Harman P43 vs. Quadrafire Classic Bay

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geek

geek

Minister of Fire
Feb 28, 2008
1,470
Central CT
here we go with one of questions that pop up all the times, but if you were to choose between the 2, which one based on reliability, less frequency for cleaning needed, looks and less picky with pellets.

My englander is up for sale again an i'm just shopping/looking around and IF i sell the englander think my choice could be either one of these units.

I already have a Quad Santa Fe in the basement and for the most part it has done well for me.

P43 running for about $2500 (after $200 coupon)
Classic Bay running for about $2400
 
They are both awesome units and I have installed both of them. I can actually say that I have never had a warranty issue or break down on either one of these units.

Good choices. The main difference is style. The Quad is a modern style and the Harman is more traditional.

Eric
 
thanks eric.

Plus the Quad burns corn also (multi fuel), even though i never burned corn in my santa fe.
 
geek said:
thanks eric.

Plus the Quad burns corn also (multi fuel), even though i never burned corn in my santa fe.
Click to expand...

Both units are rated for a 50/50 mix or less with corn. Harman Tec bulletin, Dec 1, 2009

Eric
 
P43 is easier to clean and maintain and is somewhat quieter to operate. I think the CB 1200 holds more pellets without the goofy extension. More radiant quality to the Harman, less change or getting burned with the quad. bigger ash pan with the Harman longer igniter life with the Quad. If it were me, I would consider something with a pot agitator.
 
smwilliamson said:
P43 is easier to clean and maintain and is somewhat quieter to operate. I think the CB 1200 holds more pellets without the goofy extension. More radiant quality to the Harman, less change or getting burned with the quad. bigger ash pan with the Harman longer igniter life with the Quad. If it were me, I would consider something with a pot agitator.
Click to expand...

X2 Brother :) I think either one would do BUT??

Something that will eat anything including 100% corn! I can think of a few Harman PC45 or a Enviro M55. Enviro will be coming out with the Cast version of the 55. Nice looking stove. There is a few others. VistaFlame VF 55. imacman(Pete) is having fun with his new Englander multifueler. Heating a big Ol log house with it! Might be able to score a leftover Omega too! They are discontinuing them for the Maxx M.

Hows about a solid week without even cleaning the glass? :)
 
smwilliamson said:
I saw the Omega online for $2100.00...was it zoobler or dynamite buys...I forget which.
Click to expand...

new? I looked but didn't find any..........

..
 
After burning 2 1/2 tons last season in my Quad 1200 FS without a single problem, I would not buy another. That may sound weird but after thoroughly dismantling the stove for the year end clean out, it just seems to be poorly constructed. The upper and lower side panels are thin stamped steel with no strength at all, not to mention any heat holding capability. The welds are sloppy at best, the paint is hit or miss and the door cannot support itself unless it is locked in place. The cleanout process is simple enough, although I don't look forward to changing the convection blower when the time comes.

Oh yeah, forget the OAK. The kit provided by Quad just does not work. It does not supply fresh air to the plenum, only to the back of the stove according to my dealer. I discovered that after the "special order" purchase. Look twice at any of the other stoves if you want quality.
 
How is the pot cleaning performed on the two stoves? I know my little Castile has the pull handle to opened the bottom of the pot and that likes to stick at times.
 
Meneillys Woodland Products said:
How is the pot cleaning performed on the two stoves? I know my little Castile has the pull handle to opened the bottom of the pot and that likes to stick at times.
Click to expand...

my santa fe does that too, the Harman is different because ashes are pushed out of the burn pot when pellets are fed into it.

I also check dynamitebuys and spoke to Sean who offered me other brands but i may want to stick buying locally for support. Looking at his site he has the Vista Flame VF100 (Enviro Meridian??) for about $2648, good looking unit but price is just a hair higher than what i'm looking to spend. He also offered me the Napoleon and the Osburn 45MF for $2389.

I think i want to stick with the harman or quad, but may keep in mind the vista flame depending on how noisy/picky this vista flame might be??
 
geek said:
Meneillys Woodland Products said:
How is the pot cleaning performed on the two stoves? I know my little Castile has the pull handle to opened the bottom of the pot and that likes to stick at times.
Click to expand...

my santa fe does that too, the Harman is different because ashes are pushed out of the burn pot when pellets are fed into it.

