Thread Number: 57524  /  Tag: Modern Automatic Washers
REVIEW: A month with new Candy GrandO Vita ( SImply|Fi )
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Post# 799048   12/14/2014 at 13:06 (3,392 days old) by nrones ()        

Hello guys!

I suppose many of you know I recently (a month ago, to be precise) got myself a new Candy GrandO Simply|Fi (basicly GrandO Vita range with Wi-Fi control).

I decided to write a detailed review after a month of using it, because it really isn't very close to what I expected to get.

As you know, It's no secret I am a big Candy fan, and I genuinely expected a good machine. Previous series from Candy were VERY extravagant in terms of washing methods - spinning with water to mix detergent, a lot of distributions during the main wash and rinsing, they were pretty fun to watch as well.
When I first saw GrandO Vita having a MixPower system PLUS I thought we were going to have more noise, suds, spins, distributions and all those methods to clean clothes better, which I really looked forward to.

However, reality is quite opposite - it is a quiet, hard working, sturdier machine, which uses more of, let's say traditional and calm methods to achieve perfect results.

- THE JET: As every Jet ever made in history of washing machines, we all expected this one from MixPower System Plus is the ordinary recirculation one. Nope, GrandO Vita has a tank under the detergent drawer for mixing the detergent, after mixing in there , it get's one more mix in the pipeline before jet. Detergent enters in the drum already mixed and activated, and is being sprayed on clothes. Clothes are then left for 4 minutes to tumble in that highly concentrated solution after which, eventually about 80% of the load gets wet, but not completely saturated, of course. This phase plays the role of "applying detergent directly on clothes" which loosens up stains and dirt, helping to the further wash process.

It does no distributions, spins or anything similar during the wash or rinse phase. All it has is much more vigorous tumbles than previous series. During rinses, while it fills and sprays clothes with clear water it tumbles slowly - which is a method we could see on Cottons rinses on some other brands like Bosch and Miele.

- BUILD QUALITY: Now that's changed, and I didn't expect it either!
First, machine is a lot quieter, it has a higher quality motor (I don't know the exact name on English, but if literally translated the harmonics of the electric current are improved).
The metal of the body is undoubtedly thicker than from the previous one, at least when watching and pushing it when they were literally one next to each other.

- VIBRATIONS: As I've used many slim machines, it's normal that they all vibrate a bit more than the standard ones, as they have less space and covered floor surface. Vita with it's oversized drum (biggest drum in 40 cm depth) is surprisingly vibrating less than any other slim machine I used in the past, even those that had 37 l drum in a bit more deep cabinet! I don't know how to explain it, but something has been seriously improved on that field!

- WASH AND RINSE PERFORMANCE: Great. Though I always prefer selecting 1-2 extra rinses it still doesn't add too much on general wash time.

- NEW BALANCING SYSTEM: Depending on how it's unbalanced, machine will choose one of the next 4 following re-balancing systems:
#1 Drum will not stop, just slow down to tumbling speed and then go back again to the distribution speed.
#2 Drum will stop, and gradually start distributing
#3 Machine will stop, do the 2 minute tumbling and then #1 or #2
#4 Machine will do 2 slow spin bursts and after that #1 or #2 depending on how unbalanced.

SUMMARY: Yes, it is left fun to watch, but pretty much everything an ordinary customer would want - quiet, reliable (well it looks so far), and excellent at washing.

Dex

If you have some thing that annoyed you with previous generations of Candy that I didn't mention please tell so I can look out to see waether it's been improved as well. ;)

In the link is my YouTube channel, where you can also see some videos of it, including starting it with a mobile phone ;)


CLICK HERE TO GO TO nrones's LINK


  Photos...       <              >      Photo 1 of 6         View Full Size



Post# 799060 , Reply# 1   12/14/2014 at 16:07 (3,391 days old) by BoschExxcel ()        

Nice machine and thanks for sharing. :)

Post# 799704 , Reply# 2   12/18/2014 at 17:43 (3,387 days old) by Haxisfan (Europe - UK / Italy)        
Nice in-depth review

haxisfan's profile picture
Congratulations for your new machine Dejan and I'm glad to see that you're happy with it after your first month of use. Have you had the chance to use all the programs yet?

I love the part when you describe the workings of the balancing system... it seems quite complex too. In my older Hoover the balance system is very simple... it just alternates tumbles from 1 direction to the other to reshuffle the content of the drum... although it might be coincidental, sometimes it looks as if it's getting angry when it can't balance a load and it starts with a faster and more aggressive tumble :-P

The newer Hoover is very similar to this Candy of yours... using the stages #2 and #4 you mentioned in your review... but only on final spin, whereas yours seems to do that even during an interim one.

