Bosch - Benchmark if you can, 800 series otherwise.

The GE Cafe CT9570SLSS wall oven is top-rated by Consumer Reports but very expensive at $5500 (Home Depot). However, the GE CT9550SHSS appears to be very similar (compare features at geappliances.com) and is considerably less at $3500, though still far from cheap.

So appreciate the input! I found a Kitchen Aid today on a clearance sale (store is remodeling) but KA reviews make me nervous! Any thoughts?

That kinda confirms what I was seeing about KA. Thanks Tiramisu.

We built a custom home so I could have any appliance I wanted. I used the Yale Appliances blog for guidance. Their experience is 25% of all appliances they sell will need service in their first year. Some brands don't hit that value, Miele for example, but I did not want to spend that kind of money on appliances. Be sure and read the full explanation of how Yale reports the repair values. It is useful to understand how they calculate service calls. And keep in mind many refrigerator complaints are about the ice maker, especially ice makers in french door models.

I ended up with all Kitchen Aid including double ovens, induction cooktop, dishwasher and refrigerator. I knew I wanted the dishwasher and ovens so I did the package to save some money.

I am very happy with my double ovens - no complaints whatsoever. (But we've only been in the house since October although I cook daily.) I chose KA double ovens because the oven was deep enough (front to back) to hold my large pizza steel. Yes, that was the determining factor! (And the look of the appliances, especially the red dot on the ends of the handles. Funny how a small detail captures your attention.) If you have any specialty cookware, etc., be sure to verify your appliances will accommodate.

One thing I have noticed with the ovens is that when the preheat cycle is complete (signaled by a beep) the oven is not really at that temp according to my standalone oven thermometer. I always give the oven another 10 minutes or so if I need an exact temp. But I think many brands of ovens are this way.

The broiler is fantastic. My oven in our previous house had gas broiling which was just awful. Each oven comes with one easy-glide rack which are great. Some manufacturers give you more than one easy-glide per oven. All newer wall ovens run a fan to help with dissipating the heat both during cooking and after the oven is turned off. When I turn off the oven, I leave the door open so the fan doesn't have to run as long. Some people complain about the fan noise associated with ovens. It doesn't bother me in particular but it is "there". I have not used the self-cleaning cycle as there seems to be so many reports of that function being hard on the electronics of the ovens. I don't think this is unique to KA, though.

Nanj, thank you so so much for such a wonderfully detailed response. I appreciate hearing your experience. I will check out Yale. I completely agree with the little things like fitting your favorite pizza steel or the red detail at the handle. In fact the kitchen aid handle is actually very comfortable to me. I don’t like the feel of certain stainless steel, and yes that is weird but something I noticed while appliance shopping!

Thabk you for all the info! Appreciate your time!