When running a good business, it’s always important to invest in the best equipment. This will help you save time, simplify kitchen tasks that were once considered complicated, and lessen any unnecessary expenses. You’ll ultimately wind up with a larger profit at day’s end.
Specifically, whenever consumers mention restaurant-quality countertop appliances, two of Vitamix’s main offerings instantly come to mind.
Both their Ascent and Venturist blender series are incredibly durable, providing tremendous value to anyone who uses them. However, they each have unique qualities about them, too, so individuals can enjoy something extra.
In today’s article, our team will be shining the spotlight on a pair of models under these product lines. So we can help potential buyers decide which among the A3500 Ascent Series and V1200 Venturist professional-grade blenders is the better option.
Vitamix V1200 Venturist Professional-Grade Blender
From preparing food for a big group to smoothies before exercising, the Vitamix V1200 Venturist Professional-Grade Blender is the machine that has your back.
It comes with two containers that measure 64-ounces and 20-ounces respectively.
Having this flexibility is great for those often exposed to a wide variety of kitchen jobs. Users can utilize this same blender when entertaining party guests, and then again the next morning as you prepare for jogging. It is compact enough, anyway, to remain on your countertop long-term without any issue.
Another nifty feature that the Vitamix V1200 Venturist Professional-Grade Blender has is self-detect technology. Its motor base can recognize the exact size of containers, and adjust maximum blending times accordingly. Of course, pre-programming these details is needed. But that’s a small price to pay for greater convenience later on.
Now, we know what you’re probably thinking. Is the V1200 Venturist easy to manage, or more trouble than it’s worth?
Our team personally took this blender for a spin and realized that it is actually user-friendly. Not even beginners should be worried. In general, the controls are manually operated. There’s a variable-speed dial for adjusting how slow or fast it goes.
Above it, you’ll find a digital timer. The screen is big enough to see from several meters away, and can automatically control how long until the motor runs. And because the Vitamix V1200 Venturist Professional-Grade Blender sets forth significant power thanks to its 2.2-HP (horsepower) motor, this should prevent over blending.
In terms of price, there are other options that cost less. But only few can come close to the versatility and performance that this blender provides. If you enjoy cooking, either for yourself or your loved ones, the Vitamix V1200 Venturist Professional-Grade Blender is a great partner to have, with its countless benefits.
Pros
- Extensive power can get through a wide range of kitchen jobs
- Won’t take up much space when being used or stored
- Includes two containers with varying sizes
- Requires minimal attention when in the kitchen; great for busy work settings
- Each pitcher is designed so that contents flow out naturally
- Great for preparing savory meals like soups or stews
Cons
- Potential buyers should find cheaper options that offer similar features
- Doesn’t have any pre-programmed settings available
- Locking the lid can be quite challenging
Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender
What sets the Ascent Series product line apart from other blenders is its innovative smart features. Through these, users have an option to automate meal preparation, helping them get more things done in a shorter amount of time.
The Vitamix A3500 Smart Blender is perhaps the most distinguished in this elite series. It comes with an incredibly sleek modern exterior, and touchscreen controls. Only the variable-speed dial was retained from its predecessors, eliminating all other manual controls.
For us, this was a brilliant move, besides being practical. Morsels of food no longer got stuck inside the crevices of switches and buttons. This helps reduce cleaning time by almost half. So all you have to worry about is making sure the pitcher remains free from residue.
Of course, all that is just a bonus, because the real selling point of an Ascent Series blender is its programmability. Like most models from Vitamix, the A3500 comes with built-in wireless connectivity to automatically adjust blending times based on container size. This pairs nicely with an electronic timer that helps achieve your desired consistency each and every time.
Having this will benefit those users who often juggle multiple tasks at once. This might include chefs, caterers, restaurant staff, or even someone preparing dinner for a large group.
The Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender also provides exclusive access to the brand’s mobile application, which includes 17 additional presets and over 500 recipes. If you love experimenting with new food creations, this is certainly a resource worthy of your time.
One thing to note, though, is this machine won’t be great when blending leafy vegetables or thicker drinks. These regularly get stuck around the sides and blades, further complicating how to scoop everything out. Surprisingly, this problem wasn’t present in earlier options. We suspect it’s because the pitcher’s shape was slightly altered.