Thanks for sharing your views :-)


Post# 799875 , Reply# 3   12/20/2014 at 08:05 (3,386 days old) by l86810 (Southend, UK)        

l86810's profile picture
Great review! Thanks Dex

Strange how the Candy Group go through phases of adding and removing, spin washing and rinsing.

I remember it was on the Quattro range, then removed for the Six range.
The re added on Vision and then removed again. Now added on 8-pulse and removed again.


Post# 803703 , Reply# 4   1/12/2015 at 19:22 (3,362 days old) by Newbravo (Italy)        

Candy @ Eurocucina 2014

- New range simply|Fi
- New Granḍ Vita/simply|Fi
- New dishwasher with 16 covers
- New range Elite for built-in



CLICK HERE TO GO TO Newbravo's LINK


Post# 804334 , Reply# 5   1/15/2015 at 16:29 (3,359 days old) by Rolls_rapide (.)        

How effective is the Woollens wash?

Previous Candy / Hoovers had barely any drum movement, similar to my current Panasonic.


Post# 804545 , Reply# 6   1/17/2015 at 06:27 (3,358 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        

Which Panasonic do you have? A VG4/VG3/VG5? If so, I loved the wool wash as it was what it was supposed to: Super gentle. If you like more agitation, the delicate cycle combines wool wash phases (1/3 turn, 1/3 turn, 2/3 turn) with slow and short tumbling phases and an extended main wash.

Post# 804593 , Reply# 7   1/17/2015 at 13:58 (3,358 days old) by Rolls_rapide (.)        
None of these...

... it is a VX1.

1980s Hoover automatics' Woollens cycles were more efficient at cleaning.


Post# 804595 , Reply# 8   1/17/2015 at 14:17 (3,358 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        
Wow, a first generation...

Jeah, the "older" wool cycles generally were more effective, but not as gentle. In earlier days, wool was a more common fiber used and was worn more often. Today, most wool items are verry fragile and delicate and tend to loose shape in to intensive cycles.
So, what does your washer do on wool? Our Panasonic had a 100-120 second pause between agitation phases, and it always did 1/3 a turn in one direction, pause, 1/3 turn in the other direction, pause, and a 2/3 turn to mix up the laundry in the first direction again. If that was not enough agitation, I set the washer to delicates which extended the main wash and added occasional tumbling phases at low speed.
The manuals on Candy washers always praised the wool cycle, so it would be verry interesting to know.



Post# 804598 , Reply# 9   1/17/2015 at 14:47 (3,358 days old) by Rolls_rapide (.)        

Mine does that silly 1/3 revolution. In most cases, the garments are not properly saturated. It is infuriating.

There was nothing wrong with Hoover's complete revolutions of the drum. They just reduced the speed of the drum.

I think it is Hotpoint who have the wool wash which spins at distribution speed, keeping the items plastered to the perimeter of the drum.


Post# 804767 , Reply# 10   1/18/2015 at 16:25 (3,356 days old) by nrones ()        
@Rolls_rapide

The wool cycle in my new Candy is same as in my old Candy, doing the "pulse" wash system "2/3 to the right, 1/3 to the left". I really like it as it does the movement of a complete revolution, but with less damage to the fabric, keeping the effectiveness. You can see exactly how it works in the following link:



Wool wash from the video above is available only on models with Inverter motor. Candy machines with standard motor have the one like this:




Post# 804908 , Reply# 11   1/19/2015 at 15:49 (3,355 days old) by Rolls_rapide (.)        

Thanks for the videos.

Of the two, I prefer the one with the multiple jets. With the jets, at least they will assist in saturating the laundry.


Post# 805116 , Reply# 12   1/21/2015 at 04:22 (3,354 days old) by electron1100 (England)        
Wool

electron1100's profile picture
Like any other product there is good and bad quality, my partner left the Royal Navy 15 years ago and I am still washing his Navy issue woollen socks and jumpers, they have not lost there shape colour or anything, on board they were washed in Miele professional washers and dryers.
We both have woollen jumpers that wash perfectly on a wool wash but the machine I use has very high water levels (half way up the door)so they woollens are supported in water, for woollens and delicates the machine has short tumbles.

Like anything if you buy cheap qaulity wool garments you cannot expect to them to last in any machine.

Gary



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