I also check dynamitebuys and spoke to Sean who offered me other brands but i may want to stick buying locally for support. Looking at his site he has the Vista Flame VF100 (Enviro Meridian??) for about $2648, good looking unit but price is just a hair higher than what i'm looking to spend. He also offered me the Napoleon and the Osburn 45MF for $2389.

I think i want to stick with the harman or quad, but may keep in mind the vista flame depending on how noisy/picky this vista flame might be??
Click to expand...

If you want a really quite stove that is not pellet picky in anyway my friend you know my choice is in the M55/Omega line up. Vista Flame also has the VF 55 MF. Which is a twin to the M55.

http://www.vistaflame.ca/VF-55-FS.html

I would ask about that one or visit a local Enviro dealer and check out the M55 or Omega. I will bet my bumper sticker You don't mess with it for a whole week or longer depending on what pellets you are burning! :) But they will be more than the VF100. But then again you get what you pay for!
 
warmwife&happykids; said:
After burning 2 1/2 tons last season in my Quad 1200 FS without a single problem, I would not buy another. That may sound weird but after thoroughly dismantling the stove for the year end clean out, it just seems to be poorly constructed. The upper and lower side panels are thin stamped steel with no strength at all, not to mention any heat holding capability. The welds are sloppy at best, the paint is hit or miss and the door cannot support itself unless it is locked in place. The cleanout process is simple enough, although I don't look forward to changing the convection blower when the time comes.

Oh yeah, forget the OAK. The kit provided by Quad just does not work. It does not supply fresh air to the plenum, only to the back of the stove according to my dealer. I discovered that after the "special order" purchase. Look twice at any of the other stoves if you want quality.
Click to expand...

Convection blower looks simple enough to me, 2 nuts and it drops right down and out. The side panels are not designed to hold heat, pellet stove are designed to put out heat by air movement, mine works great as designed. OAK goes to bottom of stove which is captured by the hearth pad, air then goes to the burn pot.
 
slls said:
warmwife&happykids; said:
After burning 2 1/2 tons last season in my Quad 1200 FS without a single problem, I would not buy another. That may sound weird but after thoroughly dismantling the stove for the year end clean out, it just seems to be poorly constructed. The upper and lower side panels are thin stamped steel with no strength at all, not to mention any heat holding capability. The welds are sloppy at best, the paint is hit or miss and the door cannot support itself unless it is locked in place. The cleanout process is simple enough, although I don't look forward to changing the convection blower when the time comes.

Oh yeah, forget the OAK. The kit provided by Quad just does not work. It does not supply fresh air to the plenum, only to the back of the stove according to my dealer. I discovered that after the "special order" purchase. Look twice at any of the other stoves if you want quality.
Click to expand...

Convection blower looks simple enough to me, 2 nuts and it drops right down and out. The side panels are not designed to hold heat, pellet stove are designed to put out heat by air movement, mine works great as designed. OAK goes to bottom of stove which is captured by the hearth pad, air then goes to the burn pot.
Click to expand...
 
What I was trying to say is I really like my cb1200. I don't have anything bad to say on how it's built like it was stated earlier. But mine was made in 2004 which might make a difference. I'm currently putting an OAK on my stove to see if it improves the performance. I do have a question my pad is tile is that going to effect how the OAK performs since it draws from underneath?
 
Lineman30 said:
What I was trying to say is I really like my cb1200. I don't have anything bad to say on how it's built like it was stated earlier. But mine was made in 2004 which might make a difference. I'm currently putting an OAK on my stove to see if it improves the performance. I do have a question my pad is tile is that going to effect how the OAK performs since it draws from underneath?
Click to expand...

can you please post your question on a new thread so we don't lose focus on this one, thanks much.
 
j-takeman said:
geek said:
Meneillys Woodland Products said:
How is the pot cleaning performed on the two stoves? I know my little Castile has the pull handle to opened the bottom of the pot and that likes to stick at times.
Click to expand...

my santa fe does that too, the Harman is different because ashes are pushed out of the burn pot when pellets are fed into it.

I also check dynamitebuys and spoke to Sean who offered me other brands but i may want to stick buying locally for support. Looking at his site he has the Vista Flame VF100 (Enviro Meridian??) for about $2648, good looking unit but price is just a hair higher than what i'm looking to spend. He also offered me the Napoleon and the Osburn 45MF for $2389.

