Miele Olympus Canister Vacuum Cleaner, S2121 Olympus S2 - Lotus White

   4.0 out of 5.0

I bought this vacuum because I was moving and my last vacuum (probably more than 20 years old) was on it's very last leg. When I first received it, I was very surprised by it's size. It's tiny, compared with my old vacuum, and much lighter. As one might expect, the weight advantage does come at a price, and the components feel very plastic-y and somewhat flimsy, though time will tell whether the plastic parts withstand general wear-and-tear over the years. The size of the unit is also very helpful in a small Manhattan apartment, as storage is less of an issue than with a larger unit. This vacuum will tuck neatly into a small corner in a closet with no trouble. The only clumsy part of the whole kit is that there is no real storage for the attachments. They do include a little holder for the four pieces that come with the unit, but it's rather flimsy and also awkward to place. As far as performance, this little unit really does stand up well, with very good suction all around. I think it's also slightly quieter than my old vacuum. The floor attachment does a very good job on the wood floors, as well as the tile in the kitchen and bath. The only other complaint that I have with the unit is the poor placement and function of the power button. It's at the rear or bottom of the unit (depending upon how you're placing it), and it's not an easy click because of the curved contour of the switch. It also doesn't give a pronounced "click" to confirm activation, so you have to listen for the start of the motor to know if you've actually hit it right or not, and there's a slight delay in the start up, so there's a disconcerting disconnect between the action and the expected result. These are small nitpicks, in my opinion, and I would certainly recommend this unit to anyone considering a small, affordable vacuum.

   5.0 out of 5.0

Excellent piece of machinery. We primarily have hardwood floors in our home, and this vacuum does an amazing job on them. I'm absolutely thrilled with my decision to go with a Miele.

   5.0 out of 5.0

Even he agrees that he'd leave me for it! We've owned $100+ vacuum cleaners before and they've all died to my long, thick hair :( We have a dog and I shed way more than she does. Mostly what defeats us is the beater bar in regular vacuum machines. My long hair gets all tangled up with the beater bar so that it stops it from rotating. Belts burn out, etc. I went out on a limb and spent $300 on this and after owning the Miele S2 Olympus, I'm wondering why I didn't get it before! This would probably have saved me a lot of money from buying those other vacuums. The design is really simple and I've wondered why things didn't stay this simple with vacuums. The huge hose sucks in things that go straight to the bag! No complicated twists and turns! Nuts, bolts, buttons, lego pieces can be sucked straight into the vacuum without destroying it since it drops neatly into the bag. (You may have to reach into the bag to retrieve these things if you want them back though.) There are SO many things I love about this machine! 1. It has good suction. Probably can't suck up a bowling ball but it's good enough for me! 2. It rolls around with you on its wheels. So much easier for a lightweight for me to vacuum when I don't have to huff and puff behind a heavy vacuum. 3. It is light enough to carry around on its handle after you are done. 4. Switching from vacuuming carpeted floors to tile is VERY easy! 5. Changing the bags is easy! 6. The cord automatically rolls up with the press of a button! No more going up and down and up and down rolling the cord into place. 7. Detachable pieces make it very customizable! I purchased the basic model with the basic detachable parts and so far, it's perfectly fine with me! My one gripe so far is that the cord isn't as long as I'd like. (I forget the length but I have to unplug and replug it when going into another room to vacuum.) But honestly, I don't really care for the performance it has shown me. We've had it for a couple months and it is just AWESOME! Quality and durability were both also HUGE factors for me and having read all the rave reviews about Miele's reputation, I am SO glad I went with this!

   5.0 out of 5.0

The best vacuum I ever had! Quiet, light and powerful. Switching between hardwood floor and carpets is as easy as switching the flip with the one foot. It is perfect. We were laughing with my husband that the more expensive model must be brewing coffee or offering the massage because it is hard to imagine even better performance :-) Oh and one more amazing thing. I ordered it on Sunday and I had it delivered by Tuesday! Free shipping!

