Dyson DC23 Turbinehead impressions

Dyson. Just the mere mention of the name conjures up a litany of emotions, though we suspect the most common feeling associated with it is "eh, too expensive for a vacuum." For years now, Dyson has managed to make an otherwise drab sector exciting, with its array of vacuums (and hand dryers, to be fair) being amongst the only ones out there that gadget nerds could actually get into. The eldritch designs, promises of never-ending suction and stratospherically high price tags have helped Dyson garner an almost cult-like following, but at long last, it seems the outfit is looking to slide into homes of the somewhat less affluent. Granted, $399 for a vac ain't exactly cheap, but considering that the DC23 Turbinehead is the outfit's cheapest canister ever, we couldn't help but give it a spin. Head on past the break for a few impressions.

Dyson DC23 Turbinehead unboxing

If you've never used a Dyson, get ready to be weirded out upon unboxing this beast. Without a doubt, the design here is unorthodox through and through, and it looks absolutely nothing like the $49 Hoover you're currently wasting your time with. By and large, the vac is sufficiently compact, though the tall handle does make it seem a touch ungainly when everything's assembled. Granted, you can always disconnect it in order to store the whole contraption underneath a bed, and anyone who has back troubles will definitely appreciate the lengthy handle's ability to give you full control without forcing you to bend over and push.

To be frank, we're not vacuum experts, but we're probably coming at this from the same angle as the general consumer. We set out to discover one thing: is this Dyson, even at "only" $399.99, worth the coin? We've grown frustrated with sub-$100 vacuums for years now. After a handful of trips around the carpet, suction slowly fades until you're forced to run over a particle of dirt eight times in order to get it off of the floor. You know the feeling, we're sure. After using the DC23 as our main vac for a few weeks now, we can safely say that the suction today is as good as the suction on day one. Will it really suck as much in five years as it does today? We'd surmise that it wouldn't, but you can rest assured that it'll perform at a high level for far longer than most generic competitors.

As far as usage is concerned, we generally loved it. The telescoping handle enabled us to run about without any back pains, and the auto-recoiling AC cable kept us from having to wind things up on our own once the job was done. The canister itself is delightfully light (the entire unit weighs 19.5 pounds), though we can't say we were in love with how it drug along behind the handle. If you don't mind tugging, you can definitely keep it close, but we were expecting a somewhat more elegant solution for having the canister trail the brush bar. We should also point out that the the aforesaid bar is shorter than we expected, which was both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, the length was essentially the same as each of our steps, enabling us to use the bar itself to easily vacuum the stairway. On the other, this kept us whisking about for longer periods in the den, as it didn't cover as much ground as our cheaper, less sucky options.

Dyson also throws in a stair tool, brush tool and crevice tool, all of which proved to be handy in their respective situations. We should also note that the DC23 had no issue sucking up pet hair on hard and carpeted surfaces, which is historically difficult for "regular" vacuums. In fact, the pet hair pickup was probably the most impressive aspect in our minds. If you've got a Fido or two hanging around your crib, and you're already thinking of putting 'em on Craigslist just to rid yourself of the hair problem, the DC23 just might be the lifesaver those canines have been longing for.

All told, there's no question that the DC23 Turbinehead is worth every penny if $400 ain't no thang. Of course, it won't magically remove stains (that'll take some carpet cleaner, kids), but it will do wonders on picking up dirt, debris, dust and all sorts of other garbage you never knew resided in your carpet. It's easy to maneuver, it picks up practically every strand of pet hair it runs over and it's remarkably easy to unload when the time comes. If you're looking to buy a vacuum that'll do the job for a few years to come, it's probably worth forking out for this. If you'd rather buy a new $79 special every dozen months, we certainly can't stop you. In the long run, the DC23 is probably a sound investment, and hey, you could always go in halvsies with the neighbor to save a little cheddar.

[Kid Red Posted Sep 29th 2009 10:22AM]

I had a $1500 Kirby, so the roller ball Dyson was a steal at $400. And it's awesome! No bags, easy to use, pretty light, you can see it working. It's easy to clean, easy to keep looking nice and it sucks so hard.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 29th 2009 10:48AM]

How much better could this be than my ever reliable Henry?

[sporkinum Posted Sep 29th 2009 11:11AM]

"There's a sucker born every minute" is a phrase often credited to P.T. Barnum (1810 – 1891), an American showman. It is generally taken to mean that there are (and always will be) a lot of gullible people in the world.

Hence $400 vacuum cleaners, and people glad to pay that much.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 29th 2009 12:03PM]

I've had a Dyson for several years, and no longer use it, as the "jet-plane-taking-off" noise level is acutely painful.

Dyson pays zero attention to preserving the hearing of his customers, so I bought an Electrolux Harmony, which is quiet enough that one can talk on the phone while it is running.

There really isn't any good excuse for making a household device as loud as the Dyson products.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 29th 2009 12:34PM]

you haven't heard loud until you turn on a hoover or eureka! dyson sounds powerful without all the vibrating plastic of the less expensive vacuums.

[kdaq Posted Sep 29th 2009 12:36PM]

I couldn't stomach the cost of a Dyson, so I went for the Eureka 4870MZ Boss instead. Old vacuum took eight passes to rid of cat hair, this does it in one. If you don't care about Dyson style and design and just want solid suction, I recommend it.

[richb93 Posted Sep 29th 2009 1:21PM]

@Sporkinum

Woah modding vacuum cleaners?! Thats crazy talk! Way over my head, I only mod PCs ;-)

[richb93 Posted Sep 29th 2009 1:23PM]

FML@FAIL COMMENT SYSTEM!

Seriously Engadget you cry at devices with broken firmware when you have possibly the most broken comment system ever!! ¬_¬

[Michael Pollard Posted Oct 27th 2009 1:19PM]

+1
Can't even edit your own comments or delete duplicates...

[Michael Pollard Posted Oct 27th 2009 1:21PM]

Or incorrectly-placed ones...

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 29th 2009 2:17PM]

Own a DC 24 Ball, it appears you just have to use a current Dyson to appreciate the little design features. (any engineers/technicians out there?)

on a tech appreciation level, I actually enjoy operating the DC 24...which IS worth $$$

(years of lurking and my first post is about a vacuum cleaner)

[PlanetTimmy Posted Sep 30th 2009 4:47PM]

We used to have an upright Dyson, but some workmen used it to clean up some plaster dust and it blocked the thing up and I was never able to get it to work properly after that. It did work quite well before then but it was incredibly loud. After that we got a Henry and I'm really pleased with it. Sure, it takes bags and the suction does decrease when the bag gets pretty full but it's very reliable and durable.

Henrys seem to be very popular in institutions - probably for their reliability, simplicity and value for money. They cost around £90.

Also, I think the smiley face on 'em is cute.

[Michael Pollard Posted Oct 27th 2009 1:20PM]

+1
Can't even edit your own comments or delete duplicates...