Vitamix blenders are a perfect example of kitchen appliances built for the prosumer: seriously enthusiastic folks who aren’t shy about putting a culinary tool through its paces. Vitamix’s top-tier build quality is capable of meeting the demands of professionals, while still being practical enough for the home chef. And they have confidently satisfied both roles for the better part of a hundred years.
Today we’re going to compare two of their more popular offerings in a head to head comparison: the Vitamix E320 versus the Vitamix 7500. Both are high-performance blenders engineered and built in the USA. Both also rock powerful motors and a durable construction; however there are some distinct pros and cons to consider when choosing between the two.
Table of Contents
Vitamix E320 Overview
Vitamix E320
Countertop Blender-
Budget-friendly (for a Vitamix)
-
Excellent user interface
-
Powerful 2.2 HP motor
The Vitamix E320 is part of Vitamix’s Explorian series – the entry level suite of full-sized Vitamix blenders. The pricing may be more budget-friendly, but they are still a high-performance machine that’s as versatile as their more expensive siblings.
And it starts with a motor that was designed to put out power while staying reliable. At a peak 2.2 horsepower, it’s able to blitz and blend tough ingredients effortlessly. And during our extended testing sessions, we also appreciated the blender’s radial cooling stem, which prevents the motor from overheating. A good cooling system extends your blender’s motor lifespan, but just in case that’s an issue the E320 comes with Vitamix’s signature 7-year warranty.
We also appreciated the blender’s control interface, which is simple and intuitive. Besides an ON/OFF switch, there’s a Pulse button to process food when you want chunkier pieces (like salsas), and a dial with ten variable speeds. And that’s it. No unnecessary doodads or features that you pay for, but never use.
The other notable feature of the E320 is its good-sized 64 oz container. Its got a low profile design, which means the blender can fit under most kitchen cabinets.
The angles of the container are designed to fold ingredients back onto the blades. This is marketed as ideal for making your blending jobs faster and smoother. However during testing, compared to other models which have taller/narrower pitchers, we found that the wide container shape of the E320 introduced more air into our blends. Depending on what you’re making this isn’t always a bad thing. But it did sometimes result in inconsistent blend times to get the desired texture.
Our biggest critique of the Vitamix E320 has got to be its sound dampening, or rather its lack of. That’s unfortunately the trade-off for this being one of Vitamix’s most affordable models. When this blender gets going, it’s loud – especially at higher speeds. So if you have infants, or live in a cosy apartment, it will be a factor worth considering.
As far as accessories, the Vitamix E320 comes with a tamper to push down ingredients towards the spinning blades, and a blade scraper to safely remove thicker ingredients (like nut butter) from under the blades during cleanup.
As an aside, if noise levels are a big factor in your buying decision, then you might want to check out one of these bad boys.
We’ve also done a dedicated product review of the Vitamix E320 over here, if you’re curious to learn even more.
WHAT WE LIKE
- Affordable Vitamix option
- Powerful motor with active cooling
- Kitchen countertop friendly
- Dishwasher-safe parts
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
- Loud when operating
- Wide pitcher can result in longer blend times
- Blender pitcher is hard plastic (not glass)
Vitamix 7500 Overview
Vitamix 7500
Countertop Blender-
Powerful 2.2 HP motor
-
Noise reduction technology
-
Low profile 64 oz container
The Vitamix 7500 belongs to the G-series family. Also known as the Next Generation Series, they are a newer line of Vitamix blenders that feature a sleek, modern design, improved motor cooling, and updated features and functions.
One of those updated features is a more powerful and efficient motor, rated at a peak output of 2.2 horses. This means the Vitamix 7500 is just as versatile as the Vitamix E320 at tackling a wide range of recipes. The motor’s cooling system is similarly equipped with a radial cooling fan and thermal protection system. During testing, regardless of what was thrown at it, from fibrous vegetables to nut butters, its motor housing never got more than slightly warm to the touch.
