Dimplex vs Touchstone Electric Fireplace

The Dimplex vs Touchstone electric fireplace lineups have a ton of overlap - you’ll find similar sizes, installation styles, and features. But the brands are totally different in terms of positioning and pricing, and that matters when shopping for an electric fireplace.

Dimplex fireplace is a premium brand with over 75 years of experience creating stunning, highly-functional fireplaces that can suit any space. They’re modern in design and priced for what they are - luxury upgrades to your home.

Touchstone’s electric fireplace lineup leans a bit more affordable. You won’t get the same flair or some of the same advanced features for flame effects or control. But they can get the job done when you’re working on a tight budget. 

We’ll take a closer look at Touchstone vs Dimplex fireplaces below to help you make the right choice. Just know that a personalized recommendation is a click or call away at The Great Fire Company, your trusted choice for all things fireplace!

Key Takeaways

• Dimplex offers more sizes, installation types, flame technologies, and longer warranty coverage.
• Touchstone brings you flame customization, smart controls, and built-in sound at a lower price.
• We prefer Dimpelx for its higher heat output options, multi-sided and water-vapor formats, broader framing compatibility, and 5-year warranties.
• Our team can help you compare models, lock in the best pricing, and navigate installation/troubleshooting. Connect with The Great Fire Company today.

Overview of Dimplex Electric Fireplaces

Dimplex is one of the longest-standing names in electric fireplaces, with decades of experience focused entirely on electric flame technology. The brand has one of the most extensive built-in electric fireplace lineups in the industry, all of which install seamlessly and perform consistently across a range of room layouts. Here are some of the popular models/styles:

• Linear fireplaces from roughly 30" up to 100", including Ignite Aspire, Ignite Bold, Ignite Evolve, Ignite Ultra, and Ignite XL series
• Multi-sided and bay-style models that support front, corner, or three-sided installations
• Traditional built-in fireboxes and inserts like the Revillusion and BF Series to replace or upgrade masonry openings
• Water-vapor fireplaces in the Optimyst family, including cassette, linear, and modular systems for custom builds
• Wall-mount and versatile units such as Prism, Sierra, and Winslow for apartments, condos, and flexible installs

You can choose from flame-only operation or supplemental heat, plug-in or hardwired electrical setups, logs or crystal media, and remote or app-based controls (depending on the series). All of these fireplaces are available here at The Great Fire Company at the lowest prices online.

Our blog has additional comparisons of Dimplex vs Modern Flames or Dimplex vs Napoleon electric fireplace if you’re interested. But let’s introduce the other half of our Dimplex vs Touchstone electric fireplace comparison below.

Overview of Touchstone Electric Fireplaces

Touchstone fireplaces are really popular in their own right - especially for homeowners who want wide flame presentation, customization capabilities, and advanced features without paying an arm and a leg. They’re super affordable relative to their quality.

The overall design of Touchstone electric fireplaces is contemporary. Most are built for recessed or wall-mounted installs rather than traditional masonry-style fireboxes. You get panoramic viewing and digital control flexibility across the lineup. A lot of models even include Wi-Fi connectivity, smartphone apps, and voice assistant compatibility. Here’s a closer look:

• Sideline Series in sizes from 36" to 84", designed for recessed or wall-mounted installs
• Sideline Elite and Elite Pro models with deeper fireboxes, enhanced flame depth, and expanded lighting controls
• Infinity Series three-sided fireplaces for panoramic, see-through viewing from multiple angles
• Mantel fireplace packages pair electric inserts with freestanding wood surrounds for quick room upgrades

Across the lineup you’ll get adjustable flame colors, multiple flame speeds, multi-color ember beds, downlighting, and built-in crackle sound on select models. Heating is very supplemental, often offering less coverage than comparable Dimplex models.

That said, Touchstone has a relatively narrow lineup of fireplaces compared to many other brands - including Dimplex. But what it does, it does well. So, where does that leave you in choosing between a Dimplex vs Touchstone electric fireplace? 

Dimplex vs Touchstone Electric Fireplace: Side-by-Side Comparison

You can’t go wrong upgrading your home with an electric fireplace. Although there’s quite a bit of overlap, we’re going to focus on the differences between a Touchstone vs Dimplex fireplace to help you make the right choice.

Sizes Available

As we said above, the Touchstone fireplace lineup is relatively narrow. They offer almost all the same sizes as Dimplex. The difference is that there’s often just a single fireplace per size, whereas Dimplex has multiple configurations and designs for every size. For instance:

• Ignite Bold / Ignite Ultra: 50", 60", 74", 88", 100"
• Ignite Evolve / Ignite XL: 50", 60", 74", 100"
• Ignite Aspire: 30", 36", 42", 48"
• Optimyst Cassette: 20", 40"
• Optimyst Linear: 46", 66", 86"
• Optimyst Pro Box: 40", 60"
• Revillusion: 24", 30", 36", 42" (plus 36" Portrait)
• BF Series: 33", 39", 45"

Where Touchstone is “wide,” it’s mostly the same core form factor offered in many widths - including 22, 24, 28, 29, 33, 36, 40, 42, 45, 46, 50, 57, 60, 65, 72, 84, 100 inches. 

