Fire Magic and Lynx are the two American premium brands that turn up on most shortlists in our Maspeth showroom. The customer has usually settled on a real built-in grill already and now has to pick a badge. Both sit at the top of the category, and both are built to be repaired, not replaced.
They get to a great steak by different routes. Fire Magic's Echelon Diamond line leans on three heavy cast stainless burners, wide flat-topped Diamond Sear grids, an optional window in the hood, and a digital version with a touchscreen, meat probe and phone monitoring. Lynx Professional leans on cast ceramic burners, the 23,000 BTU Trident infrared burner, a rotisserie on every model, eight color finishes and a size range that runs from 30 to 54 inches.
We sell, install and service both. Here is how we walk people through the decision.
The short answer
Choose Fire Magic if you want the most cooking surface and burner output per cutout inch (the 36 inch Echelon Diamond E790i is rated 96,000 BTU/h on three cast stainless burners over a 792 square inch main grid), a window in the hood, and a digital interface with a meat probe. Choose Lynx if infrared searing is the priority (the Trident is 23,000 BTU and adjustable from 300 to 1,000 degrees), if you want a rotisserie on every model, a color other than stainless, or a 54 inch grill. Which one is right comes down to how you cook and how big your island is.
Key takeaways
- On paper the 36 inch Fire Magic E790i out-muscles the Lynx L36TR: 96,000 BTU/h across three burners plus a 13,000 BTU/h rear infrared burner, versus 73,000 BTU combined from the Lynx's Trident and two ceramic burners plus a 14,000 BTU rear rotisserie burner. Rated BTU is not the same as cooking performance, but the E790i also has the bigger main grid (792 versus 640 square inches).
- Lynx's advantage is infrared. The Trident burner is variable from 300 to 1,000 degrees and you can order an all-Trident grill. Fire Magic's rear infrared burner is built for the rotisserie, and some Echelon models add a left-side infrared burner.
- Warranties are strong on both and differ in the details. Fire Magic covers the stainless housing, cast burners and Diamond Sear grids for life and pays two years of labor allowance. Lynx covers its burners, canopy, hood, control panel and bullnose for life and covers labor for one year.
- Fire Magic's lights, thermometer and ignition carry a one year warranty, so the digital version's electronics are the part to think about. Lynx lists its ignitor and rotisserie motor at five years.
- The two are not drop-in replacements. The E790i needs a 37 x 23-1/2 x 11-1/2 inch cutout; the Lynx L36TR needs 35 x 22 x 10-1/8 inches. Build the island to the exact model.
- Neither brand markets its grills as marine grade, and Lynx's warranty excludes marine use. Near salt water, plan on covers and rinsing for either.
In this guide
- Fire Magic vs. Lynx at a glance
- How do the two lineups compare?
- Which gets hotter and sears better?
- Which gives more even heat and better control?
- Which has the better rotisserie?
- Which is built better?
- Which has better controls, lighting and design?
- Which has the better warranty?
- What does installation require in New York?
- Our recommended models
- Which should you choose?
- Frequently asked questions
Fire Magic vs. Lynx at a glance
Figures below are for the 36 inch Echelon Diamond E790i and the Lynx Professional L36TR unless noted, taken from each manufacturer's published specifications. Fire Magic does not publish per-burner BTU on the pages we reviewed, so we compare combined ratings.