Besides this minor hiccup, the Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender feels like an incredibly reliable piece of equipment that offers superb value. And although priced for professionals, amateur homecooks won’t have any problem using it, either.
Pros
- Pitches is large enough for preparing food for bigger groups
- Comes with sufficient power; great when crushing ice
- Blades friction technology instantly heats up cold ingredients in a few seconds
- Six different colors to choose from
- Programmable features means it’s great when multitasking
- Includes a lengthy warranty package that’s quite comprehensive
Cons
- Does not come with a lot of additional accessories
- Significantly more expensive than others in the same range
- Not great a mashing leafy vegetables; it gets stuck everywhere
Face-to-Face: V1200 Venturist vs A3500 Ascent Series Blender Comparison
Of course, it’s not enough to go through each one’s best features. We need to do a direct comparison as well. This will help interested buyers decipher which is the superior model, based on their different needs.
In this next section, our team did exactly that, and pitted the V1200 Venturist and A3500 Ascent Series blenders in an epic matchup. The criteria we used are considerations that most consumers go through when buying an appliance like this.
So if you’re still on the fence about which is better, the following information should settle things once and a for all.
Size and Build
Finding a blender that’s the perfect size is both crucial and challenging. It needs to be compact enough to save space, but also serve a reasonably-sized group of people. Otherwise, meal preparation will become too troublesome that we just abandon it altogether.
The V1200 Venturist and A3500 Ascent Series models are great for cooking food in bulk. Specifically, medium-size groups of 5 to 6 people. You can toss in all the ingredients needed when preparing soups, sauces, and frozen drinks.
Their pitcher is really big, measuring approximately 64-fluid-ounces, and doubles as a serving glass. Just make sure to have a spatula ready, in case anything gets stuck on the sides.
In terms of storage, we encountered very littles issues with either model. They fit inside most kitchen cabinets and cabinets, or can be left on the countertop. Moving them around is quite convenient, too, especially with a 4-foot-long power cord.
All in all, our team is very pleased with how these two contenders are built. Simply calling them durable would be an understatement. Plus, they should have no problems functioning in either a professional work environment or amateur home kitchen.
Programmability
This is perhaps the biggest difference between the Vitamix V1200 Venturist and A3500 Ascent Series blender. One is predominantly manually operated, while the other can be automated. Let’s briefly go through which is which, shall we?
The Vitamix V1200 Venturist feels like an entry-level model. Its controls are very basic, which includes a variable-speed dial, as well as two switches for pulsing and turning this machine on. Beginners shouldn’t have any problem operating it.
Although this is definitely user-friendly, we also feel its versatility is limited.
For instance, users won’t have the luxury of pre-setting everything before turning to other kitchen tasks. They’ll need to really monitor everything to achieve their desired consistency.
By comparison, the A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender is the complete opposite. Being equipped with smart functions means that it’s great for multi-tasking.
Having access to 22 presets (5 on the blender and 17 additional from the mobile app) means that the settings for each function is already predetermined. Based on our experience, these are very accurate. Dips have a nice thick viscosity, while soup is almost liquified – just the way it’s supposed to be.
While both blenders feature an adjustable digital timer and self-detect capabilities, we have to give the edge to the Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender in terms of programmability. Making it such a handy instrument around the kitchen.
Value for Money
We’re not really surprised at how much these blenders are. Vitamix is almost always more expensive than other options offering a similar set of features. What seasoned buyers know is that because their products work better, last longer, and provide a better experience, they end up providing more value, too.
Even though the Vitamix A3500 model costs nearly $200 more, it comes with additional abilities. That’s why in terms of value for money, it has a slight edge.
Here’s why we think so.
Having access to smart features means you can do multiple tasks at once, and in less time. This is especially helpful when running a good business because being efficient usually results in more money.
Of course, this isn’t to say that the V1200 Venturist won’t make your life easier. It does, but just not on the same level as its counterpart. The blending power and performance offered is above-average, especially for a mid-tier machine. We just feel that spending relatively a bit more will open plenty of other opportunities.
