Chef's Choice 1520 Electric Knife Sharpener

I'm very pleased with this sharpener. I was debating between this one (model 1520) which is a 2-stage system that can sharpen at 15 or 20 degrees, and the Trizor model, which is a 3-stage but can only sharpen at a 15 degree angle. I went with this since some of my knives are better suited for a 20 degree angle (plus the fact that it was on sale for 50% off, making it less expensive than the Trizor). Usage is about as simple as it can be, and the guides ensure the knife is held at the correct angle. The instruction booklet provides detailed instructions on how to use it for a variety of different knives, and how to maintain the sharpener (which is pretty easy). Operating sounds when a knife is not being pulled through are limited to a low hum. It does make a fair amount of noise while sharpening, but that's to be expected from any sharpener. The machine has a nice, solid heft to it. The results have been outstanding. I'm sure hand sharpening with a whetstone would be even better, but since I don't have the knowledge on how to do that properly (nor am I willing to spend the time learning) this hits the mark for me: easy to use, and the end result is a scary sharp knife. You can also use this to create a three-bevel (Chef's Choice calls it a "Trizor") blade by starting with the 15 degree slot and then using the 20 degree slot for just a quick pass before final honing in the third slot. Instructions are provided in the manual. I tried it, but didn't find there to be much difference in sharpness compared with just a plain 15 degree sharpening. But, it's nice that the option is available for those who want to use it or experiment. An excellent, easy to use sharpener that produces great results. Five stars.