuum around like it is with the DC07 (but the shorter power cord is.)
The telescopic wand
The telescopic wand is attached on the top of the unit. There is a simple release lever that allows it to detach from the vacuum body. While attached, it serves as a handle to carry the vacuum around with. The wand can also change in length depending on your height. So a four foot person can use it as easily as a 6.5 foot person.
The brush unit
This is attached to the back of the unit, right above the tools. It will automatically adjust to the height of the carpet instead of having to set it manually. You have to turn off the brush to use it on hard floors.
The tools
This unit comes with the standard tool set. They attach to the front of the unit in a nice little compact arrangement. This machine comes with the typical “stair tool”, “brush tool”, and “crevice tool”. These tools can attach to either the end of the hose or to the end of the telescopic wand.
Small metal clips are used to attach the tools. They are easy to put on, not much pressure is needed. But I do not feel they are very secure. The crevice tool fell off during one of my tests of this device. I personally would not trust the accessories to stay on and it should have been redesigned.
Do the tools work with the DC07?
The Dyson company was pretty smart when they made this decision. They made sure that the tools did not work across platforms. Not only will this force people to buy extra tools but it makes sure that the tools work as designed and you should not get the problems you will experience with generic accessories.
Where is the filter?
Unlike the DC07, the HEPA filter comes standard on both models (this model and the animal.) This unit also uses a different filter, it is a flat pad, kind of like a rat mattress. It is located under a panel in the back of the unit. If it was a car it would be immediately under the trunk lid.
How well does it move?
This unit follows you fairly easily. There is a small wheel in the front that can rotate 360 degrees and there are two large wheels on the back of the unit. I really had no problem moving it forward or side to side while dragging it by the hose.
When compared to the DC07 wand attachment mode it was easier to move. The DC07 is difficult to move around because you cannot easily drag the vacuum body by just pulling on the hose. Usually when I do this it falls down so I usually grab the body when I need to move to a new location. The saving grace for the DC07 is the hose is longer than the DC 11
The Suction
The suction appears to be the same as my DC07. I saw nothing abnormal. For those that do not know, Dyson vacuums have great suction. It will pick up small particles of dirt (you will be amazed the first time you use it) and it will easily pick up large amounts of spilled cereal. My old Hoover had trouble with both. It is so powerful that I do not recommend it on cheap area rugs. If you do use it on area rugs then just be careful that it does not pull a thread loose or there goes your rug.
The Noise
The noise seemed to be the same as my DC 7. The noise is fairly loud. I have to be careful when and where I use it if people or doing an activity where noise would disturb them. It is loud enough to wake someone up if they were sleeping and I would never turn it on if someone was watching TV. But the noise is also not unbearable. It is slightly quieter than my previous vacuums that I have used, just not by much.
Ergonomics and weight
The feel of the telescopic wand is good. I feel it is superior to the feel of the DC 7 wand. The handle is a little more curved and is easier to grasp.
An added benefit to the wand design is that everything that connects to it twists easily. This makes it easier to move around objects and easier to manipulate the attachments while holding the wand. I also felt it was easy to carry around while it was in its compact state.
Construction
The plastic is a very strong plastic. It is a similar plastic to the plastic on helmets and some toys. I cannot see anyone breaking the plastic with anything less than a hammer or a brick. Even then it will still take some work.
Now the type of plastic used on this model is far more important than on the DC 7. This is because there are far more clips and moving parts in this design. We have all had clips and moving plastic parts break, but this type of plastic is stronger and should not be an issue (I hope.) But be warned, I can see some people having problems with some clips breaking on this design.
Cleaning
Cleaning is fairly simple. First there is a rectangular filter on the back of the machine. All you need to do is wash the sponge filter and the plastic casing in cold water and let it dry. The holding tank is the second part. You just separate the clear plastic bin from the inner tube and wash the clear outer case with water to get rid of any dust. The inner portion should be dusted off with a rag, not water. And believe me, a lot of small dust particles will accumulate.
Who is this for? (my opinion)
-Apartment dwellers, trailers, RV’s. Basically where space is at a premium.
-Those people that love canister models.
-If you use the wand attachment a lot.
-Better for hard floors than a traditional vacuum.
What I do not like about it
There are a lot more moving parts and pieces than on the DC 7. This is a concern of mine because of durability issues. Because there are so many moving parts then there is a greater chance that something could go wrong. I am also concerned with a couple of exposed plastic pieces, like the parts that hold the wand in place. If the user is careless then these parts can break. It will be a couple of years until we know if my fears are justified.
The power cord is about half the length of the DC 7. This was a poor decision for Dyson
The cost is higher.
Dimensions and weight
Acquired from their website.
Weight: 14.1 lbs
Dimensions: 13”H x 11”W x 16-1/2”L
Summary
The vacuum is designed very well from an ergonomic standpoint and it is small. It is easy to maneuver, easy to carry, and has an intuitive design. This is accomplished through a lot of movable and flexible part used in the design. Other canister vacuums I have used to not have this flexibility built in and can be a bear to use. Durability may be an issue because of the amount of moving parts though. The greater amount of moving parts a tool has then the greater chance it has of breaking down on you.
I personally recommend the Dyson DC07 over this model to the average consumer. The only exceptions I would make is for people that need a compact vacuum, someone that only vacuums hard floors, or someone that mostly uses the wand attachment on their Dyson.
As far as a vacuum is concerned you cannot go wrong buying any Dyson. I will never be able to go back to buying a cheap vacuum again.
Other reviews you might be interested in.
Dyson DC14.
Dyson vacuum, DC07
Dyson floor tool
My guide to buying a vacuum cleaner.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 520
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