| Category | Fire Magic Echelon Diamond | Lynx Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in sizes | 30 (E660i), 36 (E790i), 48 (E1060i) | 30, 36, 42 and 54 inch (L30, L36, L42, L54 codes) |
| Main burners | Three cast 304 stainless E-burners with 1/4 inch walls, 96,000 BTU/h combined (E790i) | Cast cordierite ceramic burners plus a Trident infrared. L36TR: one Trident and two ceramic, 73,000 BTU combined |
| Infrared | Recessed rear infrared burner, 13,000 BTU/h on the E790i. Some models add a left-side infrared burner | Trident infrared, 23,000 BTU, 300 to 1,000 degrees. All-Trident ATR models available |
| Rotisserie | Rear infrared backburner and a rotisserie kit with a heavy-duty motor | Rear infrared burner (14,000 BTU on the 36, 16,000 on the 42, two on the 54), dual-position, three-speed motor, on every Professional model |
| Cooking area (36 inch) | 792 main plus 288 warming rack | 640 primary plus 295 secondary (the 42 inch L42TR is 855 plus 345) |
| Grates | Patented Diamond Sear stainless bars with flat tops, over flavor grids | Stainless grates over ceramic radiant briquettes |
| Ignition and power | Hot surface ignition, flash tubes as backup, 120 V required | Hot surface ignition, 120 V 15 A GFCI outlet adjacent |
| Lighting | Two angled halogen lamps on the E660i and E790i, three on the E1060i | Dual halogen lights, blue-lit control knobs |
| Controls | Digital (black glass touchscreen, Bluetooth, meat probe) or analog thermometer | Knobs with a temperature gauge |
| Hood | Double-wall 304 stainless, 90 degree spring-assist, optional Magic View Window | Lynx Hood Assist with a fluid rotation handle |
| Finish | Stainless steel | Stainless plus eight color options |
| Cutout (W x D x H) | 37 x 23-1/2 x 11-1/2 inches (E790i) | 35 x 22 x 10-1/8 inches (L36TR); 41 x 24-1/2 x 10-7/8 inches (L42TR) |
Fire Magic Lynx Built-In Grills Large Grills 34 to 42
How do the two lineups compare?
Fire Magic sells three gas tiers. Echelon Diamond is the top one, in 30 inch (E660i), 36 inch (E790i) and 48 inch (E1060i) built-in heads. The store model codes carry useful clues: a 9L model adds the left-side infrared burner, a 9E model does not, and a W at the end means the Magic View Window. Echelon comes with a digital or an analog thermometer, and freestanding versions such as the 36 inch E790i on a portable cart are available.
Aurora is the step down. The A790i keeps the Diamond Sear and flavor grids, the cast 304 burners, the 792 square inch main grid and the same 37 inch cutout as the E790i. Fire Magic rates its main burners at 90,000 BTU and gives it an analog thermometer and halogen lights. The backburner (listed at 20,000 BTU) and rotisserie kit are optional on the Aurora, so confirm what is on your quote. The Choice line, such as the C540i, uses stainless U-shaped burners rather than the cast ones.
Lynx makes it simpler. Professional is the main line, and the code tells you the burner mix: TR is one Trident plus ceramic (L36TR, L42TR, L54TR), ATR is all Trident (L42ATR), R is all ceramic (L42R-3), and an F on the end means freestanding on a cart. The Sedona by Lynx is the value line in a 30 inch size. If you hold an older quote or a resale listing with L600 or L700 model numbers, send it to us: the current Lynx Professional lineup on lynxgrills.com is organized by the size codes above, and we will match your number to a current model.
The practical difference: Lynx goes bigger (54 inches, against Fire Magic's 48) and offers all-infrared. Fire Magic gives you more grate in the 36 inch size and a built-in digital option.
Which gets hotter and sears better?
Both will put a crust on a ribeye. They just do it differently.
Fire Magic relies on burner output and grate geometry. The Echelon's three cast stainless burners are rated at 96,000 BTU/h combined on the E790i, and the patented Diamond Sear grids have wide, flat tops that put more metal against the food than a round rod does. That is where the heavy grill marks come from. If you want a dedicated infrared zone, you order a 9L configuration with the left-side infrared burner. Fire Magic warrants its in-grill infrared burners for five years.
Lynx relies on infrared. The Trident burner is rated 23,000 BTU, heats the grate directly, and is adjustable from 300 to 1,000 degrees, so you can turn it down for fish or vegetables as well as up for steak. On a TR model one Trident sits beside two ceramic burners. If you want infrared across the whole grate, the all-Trident L42ATR has three. We do not carry an all-infrared Fire Magic.
Our read: if searing is what you buy a grill for, Lynx's Trident is the more controllable tool. If you mostly cook burgers, chicken and vegetables for a crowd and want a big, hot, flat-barred grate, the Echelon does that very well. Reviewers of the Echelon do report flare-ups with fatty food, which is true of any gas grill with real flame under the grate. For the bigger picture, see our infrared versus traditional burners guide and guide to how many BTUs a grill needs.
Which gives more even heat and better control?
Fire Magic's answer is the flavor grid. A perforated stainless grid sits between the burners and the cooking grids, spreads the heat, vaporizes drippings and keeps grease off the burners. On the Echelon the flavor grids have attached heat zone separators, which lets you hold a hot side and a cool side. The cast burners are 1/4 inch thick, weigh up to 12 pounds each, and have a lip above the ports to resist grease clogging.