   5.0 out of 5.0

Miele is a family-owned German manufacturer of home appliances. The company's philosophy of continuous improvement ("Immer Besser") has made them a favorite throughout the world. Their products don't have bargain prices, but provide value in high quality design and manufacturing that results in superior performance and durability. Miele was founded in 1899 and began producing vacuum cleaners in 1927; their vacuums have become favorites of professionals worldwide, including many top-end hotel staffs. The Miele S2 line of canister vacuums is new for 2009, offering the quality and many of Miele's standard features at a lower price. There are three S2 models, all sharing the same 1200-watt base vacuum. The canister has six power settings and a standard air filter that catches 94% of particles down to 0.3 microns. The Olympus model is the lowest priced of the three, and features a floor/carpet combo head (SBD350-3), non-electric hose and a telescoping wand. The Delphi model substitutes a power head (SEB217-3), electric hose (SES116) and electric telescoping wand (SET220). The Titan model retains the power components of the Delphi and adds a parquet floor brush (SBB-3) and active HEPA filter. Note that all three models can support the power hose and brush, but only the Delphi and Titan include it as part of the package. Similarly, all three models support the active HEPA filter, but only the Titan includes it in its package. If you don't currently need a power head you can buy the Olympus and add the power components later; you'll pay more in the end, but you won't have to buy power components now that you may not need for a few years. The non-electric combo head works well on smooth flooring, is usable on short-pile carpet, and is difficult to use on deeper-pile carpet. Like all Miele vacuum cleaners, the S2 is well designed and manufactured in Germany. The vacuum has a range of 29.5 feet from the end of the self-retracting power cord to the tip of the brush. The unit is light (under 10 lbs), nicely balanced and moves easily in any direction on its casters. The top-exhaust design allows you to vacuum easily with the canister standing up, such as on steps. The motor is surprisingly quiet, particularly at the lower power levels. The six power levels allow you to switch from floors and carpets to shelves and tabletops without accidentally grabbing objects or papers instead of dirt or dust. The S2 cleans very well and is a pleasure to use. The base has notches in which the hose can be parked, one for when the base is on its wheels, one for when the base is standing. This is a great touch, useful for temporarily standing the hose while you move a piece of furniture, and helpful for storing the vacuum in a closet without breaking down the hose and wand. Perhaps the only weakness of the S2 is the "varioclip" for tool storage, which rides somewhat uncomfortably on the hose rather than more naturally on the base. Changing the filter and bag are each a snap, and an indicator tells you when the bag is full. Finally, what compromises does the S2 line make from the more expensive S4 and S5 lines? The most obvious changes are to external components: a few parts, such as the bumper strip that surrounds the canister, are made from hard plastic rather than softer rubber. The operating radius is a few feet shorter (due to a shorter power cord), and the accessory brushes use some lower-cost materials (nylon versus natural bristle brush, plastic instead of metal). Inside, the S2 canister uses Miele's "CleanAir System" construction, while the S4 and S5 canister use its "Sealed System." Miele doesn't offer a detailed comparison of the two, but one might assume the latter system provides an extra measure of dust capture that may be more appropriate for those with allergic sensitivities. The changes made to lower the price of the S2 line will make small differences in daily use, but shouldn't compromise the vacuum's core ability to clean. Those who are especially sensitive to dust should consider the HEPA-equipped Titan model, or stepping up to the S4 or S5; those with less stringent needs will find the S2 a terrific entry point to the Miele line of high quality vacuums. If budget is no issue, look at the S5 line, but if value-per-dollar is a major consideration, the S2 line will bring you Miele's engineering and manufacturing prowess at a more affordable price.

   5.0 out of 5.0

Miele has a long reputation for quality. This machine is no exception, although now it's more affordable. This is the lightest Miele vacuum yet, at only 9.4 pounds. This is our second Miele canister.We still use the old one after 12 years, we just wanted a second one for the hard floors. We also own a Miele dishwasher and induction cooktop. I would recommend purchasing from a local dealer though, as there are many choices within the Miele line up, and you want to be sure you get the right product for your needs. That is much easier with a hands on demo.