Thread Number: 30367  /  Tag: Recent Vacuum Cleaners from past 20 years
my review of the Electrolux Ultra One Classic
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Post# 336802   11/2/2015 at 22:47 (3,068 days old) by n0oxy (Saint Louis Missouri, United States)        

Hey everyone. Here is my review of the Electrolux Ultra One classic. The ultra one models are Electrolux’s top of the line models.
First, many people in the United States are still confused about what company Electrolux actually is. These are not made by the same company that made the Electrolux vacuums that many of our parents and grandparents grew up with. That company is still around, but is now called Aerus. The company that makes vacuums with the Electrolux name now is the Swedish company that also makes the Eureka and Sanitaire brands.
There are three models in the Ultra One series. They are all canisters, and I will try my best to describe the differences and hope the information is accurate. The issue is, the information about each model is somewhat inaccurate, even on Electrolux’s web site. I have contacted them about this, after all, it looks pretty bad if a manufacturer does not describe its products accurately on their own web site. Apparently, there have also been issues with dealers receiving inaccurate information, and this actually caused me some problems which I will get in to below.
So, the three models are the ultra one classic, the ultra one signature, and the ultra one deluxe. They are fairly similar as far as the canister itself. The classic is a straight suction model, it does not include a power head, and does not have an electric hose, so does not allow you to add a power head later. This is where the dealer I bought mine from was confused. Apparently with the information they were supplied, they thought the same hose was included with all three models, so they thought the classic model could be upgraded to have a power head later. And, if you look on the Electrolux web site, for the specifications for each model, it says the hose type is standard. That’s fine for the classic, but for the signature and deluxe, that should say electric. So, the classic is straight suction, and includes a combo nozzle for carpets and hard floors, an apoulstry brush, a turbo brush which you could probably use for carpets or couches and chairs, and a tool that will function as a dusting brush and crevvis tool. The signature adds an electric hose, a motorized power nozzle, and the ability to store attachments on the hose. Finally, the deluxe adds some extra bells and whistles such as automatic suction adjustment, and the ability to change the motor speed from the hose.
I would describe the classic canister as fairly compact. It’s similar in size to the Riccar Prima, definitely smaller than the Sebo D series. I haven’t compared them side by side, but the size also seems similar to the Miele C1 series. Starting in the front, you have the latch that opens the door where the bag is stored. The bags do seem kind of small compared to some other canisters such as the Prima. Once the door is open, you can pull open the bag holder which will allow you to insert or remove the bag. It has a cardboard handle that will fit in the slot. When you push it all the way in, a hole is created that allows the dirt to enter. There is also a Hepa filter in this compartment, and you can replace it with either a washable or nonwashable filter, I prefer the nonwashable version, since washing a filter never completely removes everything from it. I think it’s better to replace it and start fresh. My vacuum came with a bag already installed, and a spare bag was provided in the box. the ultra one models use the s bags.
On the top of the canister, there is another small door, and opening it reveals the combination dusting brush and crevvis tool. There is a compartment where this is stored.
Also on the top of the unit, there is a knob that controls the motor speed. This is another thing that the Electrolux web site is wrong about. It says you can adjust the suction with the push of a button. That’s definitely not the case here. Even though the speed control is a knob, I think there is more to it than just a riostat. On vacuums such as the Riccar Prima, Miele C1 and Sebo d1, when you turn the knob, the motor speed changes instantly. On the Ultra One, if you turn the knob fast, it takes the motor a few seconds to change speed, whether going up or down. Also on the top of the unit, on one side you have the power button, and on the other side you have the cord rewind button. You need to press and hold the button to rewind the cord. According to the Electrolux web site, the cord length is 21 feet, and I would say that this is the case.
On the back of the unit, you have the exhaust vent. This vacuum does not blow the air out of the top or sides, it comes out the back, I’m not sure if this could blow dust around on your floor, I suppose it’s possible, though if you are pulling it behind you, you would have probably already cleaned that area. There is also a compartment that holds the exhaust filter. Apparently the Ultra One models are a totally sealed Hepa system..
Regarding mobility, on the back of the canister are two fairly large wheels, and on the front is a spinning caster. The vacuum has no problems rolling accross hard floors and following you when you change direction. I don’t have any carpet,so not sure how well it moves on carpeted surfaces. The cord is stored in the back, and it's easy to pull out to the desired length. Also, rewinding the cord works fine.
Ok, let's move on to the hose. According to the specifications, the hose is six feet, which sounds about right. Many canister vacuums have their hose connection on the top. For the Ultra One, the hose connection is in the front, when connecting the hose, you will hear it snap in to place. The hose is very light. This is partially because there is no electric cord in it, but it's one of the lightest hoses I have seen on a canister. The hose and cleaning handle are very similar to the hose for the Miele C1 olympus and probably other straight suction Miele models in the C1 line. The hose is more of a pistol grip rather than a gas pump style grip. I actually prefer the pistol grip, but one is not better than the other, it's just personal preference. The hose is not as flexible as the hose on some other vacuums such as the Aerus classic and Perfect Power Team. I know some people don't like hoses that are a bit stiffer, but I'm ok with it. Putting the handle on the hose is a bit interesting. There is a rubber seal on the end of the hose, be sure that does not come off. There is also a ring that will slide up and down the hose. To attach the handle, you slide it on to the end of the hose, then position the ring so the lip is on top. The ring goes under the end of the handle, and the lip on the top of the ring will snap in to a hole on the handle.
