Dyson DC17 Animal Bagless Upright Cyclonic Vacuum

We have had our DC07 for about 3 years and decided we were ready to upgrade. If you have researched the Dyson family of vacuums, you know that there is a price swing of over $100 between the DC07 and DC17 series. Can I say it is worth $100 more? So far, I'd say yes.

The Dyson family of vacuums are truly unique. They are powerful, cleverly designed, and durable. The DC07 put our previous vacuums (high-end Panasonic and a Hoover Wind Tunnel) to shame in the cleaning department. They work as-advertised - full power all the time. The DC17 manages to keep all the important accessories on the vacuum itself and figured out how to conveniently store the hose. Our DC07 weathered a house full of pets, variegated surfaces, and pretty aggressive use and is still running strong after 3 years, having found a new home with a family member.

The biggest question in my mind was performance. I vacuumed the heck out of the living room carpet with the DC07 and went out for the DC17. What did I find? The DC17 didn't find any more big stuff, but it sure did find a LOT of small stuff. The kind of ultrafine, nebulous, gray dust that makes you wonder where it came from was beaten out of the carpet with savage fury. The power brush is much more aggressive and the suction is noticeably more powerful than the DC07. I wouldn't categorize it as night and day, or even the difference between the DC07 and our old vacuums, but significant nonetheless.

The DC17 uses a different HEPA filter assembly and fewer removable parts on the base than the DC07. Think of the DC14 as a hybrid of the two. The beater brush is shown through a clear cover, which was quickly obscured by dust. The DC17 also includes a switch to turn off the brush, which eliminates the need to bend over like the old models. I had a latch die on one of the base covers and like the fact that the DC17 doesn't have them.

The handle assembly is also changed. A slim aluminum handle is the attachment point, vs. the plastic handle on the old model. This keeps the heavy part of the assembly centered by your hand, which makes it feel light. Pretty cool trick. It feels a little flimsy at first, but works very well. The cord and attachments are located conveniently on the handle. Dyson's are generally fairly heavy, but are easy to maneuver because the center of gravity is very low. This doesn't help when you carry them up stairs, but everywhere else it is light on it's feet.

The Animal comes with a carpet cleaner (appears to be largely disposable, but I haven't tried it yet), air-powered brush, floor tool, and small floor tool. The floor tools work great - especially on the hard floors and in the kitchen. The air powered brush is hit and miss. It is awesome on smooth surfaces like canvas or microfiber, but so so on carpet. It is an improvement over others I have used, but no substitute for a power brush. Personally, I think Dyson should offer an electrically powered brush because it's the only true solution for stair cleaning.

The clear plastic is a nice design touch, but don't expect it to be pristine forever. It keeps the exterior sheen, but inside will become finely scratched in a few months. Everything else will look like new with an occasional wipedown. I used to flush out the whole dust receipt assembly when I washed the HEPA filter. This is a good practice to keep the machine working at peak efficiency.

I haven't figured out the cost of ownership, but do remember buying vacuum cleaner bags about every other trip to the grocery store. The Hoover Wind Tunnel didn't need bags, but it did need filter cleaning (it was reusable, but eventually became impregnated with fine dust) after about 2000 ft2 of vacuuming. Dyson's system is great - just pop the canister, then pull the trigger - dust be gone.

We live in a dusty area and even with a full HEPA ventilation system, dust can be a problem. We have noticed a reduction in household dust since we got our first Dyson. We also stopped using carpet powder products - the carpet smells great.

Did I need to trade up? Probably not. Am I glad I traded my DC07 for the DC17? Yes. Did I really need the Animal? The air powered brush is the star of the Animal kit and an 'ok' performer at best. If you want to get into a Dyson, I'd recommend targeting the cheapest DC17 model vs. a more expensive DC07 or DC14, although I admit that the DC14 at $429 vs. the DC07 at $399 is a tough choice. No matter what model you choose, especially if you are changing from a 'regular' vacuum, I think you will be pleased. A 5 year parts and labor warranty is icing on the cake.