Lynx's answer is ceramic. The main burners are cordierite ceramic, the material used in kilns, with fixed ceramic briquettes above them, and Lynx says ceramic stays consistent where metal burners change as they heat and cool. Lynx's published 73,000 BTU for the Trident plus two ceramic burners on the 36 inch works out to roughly 25,000 BTU per ceramic burner. Lynx also describes a heat-stabilizing design, which is a claim worth testing in the showroom if your grill will live on a windy rooftop or a waterfront patio.
Both use hot surface ignition, a glowing element instead of a spark, so both need power to light. Fire Magic adds flash tubes as a backup.
From our install team
Stand at both grills in the showroom and look at the grates before anything else. Fire Magic's Diamond Sear bars are wide and flat, so they feel solid and mark food heavily. Lynx's grates are stainless as well, with the Trident burner underneath giving a different kind of heat. Which one you like cooking on is a personal call, and ten minutes of looking settles it faster than any spec sheet.
Which has the better rotisserie?
Both use a rear infrared burner, which is the right design. The differences are in power, size and what is included.
The Echelon E790i has a recessed rear infrared burner rated 13,000 BTU/h under a stainless mesh element, with a stainless cover for when it is not in use (the E660i is 11,000 BTU/h). Fire Magic says its stainless foam element delivers about double the heat per BTU of a standard infrared burner; treat that as the manufacturer's claim. The rotisserie kit has a heavy-duty motor, spit rod, prongs and a counterbalance.
Lynx's rotisserie is a dual-position spit with a heavy-duty three-speed motor, and it is standard on every Professional model. The rear infrared burner is rated 14,000 BTU on the 36 inch and 16,000 on the 42. The 54 inch L54TR carries two 14,000 BTU burners, which is the one rotisserie in this comparison built for several chickens or a whole holiday roast.
The practical advice: with Lynx the rotisserie is always there. With Fire Magic, confirm the kit is in your configuration, because it is optional on Aurora models. Both sell spare spits and forks in our rotisserie kits collection.
Which is built better?
Both are well above the mid-market. Fire Magic states its grills are crafted in the USA from 304 stainless, including the double-wall hood. Lynx builds each grill as one continuous welded body with no mechanical fasteners and hand-polished edges, so there are no seams for grease and moisture to settle in.
Neither publishes sheet gauge, so we use weight and feel as a proxy. Lynx lists a 338 pound shipping weight for the L42TR. Our store spec lists the 30 inch E660i at 245 pounds. Both are heavy enough that the island has to be built properly to carry them.
Where they differ is the burners. Fire Magic's are heavy cast stainless with a lifetime warranty. Lynx's are ceramic that cannot rust. Both are a different animal from the thin tube burners on cheaper grills, and both are replaceable if one ever fails.
Coastal homes need a note. Lynx's warranty specifically excludes marine use and surface rust, and Fire Magic's warranty page we reviewed does not address rust. Neither is marketed as marine grade. For a South Shore, North Shore or Florida install, we treat them the same: fitted grill cover, a fresh-water rinse, and a read of our 304 versus 316 stainless guide.
Not sure which fits your island? Send us the island length, the fuel available and what you cook most, and we will lay out the grill with the side burner, refrigeration and storage around it. Book a free design consultation and we will help you narrow it down.
Which has better controls, lighting and design?
Fire Magic's digital Echelon has a black glass control panel with touchscreen operation and Bluetooth, an underglass digital thermometer you can read on your phone, a digital meat probe, and backlit knobs with a flame icon that turns red when a burner is on. Interior light comes from two angled halogen lamps (three on the 48 inch). If you do not want electronics, the analog Echelon is the same grill with a hood gauge, and the cooking is the same either way.
Lynx keeps controls simple: knobs lit with blue LEDs, dual halogen grill lights, a temperature gauge and the Hood Assist system. Where it pulls ahead on design is color. Lynx offers its stainless plus eight colors (California Poppy, Obsidian, Desert Sage, Limestone, Pacific Blue, Sierra, Glacier and Surf), so a designed kitchen can match.
Both brands build out the rest of the island to match, with side burners (the Fire Magic double and the Lynx Professional double), outdoor refrigeration and storage.
From our install team
The digital panel is a real convenience, and it is also the part of the grill with the shortest warranty. Fire Magic lists lights, thermometer and electronics at one year. If the grill sits where weather reaches the panel, or you will not use the app, we steer people toward the analog Echelon. If you like cooking to a probe temperature from the couch, the digital one earns its keep.
