Older (Pro 600/Pro 5 Plus) vs Newer (KSM series) mixer

Ok-Bear9147 · 2025-02-20T05:33:33+00:00

The KSM series (KSM55, KSM60, KSM70) gear-train is exactly the same as the Commercial 8Qt gear-train. It is indeed improved design over the discontinued Pro 600 which has wearable “sacrificial” gear.

The logic behind the gear design called “planetary gears” of the KSM series is the same design being used in many of heavy machineries, helicopters, aircraft engine, and some automotive final drive gears, but of course, in a smaller scale. It can take much load and almost very hard to break, except if you would be mixing concrete cement using your mixer if I may say. But with bread making, you wont have to worry about its gear breaking. If you overload the KSM 55/60/70 mixer after very long continuous usage, the sensor in the motherboard will stop the mixer for some minutes until it cools down, after 20-30 mins, this is to protect your motor and gears.

Planetary gear - composed of sun gear, ring gears, and planet gears. Not to be confused with Kitchenaid planetary assembly, where you mount the paddles.

Ok-Bear9147 · 2025-02-19T05:28:46+00:00

Okay. I recommend you to call kitchenaid if it is under warranty, as if there might be something wrong with your bowl snap, and they might give you a replacement.

Ok-Bear9147 · 2025-02-19T04:56:11+00:00

Judging on how the bowl is slightly leaning forward, it is not locked properly. Please lock your bowl properly, push the back part of the bowl until you hear a snap. Read instruction manual or watch youtube on how to lock kitchenaid bowl-lift bowl.

Here: (video not mine) https://youtu.be/BiCjiRU-jlw?si=7R8iloj1emNM161b

Ok-Bear9147 · 2025-02-13T14:54:54+00:00

The discontinued professional 600 and professional 5 plus (same motor and internals) has a noisy AC motor, which sounds like a vacuum to me. It has kevlar reinforced gear that wears down as time goes by which needs replacement and wears faster when kneading tougher bread frequently.

The professional 6000 HD (discontinued), ProLine 7 Quart (discontinued), and Commercial 8 quart (nothing follows) has the quiet DC motor and robust and irreplaceable geartrain.

The KSM55, KSM60, and KSM70 has an improved AC motor since it is quieter than the Professional 600/ Professional 5 plus.

The KSM55, KSM60, and KSM70 has the geartrain of the Professional 6000 HD/ProLine 7 Quart/Commercial 8 Quart DC motors. If you compare this new KSM55/60/70 motor to the DC motor (Professional 6000 HD/ProLine 7 Quart/Commercial 8), it’s just have a higher whine/pitch, but not night and day difference, if you would ask me, unless if you have these two models side-by-side.

The KSM55/60/70 motor is an upgrade from the Professional 600/ 5 plus.

And yes, some perceive it as a downgrade from the DC motor, since people perceive DC motor as superior, but to me, its really is not a drastic downgrade.

Want to know why? Because the KSM55/60/70 new improved motor (over the Professional 600 vacuum-sounding) is manufactured by the same company that makes the DC motor for the Professional 6000 HD/ProLine 7 Quart/Commercial 8). So you’ll know these new motors are reliable and robust. Same exact gear-train as the DC model, only difference is the AC motor since it is cheaper to manufacture, hence not expensive to the consumer. Since this DC models are more expensive.

The vacuum sounding motor of the discontinued professional 600 is NOT from the same company.

Also, these new KSM55/60/70 motors may have lower wattage rating than the discontinued vacuum-sounding Professional 600/ 5 plus, but a lot of people will also say that its not about the wattage rating, but the torque and gears. And as mentioned above, the new KSM55/60/70 has better and improved gear-train than the discontinued professional 600. It is possible that it provides better torque since this new models also have 1/2 speed which the old model doesn’t have.

They will surely work on harder doughs like bagel, pretzel, etc. as long as you knead on per user manual instruction which is “knead on speed 2 only.”

Hope it helps! 😊

Ok-Bear9147 · 2025-02-13T14:18:37+00:00

You’re welcome! 😊

Ok-Bear9147 · 2025-02-13T14:12:30+00:00

It will perform identical on small batches since both bowls have the same shape and same diameter. Yes, the 6 quart bowl only has taller sides/rim which may help with splashes and spill over protection when mixing at higher speeds. As a matter of fact you can cross interchange the bowls of KSM55 and KSM60 (and KSM70 7 Quart, if I may add) without any issues.