I think i want to stick with the harman or quad, but may keep in mind the vista flame depending on how noisy/picky this vista flame might be??
Click to expand...

If you want a really quite stove that is not pellet picky in anyway my friend you know my choice is in the M55/Omega line up. Vista Flame also has the VF 55 MF. Which is a twin to the M55.

http://www.vistaflame.ca/VF-55-FS.html

I would ask about that one or visit a local Enviro dealer and check out the M55 or Omega. I will bet my bumper sticker You don't mess with it for a whole week or longer depending on what pellets you are burning! :) But they will be more than the VF100. But then again you get what you pay for!
Click to expand...

jay, have you seen the VF100 in action?


..
 
geek said:
j-takeman said:
geek said:
Meneillys Woodland Products said:
How is the pot cleaning performed on the two stoves? I know my little Castile has the pull handle to opened the bottom of the pot and that likes to stick at times.
Click to expand...

my santa fe does that too, the Harman is different because ashes are pushed out of the burn pot when pellets are fed into it.

I also check dynamitebuys and spoke to Sean who offered me other brands but i may want to stick buying locally for support. Looking at his site he has the Vista Flame VF100 (Enviro Meridian??) for about $2648, good looking unit but price is just a hair higher than what i'm looking to spend. He also offered me the Napoleon and the Osburn 45MF for $2389.

I think i want to stick with the harman or quad, but may keep in mind the vista flame depending on how noisy/picky this vista flame might be??
Click to expand...

If you want a really quite stove that is not pellet picky in anyway my friend you know my choice is in the M55/Omega line up. Vista Flame also has the VF 55 MF. Which is a twin to the M55.

http://www.vistaflame.ca/VF-55-FS.html

I would ask about that one or visit a local Enviro dealer and check out the M55 or Omega. I will bet my bumper sticker You don't mess with it for a whole week or longer depending on what pellets you are burning! :) But they will be more than the VF100. But then again you get what you pay for!
Click to expand...

jay, have you seen the VF100 in action?


..
Click to expand...

No, There are no VistaFlame or Recency dealers near me. But I have tinkered on a Meridian. Nice stove but slightly picky with what it eats. I know it likes fuel that is cleaner than .75% ash. Also might need a daily scare to keep a nice flame.

These 2 stoves are the clones of the Meridian
http://www.enviro.com/fireplace-products/pellet/freestanding-fireplace.html#Meridian
http://www.regency-fire.com/Products/Pellet/Pellet-Stoves---Inserts/GF55.aspx
http://www.vistaflame.ca/VF-100-CB-FPS.html

But for a bit more you can have a stove that will not require all the extra fuss. But thats IMHO!
 
I'll check prices around, yeah the VF55 is a bit more, it also has a built-in floor protection - no hearth pad required, wow plus the pot agitator you guys mentioned....
 
Don't get me started on my Multifuel pitch. All I will say is do you want a stove that will eat anything? Or one you have to nurse?
 
I guess if I had a choice, I would go with a Harman between the Quad and Harman choices. They are now owned by the same company I believe. The new Quad 1200's are made in CHINA :-( Not sure if Harman is bringing the completed units from CHINA as of yet but I would guess they soon will. That's why I'm looking at the new Enviro M55 insert. I would rather support North American companies. Enviro dealers, is the Enviro line manufactured completely in Canada? I hope they don't start shipping in units from CHINA. Parts is one thing but sending your production line home to starve is not helping our North American economies. Quad are you listening? :) No mas dinero from my pockets. :)

AR
 
j-takeman said:
..... Also might need a daily scare to keep a nice flame.......
Click to expand...

Jay, I've read about a lot of things that people do to keep their stoves running well, but SCARING it is definitely a new one.....do you wear a scary halloween mask, or flash a pic of Krooser to it? :lol:
 
geek said:
I'll check prices around, yeah the VF55 is a bit more, it also has a built-in floor protection - no hearth pad required, wow plus the pot agitator you guys mentioned....
Click to expand...
Come back...your journey to the dark side may already be complete now that you have seen those agitators.
 
smwilliamson said:
....Come back...your journey to the dark side may already be complete now that you have seen those agitators.
Click to expand...

"Luke, I am your fatha"
 
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