Which has the better warranty?
Both are lifetime on the parts that matter most, and the exceptions differ. Here is how the published terms line up.
| Item | Fire Magic | Lynx Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Main burners | Lifetime: cast stainless burners | Lifetime: Trident and ceramic main burners |
| Cooking grids | Lifetime: Diamond Sear and rod grids | Lifetime: stainless cooking grates |
| Body | Lifetime: stainless steel housing | Lifetime: canopy, rear hood, control panel, bullnose, drip tray (rust covered only if structural). Firebox is 5 years |
| Infrared burner | 5 years: in-grill infrared burners | Trident: lifetime. Rotisserie infrared burner: 5 years |
| Valves, manifold | 15 years: brass valves, manifolds, inner liners, backburner assemblies (excluding ignition) | 5 years (years 2 to 5): manifolds, gas valves, rotisserie motor, ignitor, warming racks |
| Lights, thermometer, ignition | 1 year | Ignitor 5 years; halogen lights covered in the 1 year full warranty |
| Labor | Fire Magic pays a labor allowance for the first two years | First year includes pre-approved service labor; owner pays labor after that |
| Rust and marine | Not addressed on the warranty page we reviewed | Excludes surface rust, discoloration and marine use |
The honest summary: Fire Magic gives you a year more labor and a lifetime on the whole housing. Lynx gives you longer coverage on the ignitor and rotisserie motor and is explicit about what it excludes. Lifetime coverage is for the original purchaser, and commercial use is excluded on both. Terms change, so ask us for the current document before you buy.
What does installation require in New York?
Measure the cutout before the mason does. Fire Magic's E790i and Aurora A790i both use a 37 inch wide, 23-1/2 inch deep, 11-1/2 inch high opening, and the E660i uses 31-1/4 inches wide. Lynx lists 35 x 22 x 10-1/8 inches for the L36TR and 41 x 24-1/2 x 10-7/8 inches for the L42TR. A Fire Magic 36 will not drop into a Lynx 36 opening, or the other way around, without rework.
Both need an electrical outlet for ignition, lights and the rotisserie motor. Lynx specifies a 120 V 15 A GFCI outlet adjacent to the grill. Fire Magic requires 120 V as well. Order the right fuel version from the start; Lynx ships set for one fuel or the other.
In a combustible enclosure, both require protection: Lynx specifies its insulated jacket, and for the E790i and A790i we offer Fire Magic's insulating liner. See our insulated jackets and trim kits. For a covered patio, read our guide to vent hoods over outdoor grills.
In New York City, gas piping has to be done by a Licensed Master Plumber with a DOB permit, and propane tank storage is restricted by the FDNY, so natural gas is usually the easier route in the five boroughs. On Long Island, in Westchester and in New Jersey the local building department handles the gas permit. In a co-op or condo, the board will want the spec sheet and cutout drawing.
From our install team
Build the island to the exact model's cutout sheet, not to a nominal "36 inch grill." We have seen openings sized for one brand that had to be reworked when the customer changed brands after the stone was ordered. Pick the grill first, then frame the island, and keep the clearance sheet to combustible walls and neighboring appliances with the plans.
Our recommended models
We picked these for the jobs where each has a clear reason to exist. Check the fuel type on each listing before you order.
Fire Magic Lynx Medium Grills 27 to 32 Large Grills 34 to 42 XL Grills Over 42 Freestanding Grills American Made Grills
Which should you choose?
Choose Fire Magic if:
- You cook for the family most nights and want the most main grate in a 36 inch grill (792 square inches).
- You like the idea of a digital panel, meat probe and phone monitoring, or a window in the hood.
- You want a lifetime on the entire stainless housing and two years of labor allowance.
- You like wide, flat-topped grates that mark food heavily.
Choose Lynx if:
- Searing is the reason you are buying, and you want a variable 300 to 1,000 degree infrared burner or an all-infrared grill.
- You want a rotisserie included on every model, or a 54 inch grill with two rotisserie burners.
- The kitchen is a designed space and you need a color other than stainless.
- The grill will sit in a windy spot and you want the heat-stabilizing firebox Lynx describes.
Step down a tier if:
- You want Fire Magic's grates and burners without the digital options: look at the Aurora A790i.
- You have a 30 inch island and a tighter budget: the Sedona by Lynx or the Fire Magic Choice and Aurora 30s are the models to compare.
