Which Echo blower is better for me?

[lawn mower fanatic]

I am seriously considering buying an Echo backpack blower...but I am stuck between 2 models. I will share with you the pros and cons and see what you guys think. The 2 models I am looking at are the PB-460LN and the PB-500.

• ECHO PB-460LN Low Noise Backpack Leaf Blower - ECHO USA | ECHO USA
• ECHO PB-500H Emission-Compliant Tube-Mounted Throttle Backpack Leaf Blower - ECHO USA | ECHO USA

PB-460LN....
Pros:

• quiet

Cons:

• less power
• heavier
• over $100 more expensive. :thumbdown:

PB-500....
Pros:

• more powerful
• lighter
• cheaper

Cons:

• very loud :thumbdown:

 

[Ric]

I am seriously considering buying an Echo backpack blower...but I am stuck between 2 models. I will share with you the pros and cons and see what you guys think. The 2 models I am looking at are the PB-460LN and the PB-500.

• ECHO PB-460LN Low Noise Backpack Leaf Blower - ECHO USA | ECHO USA
• ECHO PB-500H Emission-Compliant Tube-Mounted Throttle Backpack Leaf Blower - ECHO USA | ECHO USA

PB-460LN....
Pros:

• quiet

Cons:

• less power
• heavier

PB-500....
Pros:

• more powerful
• lighter

Cons:

• very loud :thumbdown:

If it were me I'd go with the 500T which is where your 550H link takes you. There is more air volume with it. It's a 465 cfm the other is only 383 cfm and besides the 460LN is that Flex side mount hip throttle and you will not like it and it's easier to run and control the throttle and pipe as one. The H and T are both the same price. Personally I'd buy the Stihl 550 it has 536 cfm with 199mph air velocity $419

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

If it were me I'd go with the 500T which is where your 550H link takes you. There is more air volume with it. It's a 465 cfm the other is only 383 cfm and besides the 460LN is that Flex side mount hip throttle and you will not like it and it's easier to run and control the throttle and pipe as one. The H and T are both the same price. Personally I'd buy the Stihl 550 it has 536 cfm with 199mph air velocity $419

Thanks for the advice! :smile: I also forgot to mention that the 460LN is over $100 more expensive than the 500H/T :confused2: (I added that info to my original post).

 

[Ric]

Thanks for the advice! :smile: I also forgot to mention that the 460LN is over $100 more expensive than the 500H/T :confused2: (I added that info to my original post).

LMF I'm just curious if you had your choice of the 460LN is 489.99 and it's a 383 cfm and a 167 average air speed and has a 65db sound rating, or another blower with 406 cfm and a 132 average air speed and a 70db sound rating and the cost was 280.00 which would you buy??

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

LMF I'm just curious if you had your choice of the 460LN is 489.99 and it's a 383 cfm and a 167 average air speed and has a 65db sound rating, or another blower with 406 cfm and a 132 average air speed and a 70db sound rating and the cost was 280.00 which would you buy??

NOT the 460LN....I would buy the other blower.

 

[Ric]

LMF I'm just curious if you had your choice of the 460LN is 489.99 and it's a 383 cfm and a 167 average air speed and has a 65db sound rating, or another blower with 406 cfm and a 132 average air speed and a 70db sound rating and the cost was 280.00 which would you buy??

NOT the 460LN....I would buy the other blower.

So you would buy the other blower, well I think you made a good choice. The second blower has more air volume or flow (CFM) at the pipe than the 460LN which means and according to what they say will move more leaves and debris than the 460LN. The blower is a light weight professional caliber backpack blower for around home or occasional use and for $280.00 IMO is a good choice :smile: Are you setting down............ the wife uses it everyday in the business and it works great.

STIHL BR 200 Backpack Blower - Occasional Use Backpack Blower | STIHL USA Mobile

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

LMF I'm just curious if you had your choice of the 460LN is 489.99 and it's a 383 cfm and a 167 average air speed and has a 65db sound rating, or another blower with 406 cfm and a 132 average air speed and a 70db sound rating and the cost was 280.00 which would you buy??

So you would buy the other blower, well I think you made a good choice. The second blower has more air volume or flow (CFM) at the pipe than the 460LN which means and according to what they say will move more leaves and debris than the 460LN. The blower is a light weight professional caliber backpack blower for around home or occasional use and for $280.00 IMO is a good choice :smile: Are you setting down............ the wife uses it everyday in the business and it works great.

STIHL BR 200 Backpack Blower - Occasional Use Backpack Blower | STIHL USA Mobile

But the PB-500 is 465 cfm of air volume, an average air speed of 163 mph,and it also has a noise level of 70db.....even better than the Stihl...and it's just a bit more at $330. :thumbsup:

 

[Ric]

But the PB-500 is 465 cfm of air volume, an average air speed of 163 mph,and it also has a noise level of 70db.....even better than the Stihl...and it's just a bit more at $330. :thumbsup:

The thing is you can bump up price to get cfm and air volume all day long. What ever Echo has Stihl will have a counter for in a similar price range, the same with Shin or any other make, they will all be competitive. My point is don't be fooled into buying a blower using air speed, buy using CFM because that's what makes a blower. That Echo 460 LN price is so far out of line it ridiculous (383 cfm 489.99) I can buy the Stihl 600 Magnum for $499.99 and I think it's somewhere around 700 CFM.

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

The thing is you can bump up price to get cfm and air volume all day long. What ever Echo has Stihl will have a counter for in a similar price range, the same with Shin or any other make, they will all be competitive. My point is don't be fooled into buying a blower using air speed, buy using CFM because that's what makes a blower. That Echo 460 LN price is so far out of line it ridiculous (383 cfm 489.99) I can buy the Stihl 600 Magnum for $499.99 and I think it's somewhere around 700 CFM.

OK thanks. I am definitely leaning towards the PB-500T. :thumbsup:

 

[MowerMike]

Check out the new Echo PB-760LN

http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/equip...ffers-quiet-65-db-operation-535-cfm-flow.html

Something to consider is that the Echo PB-500T has a sound rating of 70 db(A), which makes it four times louder than your PB-255LN that is rated at 64 db(A). I'd suggest you test drive one before buying.