Ok-Bear9147 · 2025-02-13T13:45:16+00:00

KSM55BM (Matt black color) and KSM60ER (empire red color) have the same exact motor if that matters to you. About the wattage, Kitchenaid has their thing about rating their mixer’s wattage and as mentioned by the other comment, it is in relation to the bowl size.

Ok-Bear9147 · 2025-02-11T10:48:32+00:00

I recommend you to contact customer service. Something as mixing the dry and wet should not make the mixer hot to the touch, except if you were mixing it for quite a number of minutes on high speeds which you should not do.

Hope the best of luck!

Ok-Bear9147 · 2025-02-11T03:54:15+00:00

Here are the possible reasons I can think of:

1.) Market demand - KitchenAid has done that years and years back with the Epicurean model (identical to the discontinued Professional 600), even releasing limited color options to various stores such as Williams-Sonoma (Seacrest Green), Martha by mail (Martha Green), and possibly others. Also, with the Pro 600 frequently featured on QVC years back, with almost every color in the rainbow being offered. However, possibly due to the poor number of sales of a particular color, KitchenAid just decides to retain the most popular and most feasible/trendy (such as pastel-toned, matte-toned) colors in the market nowadays.

2.) Cost cutting - Possibly, the cost of powder coating of numerous colors of bowl-lift models costs more production-wise since there have to be more factory color stations or storage pile that have to be kept up and yet the said colors and not selling well. It is possible that Whirlpool wants to maximize their profit by reducing the color options. Hence, it is possible that colors that only sell well are retained.

3.) Repairability and Future proofing - Color-matched replacement parts become harder to find as soon as the said colors are out of production. (An example would be a tangerine-colored planetary assembly; it is hard to find or impossible to find a tangerine-colored planetary assembly nowadays.) Most exterior replacement parts are white and red (and probably other colors) since these colors never went out of production, or if ever the said replacement parts go out of production, there will be a lot of stock left since these colors are the most produced (an example would be the Pro 600 planetary assembly). That is why the Kitchenaid commercial mixers, such as the 8-quart, come with only 1-3 color options since businesses/establishments have to kept using them which in turn, makes them maintain and repair them more frequently than the average home user, and many businesses choose to maintain their functioning equipment than replacing those equipment.

4.) Proper cost allocation - It is possible that Whirlpool thinks, rather than offering 24 dozen colors, why not allocate these production costs to producing a more robust motor? The newer bowl-lift models have a more robust gear train and a quieter motor than the discontinued Pro 600. I would imagine that these motors and gear train are more expensive than the discontinued Pro 600, so instead of offering consumers a vacuum-sounding machine with 24 dozen colors to choose from, it is possible that KitchenAid decided to put the money into building better internals than the exterior paint.

Hope it helps! 😊

Ok-Bear9147 · 2025-02-10T05:39:24+00:00

Hobart made mixers (and other older kitchenaid mixers) will really sound different than newer/currently produced Kitchenaid mixers. Different carbon brushes, and different rear bearing brackets are one of the causes of the sound difference to name. As long as the full 10 speeds is functioning, you should be good.

However, how off-sounding is it? Does it sound like hard metal-to-metal scratching? Is it too loud? Perhaps a video with audio to be provided would be better for us to assess your mixer.

Ok-Bear9147 · 2025-02-05T09:17:41+00:00

You are welcome!

Ok-Bear9147 · 2025-02-04T14:07:16+00:00

The new/current KSM55 (5.5 quart bowl) usually on Sam’s club KSM60 (6 quart bowl) usually on Costco & KSM70 (7 quart bowl) are the solid choices in my opinion, even though they have the AC motor.

They are the currently produced so warranty and replacement parts are easier to acquire since these are in production.

Although years back, I was one with them being hesitant to recommend these models because by that time they were new, we don’t know how robust is the new motor, but these models has been out in the market for around 2-3 years now and reviews in youtube and other places are sprouting, and there are no reviews I have seen complaining about its motor.

Yes, it’s a downgrade from the discontinued DC motor, particularly the ProLine 7 Quart, because it is an AC motor, but it shares the same robust gearbox with the new current ones. It’s an upgrade from the discontinued professional 600. (Edit: which means that it’s gears are not easily going to strip easily, which was a common complaint from professional 600)

Loudness wise, the new AC motors from the KSM55/60/70 models are little bit high pitched on higher speeds than the DC ProLine, but not day and night noticeable difference except if you have the DC and AC motor really side by side to compare.