Warranty
No matter how durable a blender is, at some point, it’s going to experience issues. Noisy motors, damaged blades, and flimsy power cords are all common problems shared by actual consumers.
To manage the repair costs better, we recommend investing in a product that provides ample warranty. Typically, five years is already really good because that’s when damages (including wear-and-tear) usually begin.
We’re so glad the Vitamix V1200 Venturist Professional-Grade Blender falls under this category. It extends full guarantee on all parts replacement, labor, and even shipping the faulty component to and from the manufacturing plant.
The A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender offers a similar package, but good for ten years. This is probably to make up for the higher price, and since most of their clients are from commercial establishments.
Either way, both these durations are good signs that Vitamix really stands behind their products. They choose to maintain long-lasting relationships with their consumers by providing quality after-sales service. Our team even went as far as calling their customer care hotline, and we were very pleased with the experience.
The specialist we spoke to was knowledgeable and imparted a pleasant disposition, even when asked very basic questions. This is another good sign that Vitamix’s warranty isn’t just for show, but a promise every one of their clients can count on.
Add-Ons and Accessories
Whenever buying an appliance, it’s normal to want to get your money’s worth. Add-ons and supplementary accessories are a great way of doing so, enticing potential customers to try their products out.
Both the V1200 Venturist and A3500 Ascent Series blenders offer these, but in different ways. So it all boils down to what will appeal to you more. For the sake of proper information dissemination, though, let’s run through each one.
As discussed earlier, the Vitamix V1200 Venturist blender is really flexible. Besides an extra-large container, each set comes with a 20-ounce cup, too. This can be mounted directly onto the motor base, and serve as a blending container.
We really like this add-on because of its convenience. Users have the option to use this when preparing single-serve smoothies right before running, or cooking dinner for one. This can also be configured through the built-in wireless connectivity feature, so its maximum speed automatically adjusts for every use.
On the other hand, the A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender doesn’t include any additional accessories. It does, however, give access to the exclusive Vitamix mobile application. On it are numerous recipes and other preset functions, which serves as an amazing resource for anyone looking to expand their culinary repertoire.
When comparing these two blenders, we feel the V1200 Venturist’s add-on is slightly better. Besides being more practical, it provides users with instant gratification, too. How can we say no to that?
What Consumers Say About Each One?
Before sharing our final verdict, we have one more piece of information to discuss.
Our team has compiled a summary of what existing customers say about each one. The V1200 Venturist and A3500 Ascent Series blenders have been around for quite some time. Which means there are enough reviews available to help our readers enact a decision on which one is better.
After all, first-hand information is normally very honest feedback that won’t sugarcoat anything.
Vitamix V1200 Venturist Professional-Grade Blender
Even though this model received a 78-percent satisfaction rating from over 550 users, the comments are generally split into two.
On one side, plenty of people are pleased with its blending power, durability, and space-saving design. In particular, a customer shared that they accidentally left a metal spoon inside before turning it on. The blades were bent so they immediately called customer support. Within a matter of days, Vitamix is sending them a replacement at no extra cost.
However, we also came across some negative comments that highlight incomplete parts and a faulty motor. Although these can be concerning, they are also few and far between.
Still, the overall consensus on the V1200 Venturist is it’s reliable and more than capable of everyday tasks at home.
Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender
If you thought the earlier mark was high, you better check out how consumers find the Vitamix Ascent Series Smart Blender.
Achieving an 89-percent approval rating out of nearly 1853 respondents, and a 4.8 out of 5 stars score is extremely impressive. This reflects just how happy everyone is with their performance.
Reading through the comments only solidifies its place as one of the best blenders around. Users shared that it remains functional, ever after multiple years. The controls may be challenging to learn, but after a while, it ends up saving you time and effort in the long-run.
We tried finding any complaints. However, many were just minor, lamenting how thick foods would get stuck along the sides. Beside that, there’s nothing much else to say.
Conclusion
It’s not a very difficult decision to choose a winner in this match.
Even though it is admittedly expensive, the Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender remains a formidable choice that offers so much more value than its hefty price tag. Interested buyers must really consider it an investment, because it might take some time before actualizing its potential.
But when you do, though, it should be a walk in the park from there. That’s why between these two, the smart blender takes the win.