The blender’s control interface is also the same as the Vitamix E320 in its simplicity and ease of use. A Pulse switch and Variable Speed dial are what you get, and frankly all most folks will need. That said, at this price point it would have been nice if the 7500 came with pre-programmed settings for common blending tasks like smoothies, frozen desserts and hot soups. Programmed settings take the guesswork out of blending and make it easier to achieve consistent results.
The trade-off with most high performance blenders is they can be quite loud in operation. Thankfully, despite its powerful motor we found the Vitamix 7500 to be relatively quiet when in use. This is thanks to the blender’s noise-reduction design, which includes a vibration dampening system and insulated motor housing.
WHAT WE LIKE
- Exceptional build quality
- Powerful 2.2 HP motor
- Noise-reduction features
- Compact design
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
- No pre-programmed settings
- Still louder than some competitors
- Blender pitcher is hard plastic (not glass)
Comparison
Now let’s take a side-by-side look at some of the features of the two blenders. After which we’ll take a look at some other compelling alternatives that are worth considering before you crack open your wallet. By that point, you should be well on your way to choosing the blender that’s right for you.
The Motor
In terms of the technology behind their motors, both the Vitamix E320 and Vitamix 7500 are pretty much on par. The 7500 edges out a win with a bit more power during standard use, but both blenders still put out the same peak 2.2 horsepower.
Most other mainstream blenders use plastic components on the working parts to keep costs down, but that also translates to faster wear and tear. However, in true Vitamix fashion, the drive system connections, both on the bottom of the pitcher and on the blender are made completely of metal in both models. This greatly maximizes durability and leads to a much longer lifespan.
The Blades
Both blenders are equipped with the same stainless steel blade assembly: four aircraft-grade cutting blades. That said, the blades aren’t excessively sharp, and most of the blending action comes by way of pulverizing, as opposed to cutting through ingredients.
Both Vitamix blenders by default come in a ‘wet blade container’. That means their blades are optimized for blending liquids, frozen mixtures, sauces, soups, purees and batters. Vitamix recommends purchasing a separate ‘dry blade container’ if you’re looking to do an extensive amount of grain processing, or kneading dough.
That being said, in testing we found the wet blade container did an adequate job of processing dry foods. From grains to cereals, the end results were always satisfactory. Granted, processing times are much quicker when using a dry blade container, but unless you’ll be doing a fair amount of grinding your own flour, the wet blade container which comes standard with both the Vitamix E320 and Vitamix 7500 can do the trick.
Need more proof? Check out the video below!
Wet Blade Container in Action:
The Extras
As far as the bells and whistles go, both the Vitamix E320 and Vitamix 7500 are on pretty equal footing.
They both come equipped with a beefy motor base, blending pitcher, tamper and cookbook. However, if space is truly at a premium in your household, it’s worth noting that while both blenders are considered ‘low profile’, the Vitamix 7500 beats out the E320 with the slightly lower profile (about 2cm smaller).
When it comes to choosing between the Vitamix E320 and the Vitamix 7500, what is likely to be the deciding factor for most people is the trade-off between cost vs noise. While the E320 is the more affordable option of the two, the 7500 has built-in noise reduction features, such as an insulated motor compartment, which make it quieter in operation.
That said if noise levels are a crucial factor for you, here’s one useful trick of the trade that won’t cost a pretty penny: place a rubber mat or dampening pad beneath the blender before use. A lot of noise is generated through vibration, and the pad will help absorb this and minimize the noise transmission.
Popular Vitamix Alternatives
Before we declare the winner of this head-to-head, it’s worth considering there are other Vitamix options on the market that may work just as well, if not better for you. It just comes down to your lifestyle. Here are some of our top alternative Vitamix model picks, based on comparable features and price points.
It’s worth noting that pretty much all Vitamix models have a motor that is functionally the same. The difference between models therefore comes down to their pitcher size and shape, sound dampening features, program settings/modes, and the length of their warranty period.
