It is powerful but with just a little food and water, the motor was so powerful that it produced a burnt odor and the food didn't smell as fresh as I would have like it to.  It has great potential and is a beautiful blender with a strong build, but I had that bad experience on the first try.  It was disturbing!  You must read the whole brochure and never put a little food, the booklet tells you, for such high power.