The Fire Magic Echelon Diamond is Fire Magic's flagship built-in gas grill, made in California and offered in three sizes: the 30 inch class E660i, the 36 inch class E790i and the 48 inch class E1060i. Each one pairs cast stainless steel E-burners with a rear infrared rotisserie burner, patented Diamond Sear grids and a black glass control panel. The right choice comes down to how many people you cook for, how wide your island is, and three letters in the model number that most buyers never have explained to them.
This spotlight walks through all three grills, decodes the configuration codes, and covers what to plan before the island is framed, whether you are building in Manhasset, Scarsdale, Short Hills or Jupiter.
Key Takeaways
- The model number is the cooking area: the E660i has 660 square inches of main grilling surface, the E790i has 792 and the E1060i has 1,056.
- All three share the same 23-1/2 inch cutout depth and 11-1/2 inch cutout height; only the width changes.
- "9E" means all gas E-burners, "9L" swaps the left burner for an infrared sear burner, and "-W" adds the Magic View Window in the hood.
- The digital models add an under-glass temperature display, a meat probe and phone monitoring; the analog models use a hood gauge and cook exactly the same.
- Every Echelon Diamond needs a 120 volt outlet for ignition and lights, plus a natural gas or propane supply installed by a qualified pro.
What Makes the Echelon Diamond Fire Magic's Flagship?
The Echelon Diamond is the line where Fire Magic puts its best engineering. The burners are cast 304 stainless steel in an E shape, which spreads flame across the full depth of the firebox instead of running a single tube down the middle. Fire Magic warrants those burners, the stainless cooking grids and the stainless housing for as long as the original owner has the grill.
Above the burners, stainless flavor grids catch and vaporize drippings, and the Echelon line adds heat zone separators so you can run one side hot for searing and the other low for chicken or vegetables without the zones bleeding together. The Diamond Sear grids have flat-topped bars that leave wide, defined marks.
The details are what you notice at night: back-lit control knobs, interior halogen lights that light the whole cooking surface, hot surface ignition with a flash tube backup, and a double-walled hood that opens to 90 degrees with spring assist. A rear infrared burner for the rotisserie is standard on every Echelon Diamond, which is one of the clearest lines between Echelon and Fire Magic's Aurora series.
Which Echelon Diamond Size Is Right for You?
Choose by how you entertain, then confirm the island can take the width. A couple that grills for four on weeknights is well served by the E660i. Families who host a dozen people on summer weekends usually land on the E790i. If you cook for crowds, run a rotisserie and steaks at the same time, or want the grill to anchor a long island, the E1060i is the one.
Fire Magic Echelon Diamond E660i (30 Inch Class)
The Echelon Diamond E660i brings the full flagship feature set to the most compact footprint in the line. It runs three cast stainless E-burners under a 30 by 22 inch primary cooking area of 660 square inches, with a 288 square inch adjustable warming rack above for 948 square inches in total.
It drops into a cutout 31-1/4 inches wide, 23-1/2 inches deep and 11-1/2 inches high, which makes it a strong fit for Manhattan rooftops, Brooklyn backyards and compact Long Island patios where every inch of countertop counts. The rear infrared rotisserie burner and rotisserie kit come with it, so a 30 inch island does not mean giving up rotisserie chicken.
Fire Magic Echelon Diamond E790i (36 Inch Class)
The Echelon Diamond E790i is the middle of the line and the most versatile choice for many families. It keeps three cast stainless E-burners but widens the grates to 36 by 22 inches, for 792 square inches of primary cooking area plus a 288 square inch warming rack.
That extra six inches is the difference between a tray of burgers and a full spread of burgers, corn and vegetables at once. The cutout is 37 inches wide by 23-1/2 deep by 11-1/2 high. Fire Magic also lists the E790i with an analog hood gauge; the analog E790i uses the same burners, grids and cutout.
Fire Magic Echelon Diamond E1060i (48 Inch Class)
The Echelon Diamond E1060i is the largest grill in the line and the natural centerpiece of a long island. Four cast stainless E-burners heat a 48 by 22 inch primary cooking area of 1,056 square inches, and a 344 square inch warming rack brings the total to 1,400 square inches.
With four burners and heat zone separators, you can sear at one end, hold a gentle zone in the middle and keep a finished zone warm, all on one grill. The cutout is 50 inches wide by 23-1/2 deep by 11-1/2 high. It suits the larger outdoor kitchens of the Hamptons, Old Westbury and Saddle River, where an island runs long enough to frame the grill with refrigeration and storage on both sides.
How Do You Read an Echelon Diamond Model Number?