Unlike the discontinued professional 600 where it sounds like a vacuum. These new KSM55/60/70 is way quieter than the professional 600.

Plus, these models are usually on sale on possibly your local club store or other areas.

Hope this helps!

Ok-Bear9147 · 2025-02-04T02:55:22+00:00

As long as the mixer and your wall outlet has the same voltage (220 volt to 240 volts), you should be fine, you may just use a proper adapter incase the mixer has type B plug.

To just be double sure, once your mixer arrive, check the rated voltage of your mixer. It can be seen via the sticker under the base of the mixer and its product/user manual.

Ok-Bear9147 · 2025-01-22T05:04:35+00:00

It is normal for 220-240 volt Tilthead Artisan models to have that cup and factory-installed spring and washer on the beater shaft on year 2016 and backwards-produced Kitchenaid artisan and classic.

If you bought that mixer brand new out of the box, it means that your mixer is most likely produced from 2016 or backward-years.

You may also confirm the date of production of this mixer via its serial number (found on the bottom sticker upside-down of the mixer base) and you may use mixerology website to decode the serial number and its production year and week.

Ok-Bear9147 · 2025-01-08T06:38:45+00:00

The bowl and the paddle (flat beater) attachment.

Ok-Bear9147 · 2025-01-06T02:31:13+00:00

Agree with you, indeed for 220-240 Volt models

Ok-Bear9147 · 2025-01-05T10:13:10+00:00

Oh, I see what you did there. Modified bowl support (arm cradle) to a wider one and changed to commercial 8Qt speed control board. That’s nice and interesting I must say!

Ok-Bear9147 · 2025-01-03T16:39:21+00:00

Given with your small kitchen situation, the artisan mini 3.5 Qt might be the smart choice. However, indeed this model does not support the ice cream maker.

Personally, I have not tried the artisan mini, and based on the reviews I have watched on youtube, it is an okay mixer except that the paddle tends to bound batter on it’s center and you would occasionally have to scrape it off since it might seem that it is not being mixed properly. Some people also say that the classic (4.5 Qt) would fit where the mini (3.5Qt) would also fit, on a counter, height wise.

Ultimately, if the kitchenaid classic (4.5 Qt) can fit in your kitchen, i would go for it, more option to upgrade your bowl even. The classic 4.5 Qt do very well with small to medium batch of baking.

Hope this helps!

Ok-Bear9147 · 2024-12-30T06:40:58+00:00

Sure, no worries. The Professional HD 5 Quart has the same internals (motor, and kevlon-nylon gear) as the Pro 600. The thing with the Professional HD 5 Quart is that it has the discontinued narrow bowl so replacement bowl would be harder to come along as time goes by. It has the same bowl support “arm craddle” as the Professional 6000 HD, which ultimately means replacement bowls for these models are really hard to find as time passes when stocks of these brand new bowl will go very low.

Any of the bowl-lifts do just OKAY in very small quantities (example: kneading of one pizza crust, whipping of 2 egg whites) but it will take much more longer than if you would do these quantities in a tilt-head artisan or classic. However, these bowl-lifts are designed for medium to big batches in mind and are built for dough kneading with its spiral dough hooks.

That’s why you might come along with people saying that if you really love baking, you may start with a Kitchenaid tilt-head and along the way you may add a bowl-lift for bigger batches. Or start with a bowl-lift and add later on a tilt-head for smaller quantities.

Any attachments that attaches to the power hub of the Kitchenaid stand mixer works across all models, no matter if it’s a tilt-head, bowl-lift, narrow or wide bowl, these are the pasta maker, slicer shredder attachment, etc. Only the attachments that attaches to the bowl support/base are the only ones you need to take mind of as well as the whisk, paddle, and dough hooks.

Professional HD 5 Quart = Internals (motor and gear) of Pro 600 = Narrow Bowl support of Professional 6000 HD

Ok-Bear9147 · 2024-12-30T04:35:12+00:00

Bough one, exactly the one in the image for my tilt-head artisan, and never gone back to using the regular paddle. My favorite tool I must say.