Alternative #1: Vitamix 5200
The Vitamix 5200 is an excellent alternative to the E320 as they both come in at a similar price point. However the Vitamix 5200 opts for a ‘max speed’ setting instead of a Pulse function. While we found the E320’s Pulse feature to be more practical, the 5200 gets an honourable mention because of its narrower, taller pitcher.
The shape of a pitcher impacts how your ingredients blend. During testing the narrow base of the Vitamix 5200 created a vortex more easily when we blended small servings of food, resulting in less liquid being required. On the flip side, the wider base of the E320 will create the better vortex if you’re blitzing larger batches of food. But if you’re living that bachelor life, and single-serve smoothies are a mainstay, you’ll want to give the Vitamix 5200 a serious look.
Alternative #2: Vitamix 750
If you got that bonus cheque burning a hole in your pocket, and you’re looking for a high-performance blender with more features, then you might want to consider the Vitamix 750. In addition to having the same straightforward physical controls as the E320 and 7500, the standout feature of the Vitamix 750 is its five pre-programmed settings, which let you walk-away, and come back to consistently high quality blends.
In testing, the Vitamix 750 delivered a better blending performance compared to the competition. However the trade-off is that it doesn’t have the same noise-dampening tech as the 7500, and is louder under operation. It’s also the most expensive of the blenders tested here.
Alternative #3: Vitamix E310
On the opposite end of the spectrum we have the E310. It was the lowest price entry of the Vitamix models reviewed here. The main distinguishing feature of the Vitamix E310 is it uses a smaller 48 oz pitcher, while its competitors all opt for the larger 64 oz container.
If you’re big on making nut butters, or processing small batches of smoothies and sauces you might want to give the Vitamix E310 a serious look. And unlike its siblings, the container of the E310 is dishwasher-safe!
Vitamix E320 or Vitamix 7500? Our Verdict
At the end of the day, all Vitamix blenders are high performance machines that can do the same variety of tasks. That said, after extensive testing and comparison, the Vitamix 7500 outperforms the Vitamix E320 in a couple key categories and is therefore our top pick.
The Vitamix 7500 is quieter and more efficient, making for a more pleasant kitchen experience. Furthermore, it has the lower profile container, making it eke out the win for space saving design. While the E320 offers commendable performance at a more affordable price, the 7500’s better design justifies the additional expense, and makes it the better investment for home chefs seeking superior blending performance.
And if you’re curious to see how our winner stacks up to another classic, the Vitamix 5300, head on over here.
WINNER: Vitamix 7500
The Vitamix 7500 is a straightforward yet powerful blender with simple, intuitive controls. Its low-profile container is designed to fit under kitchen cabinets. Noise-reduction technology help it maintain quieter operation. And it benefits from an excellent cooling and thermal protection system, both of which enhance its durability and lifespan.
Frequently Asked Questions
In addition to smoothies, all Vitamix machines are capable of the following: hot soups, baby food, flours & dough, nut butters, frozen desserts, batters, dressings & sauces, non-dairy milks, dips & spreads, and juices.
Both the Vitamix E320 and Vitamix 7500 come with a 7 year full warranty. This means all parts, performance, labor, and two-way shipping are fully covered at no cost to you.
The Vitamix E320’s lid, lid plug, centering pad, tamper, tamper holder and blade scraper are dishwasher safe. However none of the Vitamix 7500 blender components are safe for the dishwasher – instead, wash their parts in warm, soapy water.
All standalone Vitamix blenders are able to self-clean with no disassembly required. Blend warm water and a drop of dish soap at your machine’s highest speed for 60 seconds.
The E320 is exclusive to Costco and Amazon. However between the two sales channels, we recommend holding out for Costco. When Costco sells the Vitamix E320, they typically package it with the Personal Cup Adapter (a $150 USD value for free!).