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Add to SafariWhen comparing NewAir AW-321ED vs EdgeStar CWF340DZ, the Slant community recommends NewAir AW-321ED for most people. In the question“What are the best wine coolers under or around $500?” NewAir AW-321ED is ranked 1st while EdgeStar CWF340DZ is ranked 2nd. The most important reason people chose NewAir AW-321ED is:
This unit's shelves are wooden, so the bottle will not get scratched, as it would happen with metal shelves.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Bottles won't get scratched by shelves
This unit's shelves are wooden, so the bottle will not get scratched, as it would happen with metal shelves.
Pro Quieter and more eco than compressor cooling
The unit uses a thermoelectric cooling system which is quieter and more eco friendly compared to compressor-based systems.
Pro Stores equal amount of red and white wines
The majority of dual zone wine coolers can store less white wines instead of red wines. This isn’t the case with this wine cooler as it can equally store 16 bottles in each cooling zone.
Pro Well lit on the inside
This cooler has an interior blue LED light that makes it easy to see what’s inside the fridge.
Pro Bottles can be kept away from children
The doors can be locked with an included key, keeping the bottles away from children.
Pro Reversible doors
The doors can be reversed to accommodate the space around the unit.
Pro Can handle large bottles
Because of its large dimensions, this wine cooler can store bottles that are longer than the standard 750ml ones.
Pro Wide temperature range
The unit can maintain temperatures between 41 °F up to 64 °F, meaning it’s suitable for storage of a wide range of wines with different needs.
Pro Bottles are easy to organize due to sliding racks
This cooler’s racks can be slid out to make the bottles easier to reach. Their wooden, further completing the high-end look of this device.
Pro Easy to use
The display and controls are easy to use and read, even in bright environments.
Pro Reliable and versatile cooling technology
While most modern wine coolers use thermoelectric cooling that are more efficient, this one uses a more traditional compressor type cooling. This technology has proven to be more reliable in the long term and compressors can work in a wider temperature range compared to thermoelectric ones.
Pro Elegant appearance
This wine cooler definitely looks more expensive than it is. The polished metal finish with the wooden trim slide out shelves looks and feels great. The blue LED lightning and control panel further complements the sleek appearance.
Pro Good for storing both red and white wine simultaneously
The unit has two independently controlled zones so you can store both red and white wines together. The upper zone can hold 12 standard 750ml wine bottles and its temperature range is best suited for white wines. The bottom can hold 22 bottles and is best used for red wines. The temperatures can be controlled precisely and slight fluctuations will not be a concern.
Cons
Con Fans need cleaning every once in a while
There are air filters installed on the fans that you have to clean once every couple of months so the fans don’t get blocked. Generally, it’s easy to do if you can access the back of the cooler.
Con Not great for large parkling wine bottles
It has trouble storing large sparkling wine bottles, but it's worth noting it wasn’t designed for sparkling wines in the first place.
Con Thermoelectric cooling has some limitations
This cooler uses thermoelectric cooling, which is ambient temperature sensitive and will work best between 50-80 degrees Fahrenheit. If it’s lower or higher, the unit will struggle in maintaining the desired temperatures. The unit can maintain temperatures between 46 to 66 degrees Fahrenheit which is enough for red and white wines, but not ideal for sparkling wines that need temperatures as low as 40 degrees.
Con One year warranty
The unit only comes with a standard one year warranty with no extended warranties for the compressor or other parts.
Con The key isn’t safe enough
While the key will do an excellent job of keeping children away from the bottles, it won’t be totally safe from committed attempts. That’s because the key is a standard hexagon shape and can be easily mimicked.
Con No UV protection
The glass on the door is not tinted, so it won’t protect your wine from UV radiation. This isn’t much of a worry indoors, unless the unit is directly exposed to sunlight.
Con Noisy
Since the unit uses a compressor instead of thermoelectric cooling, it can be quite noisy. The noise is about the same as a small fridge.
Con Not very good at preventing temperature fluctuations
The temperatures can fluctuate a bit on the upper zone. Although it only deviates by a couple of degrees, it’s still something to consider if you need your temperatures to be precise.
Con Needs some free space around it
The unit needs a couple of inches of free space around, for ventilation, it so you can’t build it in counters.
Con Not easy to move
The unit is heavy for its size. At 100 pounds, it’s not easy to move around.
