REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Lightweight
Decent on hardwood
REASONS TO AVOID
No brush roll
Hard to maneuver
Not good with pet hair
Koblenz Centauri Review
This budget-friendly option is a decent hardwood cleaner in a pinch
Credit: Natalie Kafader
RELATED: Best Canister Vacuum of 2024
Our Verdict
The Koblenz Centauri is a decent canister vacuum at a budget-friendly price. It didn't wow us across the board, but it still offers good hardwood performance. It is one of the lightest in the lineup, so it will gladly make its way up and down stairs with you. Check out our review on canister vacuums to see how it performed against the full lineup.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product Koblenz Centauri | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Canister Vacuum |  Best Budget Canister Vacuum | |||
| Price | $150 List $140.99 at Amazon | $349 List $307.00 at Amazon | $83 List $72.99 at Amazon | $80 List $79.99 at Amazon | $80 List $79.00 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Not the best across the board, we only suggest this if you want something inexpensive and light | Our go-to canister vacuum for just about anything | We think this canister vacuum is one of the best options if you are shopping on a slim budget | A decent solution for those who want a good vacuum for very little money | This inexpensive and lightweight vacuum can handle small messes but easily gets overwhelmed |
| Rating Categories | Koblenz Centauri | Miele Classic C1 Pu... | Eureka Mighty Mite | Eureka WhirlWind | Bissell Zing Bagles... |
| Carpet Performance (25%) | |||||
| Hardwood Performance (25%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (20%) | |||||
| Pet Hair (15%) | |||||
| Filtration and Suction (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Koblenz Centauri | Miele Classic C1 Pu... | Eureka Mighty Mite | Eureka WhirlWind | Bissell Zing Bagles... |
| Low Pile Cleaned | 88.2% | 90.9% | 87.6% | 75.9% | 75.1% |
| High Pile Cleaned | 41.8% | 53.9% | 49.1% | 56.7% | 53.2% |
| Hardwood Cleaned | 97.9% | 99.5% | 99.3% | 90.3% | 85.1% |
| Pet Hair Cleaned | 82.0% | 90.0% | 86.0% | 82.0% | 94.0% |
| Crevice Cleaned | 79.5% | 96.7% | 98.1% | 72.4% | 95.2% |
| Suction | 1767 Pa | 3957 Pa | 1767 Pa | 896 Pa | 2090 Pa |
| Measured Noise Level | 95.6 dBA | 95.4 dBA | 93.3 dBA | 84 dBA | 85.6 dBA |
| HEPA Filter | No | No | No | No | No |
| Brushroll | No | No | No | No | No |
| Bag or Bagless | Bagless | Bag | Bag | Bagless | Bagless |
| Variable Suction Control | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cord Length | 14' 5" | 17' 6" | 20' | 15' | 15' 5" |
| Hose Length | 4' 10" | 5' 2" | 6' 9" | 4' 8" | 5' 1" |
| Cleaning width | 9.75" | 11.25" | 10.5" | 10" | 10.1" |
| Measured Max Reach | 3' 9" | 4' 2" | 4' 3" | 3' 10" | 3' 6" |
| Measured Weight Whole Unit | 11.6 lbs | 13.1 lbs | 9.4 lbs | 11.2 lbs | 9.3 lbs |
| Model Number | YCA-1300 | SBAN0 | 3670M | NEN110 | 2156 |
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
We appreciate the light design of the Koblenz. It weighs just 11.6 pounds, and the tubing and handle weigh 1.5 pounds. This model fits well in hand with the other controlling the handle. It did well on hardwood floors, but that is about it. We only suggest this model for light and quick cleaning.