Our recommendation by buyer: for a family cook who wants one big, hot, forgiving grate, we point people to the Fire Magic Echelon Diamond E790i. For a serious steak and roast cook, the Lynx L42TR is the stronger tool, and the L42ATR if you want to go all infrared. For a color-matched designed kitchen, Lynx. For a rooftop or a Long Island waterfront patio, either with a fitted cover and a regular rinse. The one thing we will not do is tell you one is the better grill outright. Ten minutes at both in the Maspeth showroom will tell you which one you like cooking on.
Still comparing brands? Our other grill guides cover Hestan versus Lynx, Hestan versus Twin Eagles, Twin Eagles versus Blaze and Blaze versus Summerset. For sizing, start with 36 versus 42 inch grills and the built-in gas grill buying guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fire Magic better than Lynx?
Neither is better outright. Fire Magic's Echelon Diamond offers more rated BTU and main grate area in the 36 inch size, a digital option and a lifetime on the entire stainless housing. Lynx offers the 23,000 BTU Trident infrared burner (300 to 1,000 degrees), all-infrared models, a rotisserie on every grill, eight colors and a 54 inch size.
Which has the better warranty, Fire Magic or Lynx?
Both are lifetime on the burners and grates. Fire Magic also covers the stainless housing for life and pays a labor allowance for two years, but lists lights, thermometer and ignition at one year. Lynx covers canopy, hood, control panel and bullnose for life, covers labor in year one, and lists the ignitor and rotisserie motor at five years. Lynx excludes marine use.
Are Fire Magic and Lynx grills made in the USA?
Fire Magic states on its site that its grills are crafted in California and the USA. Lynx is headquartered in Downey, California, and its Professional line is sold as American made through dealers, but the Lynx site does not name a factory. If country of origin matters to you, ask us for the current paperwork before you order.
Which grill gets hotter, Fire Magic Echelon or Lynx Professional?
On rated output the 36 inch Echelon E790i is higher: 96,000 BTU/h on three burners, against 73,000 BTU combined for the Lynx L36TR. At the sear itself, the Lynx Trident infrared burner delivers up to 1,000 degrees directly at the grate. Rated BTU is not the same as cooking temperature, so judge by how you cook.
Does Lynx or Fire Magic have better infrared burners?
Lynx. The Trident is a 23,000 BTU variable infrared burner, and Lynx offers all-Trident models. Fire Magic uses a rear infrared burner for the rotisserie and offers an optional left-side infrared burner on some Echelon models.
Which is better for a rotisserie, Fire Magic or Lynx?
Both use a rear infrared burner. The Lynx rotisserie is standard on every Professional model, with a three-speed motor, and the 54 inch has two burners. Fire Magic's Echelon rotisserie is strong too, but the kit is optional on Aurora models, so confirm it is on your order.
Why are Fire Magic and Lynx so expensive?
You are paying for heavy 304 stainless construction, thick cast or ceramic burners, hot surface ignition, lifetime coverage on key parts and factory technical support, plus the island, gas and electrical work needed to install them. Either grill is built to be repaired and kept for many years.
Will a Fire Magic grill fit a Lynx cutout?
Not without checking. The Fire Magic E790i needs a 37 x 23-1/2 x 11-1/2 inch cutout. The Lynx L36TR needs 35 x 22 x 10-1/8 inches. Always build to the cutout sheet for the exact model.
Talk to a specialist
Cook on a Fire Magic and a Lynx side by side before you decide
We have been designing, selling, installing and servicing fire features and outdoor kitchens for over 30 years across New York City, Long Island, Westchester, New Jersey and South Florida. We will configure the grill, draw the island to its cutout sheet, and our crews will install it.
Book a free consultation Call 718-326-4328Showroom: 58-30 Maspeth Ave, Maspeth, Queens.
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Written by the NYC Fireplaces & Outdoor Kitchens team. Last reviewed October 2026. We sell, install and service the products discussed here.
Sources: Fire Magic Echelon E790i, Fire Magic Echelon E660i, Fire Magic Aurora A790i, Fire Magic grill features, Fire Magic product specifications guide, Fire Magic warranty, Fire Magic company, Lynx L42TR, Lynx L36TR, Lynx L54TR, Lynx Trident burner, Lynx ceramic burner, Lynx Professional warranty, Sedona by Lynx warranty. Specifications change; always confirm with the manufacturer's current installation manual.