So after much research I decided to replace my Encore 2550 with the Defiant FlexBurn. The 3.2 cubic foot fully usuable firebox was just too hard to resist 
The stove also had to be rear vent, no room for a top vent in my fireplace insert location.
The F600 was going to be the stove but it stands too high for my lintel, so that one was out. The F500 was only a smidgen larger than the 2550 and I figured if I was going to spend money I may as well get more firebox, so the F500 was out.
I know everyone here buys Woodstock but I don't like the looks of them, so they were out.
I looked at the new Hearthstone, nice stove, 2.9 cubic foot firebox, just wasn't compelling enough to offset the 10% less firebox of the VC, or the VC's looks.
The NC-30, great price, great specs, great stove, just not the looks that I needed.
Now I am not a stove newbie and I have read the horror stories of the NeverBurn system and I have personally seen the underengineered materials in the 2550, so I am not going into this blind any means.
We'll see how this VC holds up. I burn 24/7 from Septemberish to Aprilish, so I may be a good guinea pig. I also have grown up with wood stoves and currently have over 12 cords cut, stacked and spilt, so there should be no unseasoned wood issues when it comes to BTU production, burn times and overall user experience.
I'll provide pics when it gets here on September 6 and I will provide a yearly update as to it's operation.
The stove also had to be rear vent, no room for a top vent in my fireplace insert location.The F600 was going to be the stove but it stands too high for my lintel, so that one was out. The F500 was only a smidgen larger than the 2550 and I figured if I was going to spend money I may as well get more firebox, so the F500 was out.
I know everyone here buys Woodstock but I don't like the looks of them, so they were out.
I looked at the new Hearthstone, nice stove, 2.9 cubic foot firebox, just wasn't compelling enough to offset the 10% less firebox of the VC, or the VC's looks.
The NC-30, great price, great specs, great stove, just not the looks that I needed.
Now I am not a stove newbie and I have read the horror stories of the NeverBurn system and I have personally seen the underengineered materials in the 2550, so I am not going into this blind any means.
We'll see how this VC holds up. I burn 24/7 from Septemberish to Aprilish, so I may be a good guinea pig. I also have grown up with wood stoves and currently have over 12 cords cut, stacked and spilt, so there should be no unseasoned wood issues when it comes to BTU production, burn times and overall user experience.
I'll provide pics when it gets here on September 6 and I will provide a yearly update as to it's operation.