Every Echelon Diamond model number tells you the size, burner layout, thermometer, fuel and hood in one string. Take E790i-9L1N-W as an example.
| Code | What it means |
|---|---|
| E660 / E790 / E1060 | Echelon series and primary cooking area in square inches |
| i | Built-in grill head (s is the freestanding version on a cart) |
| 9E | All cast stainless E-burners |
| 9L | Left burner replaced by an infrared sear burner |
| 1 | Digital thermometer (A indicates the analog version) |
| N / P | Natural gas or propane |
| -W | Magic View Window in the hood |
Digital or Analog Thermometer: Which Should You Choose?
Choose digital if you like to walk away from the grill. The digital models put a temperature display under the black glass control panel, include a meat probe, and let you watch both on your phone over Bluetooth through Fire Magic's app. You can mingle on the far side of the terrace and still know when the roast hits temperature.
Choose analog if you prefer a simple hood gauge and fewer electronics. The burners, grids, hood and cutout are identical, so the grill cooks the same either way. The analog versions cost a little less, and they are a sensible choice for a second home that sits unused for part of the year.
Is the Infrared Sear Burner Worth It?
For steak lovers, usually yes. The 9L configurations replace the left E-burner with an infrared burner that delivers intense radiant heat for a fast, deep crust, which is the steakhouse effect many buyers are after. You keep the other E-burners for everything else, so you lose a little standard gas grilling width on that side.
If you mostly cook chicken, fish and vegetables, the all-gas 9E layout gives you the most even surface, and the Diamond Sear grids already mark food well. On the larger E1060i, giving one of four burners to infrared costs you proportionally less of the standard gas surface than it does on the 30 inch grill.
Echelon Diamond or Aurora: What Is the Difference?
Both Fire Magic lines use cast stainless E-burners, 304 stainless construction, Diamond Sear grids and hot surface ignition, and both can be ordered with a Magic View Window. The Echelon Diamond adds a rear infrared rotisserie burner as standard (optional on Aurora) and heat zone separators, and its burner layout is fully customizable. If the grill will be the visual focal point of the kitchen and you want every feature in the box, Echelon is the line. For a side-by-side with another flagship brand, see our Fire Magic vs. Lynx comparison.
What Do You Need Before the Island Is Built?
Plan four things before the mason starts: the cutout, the frame material, power and gas.
- Cutout. 31-1/4, 37 or 50 inches wide depending on size, always 23-1/2 inches deep and 11-1/2 inches high. Our guide to measuring a built-in grill cutout covers how to check an existing island.
- Frame. Masonry or steel studs with cement board need no liner. A combustible frame needs Fire Magic's insulating liner, such as the liner for the E660i.
- Power. A 120 volt GFCI outlet for the ignition, lights and digital display.
- Gas. A natural gas or propane line with an accessible shutoff, sized for the grill plus any side or power burners.
In New York City, gas work requires a licensed master plumber, typically under a DOB permit, and propane is not permitted on apartment terraces, so city installations are natural gas. Co-op and condo buildings add their own alteration rules; confirm both with your installer and your board before ordering. Many clients complete the island with a matching Echelon Diamond power burner for wok cooking and boiling, and Echelon access door and drawer combinations below the grill. You can browse the full line in our Fire Magic collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Fire Magic Echelon Diamond worth the price?
For a permanent outdoor kitchen, the Echelon Diamond is worth it if you value longevity and features. Fire Magic warrants the cast stainless burners, grids and housing for as long as the original owner has the grill, and the rotisserie burner, lighting and heat zone separators come standard.
Where are Fire Magic grills made?
Fire Magic grills are built in the USA by RH Peterson in California.
Can I convert an Echelon Diamond from propane to natural gas later?
Order the grill for the fuel you will use. Fire Magic builds natural gas (N) and propane (P) versions, and any later conversion should be handled by a qualified technician with the correct factory parts. Ask your installer before planning around a conversion.
Do I need the Magic View Window?
No, it is optional. The -W window lets you check food without lifting the hood, which holds heat during rotisserie and indirect cooking, and with the interior lights on it is one of the most striking details of the grill after dark.
Does the Echelon Diamond need electricity?
Yes. Every Echelon Diamond built-in needs a 120 volt outlet for the hot surface ignition, interior lights and, on digital models, the temperature display.
See the Echelon Diamond in Person
A grill at this level deserves to be seen and specified properly. Our team plans outdoor kitchens across New York City, Long Island, Westchester, New Jersey and the Palm Beach corridor, and we can help you choose the size, burner layout and island design that fit the way you entertain. Visit our Maspeth, Queens showroom, call 718-326-4328, or book a free design consultation at nycfireplaces.com.