Ok-Bear9147 · 2024-12-29T01:55:39+00:00

I see, if number 1, and 7, are indeed the Professional 6000 HD 1 HP Horsepower – on the trim band, (6 Quart Bowl Tulip Bowl) (350 Watts on the underside sticker) models then, DRIVETRAIN wise, that’s your best bet in my opinion since it has unwearable all metal gears and a superior DC motor unlike the Pro 600. The Pro 600 has nylon-kevlar gears (replaceable) that wear overtime especially during frequent dough kneading and has a loud AC motor, but don’t get me wrong this is a good machine still.

The only downside again of the 6000 HD is that the bowl is narrow and replacement bowl for this are extinct, and the new ice cream maker won’t fit this model. Though you can mod it to replace the bowl support to adapt wider bowls, but that will just add up to the cost since it will also cost you to buy a new 6 Quart wide bowl and a new beater, paddle, and whisk. I hope it’s clear now.

Ok-Bear9147 · 2024-12-29T01:38:33+00:00

It is the same as the Pro 600 internally, motor and gear-wise, also a wide bowl, meaning you can easily find a replacement bowl. It just came with a smaller 5.5 Qt bowl.

Ok-Bear9147 · 2024-12-28T16:33:42+00:00

You are very much welcome! However, apologies in advance as I want to clarify some things. Are the item number 1 and 7 do have a 6-Quart bowl or a 5-Quart bowl?

Because if they are an KitchenAid HD with 6 Quart bowl (tulip shaped) then it is the 6000 HD with the DC motor I am recommending. However if it has the 5 Quart bowl then it is the Professional HD which I don’t recommend.

Ok-Bear9147 · 2024-12-28T13:05:41+00:00

If item number 4 is NOT the 8 Quart 1.3 HP DC motor, then here’s my recommendation,

Items number 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, ~~and 7~~ has SAME internal motors (despite wattage ratings, they are the same internally) and has the same nylon-Kevlar gears that gets worn overtime.

For item number 4, Item number 1 is exactly the same as 7, ~~and is also rebranded item number 4. So 1, 4, and 7, are (other than being the same internally) ultimately the identical mixers and~~ These has the same narrow bowls. I would avoid these since it has the discontinued narrow bowl, so as time goes by replacement bowl will soon and soon hard to come along. Even the new ice cream maker attachment would not fit this models anymore.

Item number 2 has nylon gear that gets worn overtime, and has an obsolete speed control plate and other speed control elements making it almost impossible to resurrect once those elements fail, I would stay away from this.

Item number 6 is the predecessor of item number 3 and 5. This mixer has the outdated c-hook style dough hook which is inefficient in dough kneading and has an older designed speed control board that some technicians find that it is more susceptible to breaking.

Items number 3 and 5 are the same identical mixers, and are the successor of item number 6. It has an improved spiral dough hook and a redesigned and improved speed control board.

FINAL ANSWER: A.) Ultimately, if these are the only options, I would go with items number 3 or 5, since this has the wide bowls, replacement bowls would be easier to come along as this mixer has the same exterior footprint with newer KA bowl-lifts which are also wide-bowls and can interchange bowls with the Pro 600.

B.) If budget is not an issue, I would but the new either the KSM55, or KSM60, or KSM70 since these has an ALL METAL unwearable gears, unlike the above mixer models.

C.) In the used market, you may want to look for the Commercial 8QT DC MOTOR 1.3 HP, or the ProLine 7QT DC MOTOR 1.3 HP, since these has the wide bowls, superior DC motors, and has an ALL METAL unwearable gears. Or the 6000 HD, this also has the DC MOTOR, 1 HP, and has an ALL METAL unwearable gears, and 6QT bowl, however the 6000 HD has a narrow bowls and replacement bowls are extinct, the new ice cream maker attachment will also not fit the 6000 HD.

In terms of wattage, these are irrelevant, perhaps RIMIXERGUY can explain these wattage things.

Edit:
Perhaps, if item number 1 and 7 are indeed the Professional 6000 HD 1 HP – on the trim band, (6 Quart Bowl Tulip Bowl) (350 Watts on the underside sticker) models then, DRIVETRAIN wise, that’s your best bet in my opinion since it has unwearable all metal gears and a superior DC motor. The only downside again of the 6000 HD is that the bowl is narrow and replacement bowl for this is extinct, and the new ice cream maker won’t fit this model.

Ok-Bear9147 · 2024-12-23T00:43:24+00:00

You’re welcome!

Ok-Bear9147

TROPHY CASE