This little mixer has significantly more power and more volume than normal Smoothie Maker and is quieter than usual this mixer. He is as loud as a hand blender. The Pulse-stage survive no ice cubes :) It is with this compact mixer produce any smoothie - even of very hard ingredients such as frozen strawberries. This mixer is a day with me for almost 2 months in operation and works to this day properly. To produce smoothie only the pulses stage for about 3-4 by 0.5 seconds (harsh ingredients crush that come first in the blender) and the average level of about 1.5 minutes (mix everything and shred) required. After that, the smoothie is ready. You just have to be careful with the locking screw so that it is straight and there are no leaks. (See instructions!)