WhatStove?

Review of Concept 760D

Expensive and disappointing performance, poorly designed

Tudor Lloyd 8 years ago

I've had two different makes of stove previously with no problems. I use kiln dried wood and the chimney has very effective draw.

Bought this stove on the basis of its specifications and ability to channel air to both sides, assisted by fans. It does NOT live up to its expectation. It burns wood very quickly and will not run slowly without the glass blackening dramatically. I had it serviced within 6 months of installation by registered importer to try and improve its performance- only a marginal improvement. Still very poor.

Pros -

Good to look at when it has just been cleaned, then only briefly before it gets dirty.

Big firebox

Fans work well

Cons -

When it arrived, the fans were completely unattached to subframe - the installer had to DIY the attachment. Not what is expected of high-end stove.

Glass gets very very dirty very quickly and with the slightest of cooling of the stove. I have to clean the glass properly each time I use it- the flames are completely obscured after a few hours of use and do not burn off the soot from the glass. Airwash appears virtually non-existent.

Doors do not seal properly - advertised as having "maintenance-free stainless steel seals". Good idea in theory but they don't work - there are gaps in the corners and they don't fit tightly on the frame even after adjustment.

The thermostatic adjustment is poorly designed and relies on a detachable handle that slots into an awkward position under the glass - difficult particularly when the stove is hot.

It is extremely inefficient. I have to recharge with wood every half hour or so; far more frequently than with my other stoves (a high-end one and a cheap but very cheerful one).

Save your money and buy a stove with tried and tested technology, NOT this one, which puts appearance before performance and whose quality nowhere near justifies the price.

Overall rating:

1.5 flames

Build Quality 1 flames (avg 1)
Quality of finish 2 flames (avg 2)
Value for money 1 flames (avg 1)
Ease of use 2 flames (avg 2)
Ease of lighting 2 flames (avg 2)
Firebox size 4 flames (avg 4)
How well does the airwash work 1 flames (avg 1)
Controllability 1 flames (avg 1)
Handle operation 2 flames (avg 2)
How likely are you to buy it again? 1 flames (avg 1)
What is your overall satisfaction? 1 flames (avg 1)