That means Dimplex gives you more ways to hit the right fit (linear, cassette, traditional firebox, water vapor) while Touchstone gives you more width choices inside a modern linear category.

Installation Types

Again, Dimplex offers much more installation variety than Touchstone. Popular layouts include:

• Built-in linear (Ignite family)
• Multi-sided configurations in specific models like IgniteXL Bold (front / left corner / right corner / bay)
• Water-vapor cassettes and modular systems (Optimyst Cassette / Pro Box) that can be arranged in custom openings
• Traditional firebox replacements and log-set style options (Revillusion built-ins/log sets; BF built-ins)

Touchstone’s installation types are narrower. They have recessed, in-wall, and wall-mount linear fireplaces, 3-sided panoramic models, and mantel packages where the fireplace gets paired with a freestanding surround. This is to say you’ll get more flexibility with a Dimplex fireplace. 

Flame Presentation

Both of these brands make electric fireplaces, meaning the flames aren’t real. They’re visual effects. But not all brands take the same approach to flame presentation.

Dimplex separates flame “look” by technology family. The IgniteXL and Bold models use Multi-Fire XD for brighter, more lifelike flame color layering. There are also water vapor fireplaces in the Optimyst line, which create a true 3D flame/smoke effect. This is one-of-a-kind technology. 

Even the Revillusion line looks deeper and more firebox-like than flat-screen flames. Across all styles, you’ll be able to control the mood and look of flames using the included remote (or the Flame Connect app).

In contrast, Touchstone uses the same flame technology across its lineup. You get heavy control over how the flame presents, though, with 6 flame colors, 5 speeds, ember bed colors, and downlighting. One unique feature is the built-in crackle speaker that makes you really feel like you’re sitting by a traditional fire. 

Control Methods

You’ll have multiple ways to control your fireplace whether you go with Touchstone vs Dimplex. 

Touchstone leans into app + remote + touchscreen control, and certain models are marketed as Alexa/Google certified for voice control. Dimplex also uses remote + touch controls, and some models let you tap into the Flame Connect app for control right from your phone or tablet.

Cost Comparison

This is perhaps the biggest difference between a Dimplex vs Touchstone electric fireplace. The exact price breakdown will vary from one model to the next, but in general, Dimplex is the most expensive brand. You get what you pay for, though:

• Higher-output heating options (including 240V on certain models)
• Tighter built-in finishing systems
• Specialized flame technology

You might pay less for a Touchstone fireplace, and you may find that this brand offers all you want. For the most luxurious look and feel in a space, though, we always recommend Dimplex.

Warranty and Support

The extra cost of a Dimplex fireplace is also reflected in a much stronger warranty - 5-year vs 1-year for Touchstone. So while you’re paying more upfront, you’re getting peace of mind knowing this is an investment that will continue to deliver enjoyment in your home for years.

You also get a stronger level of customer service, especially when you buy your Dimplex fireplace here at The Great Fire Company. We know these units inside and out, and our experts are equipped to help you make the perfect choice for any given space.  

Model-Specific Comparisons

It helps to compare a Dimplex vs Touchstone electric fireplace more specifically, which means you should narrow it down to the size or installation style you’re most interested in. We’ve put together a few separate side-by-side showdowns below to help you see where the brands differ.

60-inch Electric Fireplaces

This is one of the most popular sizes we sell here at The Great Fire Company, and both Dimplex and Touchstone have some wonderful options in the 60-inch electric fireplace class. We’ll compare the Dimplex IgniteXL vs Touchstone Sideline Elite Pro:

Multi-Sided Fireplaces

A multi-sided electric fireplace makes a statement in open concept spaces, helping you divide a living room from a kitchen or just providing ambiance in two separate spaces at once. Both Touchstone and Dimplex make some great options for this installation style. Here’s an example:

Final Words on Touchstone vs Dimplex Fireplace

That does it for our Touchstone vs Dimplex fireplace comparison. We hope you feel more confident about which brand aligns with your needs, space, and budget by now. 

Whether you’re looking for a gas vs electric fireplace, The Great Fire Company stocks the best brands at the lowest prices online, guaranteed. We know you came here to compare the Dimplex vs Touchstone electric fireplace lineups, but we also carry Modern Flames electric fireplaces, Napoleon electric fireplaces, and many others.

Our team can help you make the most informed decision about which brand you should buy, and which specific model best suits your space. We’re brand agnostic, and never push our customers towards what we get the best margins on or who we have the closest relationship with. Our singular goal is to match you to the perfect fireplace you’ll enjoy for years to come.

So, what are you waiting for? Connect with our experts today for one-on-one guidance and bring the benefits of an electric fireplace into your home ASAP!