Got the new blender because the specs are similar to the vitamix machine. Had an old coworker that introduced the high speed and tough blades that breaks the walls and membranes of food ingredients for a real smooth drink. The base is very sturdy. The dials have a metal feel. Powerful commercial product, like the ones they use at Starbucks. Cuts through ice cubes with ease. Blended to a smoothy in a couple of minutes. Very satisfied for the drink is very creamy. Points to watch out for: very tall, it does not fit under my cabinets, but I plan to keep the base on the counter and move out to use with the pitcher during the blends; it is LOUD, not ideal to use at night or early morning when ppl are sleeping, but the resulting smoothy is what i was looking for. Highly recommend it. Cleaning is simple too, but have to still rinse. Did not try with animal fat so not sure how that goes if I want to make a soup... will update if that happens...
This is a beast of blender. By far the heaviest I have ever used, including pro home models. It's also larger than you might think, so check the dimensions. This is made for a lot of use, and includes easy 6 stages speed for -- useful for staff to make smoothies. The jug is large, so this is for relatively large drinks. The jug is tough. I dropped it from 5 feet onto concrete by accident, and it just bounced. The base is secured by 4 corner rubber bumpers. Unlike some home brands which pretend to be commercial/pro, this is almost too powerful for home use.
I use this mostly for smoothies (did a great job with the raw vegetables and ice) when needing to make a larger amount for more than one person, and for salsa. I was amazed at the power (it's scary to go over the halfway point on the speed control dial). I really like the way they designed the controls, they have switch for pulse and continuous run I also like the rubbery seat (removable) which provides a very secure base for the large 70oz jar, no having to wiggle or find the right position like many other blenders.
This is a professional-grade blender, with metal workings and a strong motor. It is a little loud but most blenders are, especially with power behind them. I use it to blend fruit and veggies into smoothies, and find it handles frozen berries and ice cubes with ease. I am very pleased with the quality and smooth operation of this professional blender. Well worth the extra cost.