Performance Comparison
The Koblenz is lightweight and easy to get around for this reason.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Carpet Performance
We started our tests with cleaning carpet. We combined a cup and a half of Cheerios, rice, and sand then dumped it across our test rugs. We then vacuumed the section for 24 seconds and weighed the amount we picked up. This test was conducted on both low and high-pile rugs. The Koblenz picked up roughly 88% of the mess from low-pile carpet, while only grabbing 41.8% from the high pile rug. This vacuum struggled with all pieces of our debris mix, and as we continued testing, it appeared to get worse.
The Koblenz didn't deliver the most impressive results on carpet.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Hardwood Performance
Our hardwood tests began much like the carpet tests. We dumped a cup and a half of debris on the floor, vacuuming what we could in 24 seconds. After which, we weighed it to see how much we actually cleaned. The Centauri was able to pick up 97.9% of the debris, impressively.
The hole underneath the head is very small compared to others in the lineup.
Credit: Lesley Robinson
However, the rest of our hardwood tests were a challenge for the Koblenz. We placed sand in a slot of a bamboo mat. The vacuum was only able to grab 79.5% of this. Then, as we tried to clean coffee grounds from along the edge of a wall, we mostly just pushed them around.
After placing 21 grams in the crevice, we set the Koblenz to clean it up. Ultimately, we were unimpressed with the result.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Ease of Use
The Koblenz wasn't the easiest to maneuver around. The cord is short at 14 feet, and the two large wheels don't move well. At times, the suction was so strong that we would get caught on the carpet. The only way to fix this was by approaching the carpet at an angle. We had an easier time pulling the vacuum backwards though. Additionally, the vacuum is just 11.6 pounds, so it can easily be carried anywhere you need to go.
To clean the dust cup, it opens from the bottom and dumps its contents. To get a deeper clean, the two filter pieces need to be removed. We found rice stuck in these filter holes on more than one occasion and had a tough time getting them out. It includes a two-in-one attachment for upholstery that wasn't all that impressive. When seeing how much coffee it could clean up off our throw pillow, it left a lot behind. The brush is so narrow that we would need to go over the surface multiple times.
When full, the Koblenz needs to be dumped. It doesn't have replaceable bags like most other canister vacuums.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Pet Hair
We collected pet hair from our happy-to-contribute dogs at home. We brought it in to the lab, weighed it, and massaged it into the carpet. Then, we put the Centauri to work, seeing how much we could collect. On low-pile carpet, we were able to get 82% of the hair. Meanwhile, on high-pile, we picked up 64%. This wasn't great compared to others. The suction felt weak as we tested, with the bristles unable to lift the hair.
Before Testing After Testing
The Koblenz left behind a substantial amount of pet hair on our test carpet.
Filtration and Suction
Our final tests revolved around filtration and suction. Using two Dylos particle counters, we were able to detect the emissions from the Koblenz. We looked for both small and large particles during this, which this canister wasn't terrible. It has an average peak of 203 for small particles and 25 for large. The suction results were middle of the pack, as well. When we rolled over our unsealed suction surface, we were able to measure 1,767 Pa. To be fair, this is strong compared to vacuums of other styles. Even in our tests, we had trouble with this being too much suction.
We tested the unsealed suction of the Koblenz.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Should You Buy the Koblenz Centauri?
The Koblenz Centauri is a decent choice if you only have hardwood in your home and don't need to do major cleans. Because it struggled on carpet and upholstery, we recommend checking out another model in our canister vacuum review if you have either in your home.
The Centauri is lightweight, but still not our favorite unit to roll around.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
What Other Canister Vacuums Should You Consider?
We think the Eureka Mighty Mite is worth taking a look at, especially if you are considering a less expensive model. This model is very powerful and tackles pet hair with ease. It isn't the easiest to use as the hose can sometimes come apart, but we still think it's worth a look. The Miele Classic C1 Pure Suction Powerline is a great option if you are willing to spend a little more. It has a suction adjustment for various surfaces as well as a very effective filtration system.
The multitool attachment rests on the handle of the Koblenz, but can easily get knocked off.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
—
Becca Glades and Lesley Robinson
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