Ok, now we come to one of my biggest pet peeves about this vacuum. The hose end is nonstandard. Many electrolux models, including this one, use a square end. If you want to use standard attachments, you need to use an adapter to convert this to a round end. The last time I visited our local Beam central vacuum store, I purchased one of these adapters in case I ever bought an Electrolux vacuum. Beam central vacuums are owned by Electrolux. If I was rating this vacuum with a star count, I would automatically deduct one star for the nonstandard hose. There is simply no reason to use proprietary hose ends, and if they insist on doing this, an adapter should have been included to allow you to use regular size attachments. The adapter works well, and I will probably never remove it from the hose end. There is a suction relief slider on the top of the handle, and this is my prefered way of reducing suction if I need to, rather than changing motor speed.
Ok, let's talk about the included attachments. It includes a combo floor tool with a switch which moves the bristles in or out, they should be in when cleaning carpets and out when cleaning bare floors. This tool also has wheels on the back. I tried it briefly and it seemed to work well, but I much prefer my Wessel Werk rd285 for cleaning floors. The apoulstry brush is quite large, it almost looks like a hard floor brush, but according to the user's guide, it's supposed to be used for couches, chairs, etc. You also get a fairly large turbo brush that spins quite fast, and stored inside the canister is the combination dusting brush and crevvis tool. You can also purchase other attachments, although you will probably pay more to get a square end version of an attachment than you will if you get the standard hose end adapter.
Ok, let's move on to performance. Does the vacuum perform well? In a word, yes. First, it is one of the quietest, if not the quietest canister I have. I thought nothing could be quieter than the Riccar Prima. The Ultra One is just as quiet, if not a bit quieter, but definitely not louder. The air going through the nozzle is actually louder than the motor itself. Based on how fast the motor sound is, I'm guessing it's a one stage motor, I'm not totally sure on that though. You can easily have a normal conversation while this vacuum is on and at top speed.
What about suction power. Yes, it has it. I did my usual test with the rug rat turbo nozzle, the faster a vacuum can spin a turbine brush, the more powerful it is. This vacuum spins the turbo brush as fast as the Perfect Canister vacuum does, definitely faster than the Prima, Miele C1 Olympus, Sebo D1 or Aerus classic. On the other hand, I doubt the suction difference will change the cleaning performance much compared to other canisters. While the turbine test is interesting to do, I think it's similar to what they do when reviewing new computer processors or video cards. For those who have read reviews of these products, you know they always do bench mark tests, and will say that a certain processor is slightly faster with a certain bench mark. Does this make any difference to every day users? Probably not.
While this vacuum is very good, there are a few disadvantages, and I guess it's time to cover those. First, as I said previously, the bag size is on the small side. Depending on how much you vacuum, you may need to change the bag more often. The hose end is very nonstandard, and unless you get an adapter, your attachment variety will be very limited. Finally, the price is much higher than other similar straight suction canisters. The ultra one classic sells for $599, I got mine at a discount and paid $540 but that's still quite high compared to other similar models from other brands. For example, you can get a Miele C1 Olympus for $329, and a Sebo K2 for $399. Even the version of the Riccar Prima that can use an electric power nozzle costs less. I'm not sure what reason Electrolux would give if asked why the cost is much higher. It is a sealed Hepa system, but I believe the Sebo K2 is as well. I think the Riccar Prima is also sealed, but someone will need to confirm that. I had originally thought that this model included an electric hose, and when I found that it didn't, I almost returned it. However, after using it in my apartment, using the very light hose and seeing how quiet it was, I decided to keep it. Interestingly, when you move up to the next model, the Ultra One signature, it sells for $799, that price is very similar to power nozzle canisters from other brands.
So, in conclusion, would I recommend the Ultra One classic? First, it's a straight suction model, so if you have carpets you need to clean, you definitely want a model with an electric power nozzle. Don't bother with the turbine nozzles, they do not clean nearly as well and will clog much more easily since everything you vacuum up goes through the turbine. It would not be my top recommendation for a few reasons. First, the hose end is nonstandard, and I'm not sure how easy the adapter is to get, though hopefully most Electrolux dealers would carry it. Second, the price is much higher than other models from other brands. I would say the Ultra One is the vacuum of choice for those who insist on having two particular things. If you want the quietest canister with the most suction. The Riccar Prima will be a bit cheaper, and while it has slightly less suction, is a great vacuum and will also meet your cleaning needs, and it's just as quiet. Another vacuum that includes just as much suction but is a bit louder is the Perfect Canister. It's a bit more expensive but does have an electric hose and includes a power nozzle. My girl friend actually tried the Ultra One and she really likes it, so I may get her one for Christmas. She really liked the light hose and the quiet operation.



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