Don't have any experience with their blowers, but have had good success with their string trimmers. Always felt they were in the same class as TMC, Stihl, and high-end Echo.

I haven't heard any bad feedback about Tanaka but would point out that the Echo products are excellent and have a 5 year consumer warranty. Any Echo dealers near you?

Read a lot of good review of Tanaka.

If you can find Maruyama BL8100, It is cheaper and have 5 years warrante. I paid only $389 from a dealer and TurfEagle sell online for $359. It is 64.7cc, 720cfm and 200mph at the tube. It is the exact same as Kawasaki KRB750. The engine is Kawi TK65 which is used also in John Deer big blower and some European brand.

Thanks for all the feedback on this folks! I'm planning on taking a look at the Echo units as well. The PB 755 appears to be pretty similar as far as CFM @ the pipe, noise level, and even the price. Advertised as a few pounds heavier, but provided the weight is distributed properly, I do not see that as an issue. My local Ariens/Toro deal also supplies & services Echo, so it's worth a look ... although his business hours are usually "8AM - 4PM ... or when he feels like being open, basically" :-)

Can't go wrong with Echo PB755. Good luck and keep us info of what you end up and how you like it.

I ended up going with the Echo PB620. Just picked it up today .. can't wait to go home and try it out now ! :-) It sounded awesome when the dealer fired it up in the store!
The 755 was overkill, for me anyhow. It's _very cool_, but a bit heavier and cost $100 more than the 620. The 5 year warranty was the clincher for me on choosing the Echo brand. Plus the fact there are dealers only about a 5 minute drive away from both my house and where I work. Can't beat that deal overall.

I'd like to hear what you think of the PB620 once you've put it to test. That's new for 2009 isn't it? Did you get the 620H with the hip mounted throttle or the ST with the tube throttle? I'd like to take it for a 'test drive'.

PB620 has been around for a while. Get the tube mount.

It appears, sometime in 2009(?), Echo took the existing PB620 and split it off into a tube-mount (ST) and a hip-mount (H) model. I got the 'pre-split' PB620 (owner manual is dated 01/2009). It is identical (same specs) to the 'new' 620ST, except that it is grey, where the ST is orange.
I got a chance to play around with it this weekend ... it is awesome! :-) I have approx. 1.1 acres to maintain, surrounded by oak, beech, birch, pine, and maple, and it has more than enough power for my needs. It's a bit heavy, but the weight is well-balanced so it's not uncomfortable, even after walking around for quite a while. Not easy on gas, but with 58cc's to feed, I would not expect it to be! My only gripe so far is with re-starting after using it for a while. Starts great when cold. Took me 15-20 pulls to get it re-started once I had shut it down after using it for 10 minutes or so. It could just be me though - I may not be setting the choke properly, could have botched the throttle switch, etc. I have to try it again and make sure it's not operator error before I complain :-)
All in all - highly recommended and well worth the money.

Bring it back, either they can show you how to start it right or if there is a problem, demand a new one. Don't wait and experiment yourself.

I forgot to mention. All my stuff start with one pull when warm, no choke, no prime. I read a lot of people in different forums claimed that too. If you having trouble starting warm, there is a problem.......unless you prime and choke and all!!! Then you are asking for it.