Stihl MS 661 C-M Magnum vs Husqvarna 572 XP
Tinted cells mark the better figure on that row alone: more engine, longer bar, lighter, cheaper. A lighter weight is only a win on the same basis.
What owners like and complain about
Stihl MS 661 C-M Magnum
- M-Tronic auto-tuning means no carb screws — it compensates for altitude, temperature, and fuel quality on its own
- 16.4 lb powerhead carrying 7.2 hp is excellent power-to-weight for a 90cc saw
- Buries a 28-32 inch bar in hardwood without bogging — the go-to powerhead for Alaskan mills
- 20% better fuel economy than the old MS 660 it replaced
- Decade-plus of forum history with a reputation for surviving years of commercial abuse
- Every Stihl dealer can service it, and the parts network is unmatched
- Roughly $1,850 before tax — the price has climbed several hundred dollars in a few years
- Overkill for most users; MS 462 owners rightly point out theirs is 3 lbs lighter for 90% of the work
- Thirsty in sustained cuts — milling users report burning through tanks quickly
- Stihl gas-saw warranty is only 1 year consumer / 3 months commercial unless you buy the oil promo
- Dealer-only sales, so pricing varies by region and there are no retailer reviews to compare
Husqvarna 572 XP
- 4.3 kW output pulls 24-28 inch bars through hardwood without bogging
- AutoTune eliminates carb fiddling across altitude and fuel changes
- Best-in-class cooling and filtration for sustained full-load work
- Low vibration for a 70cc saw — full-shift usable
- Flat torque curve deep in the cut, the X-Torq signature
- Pro-grade magnesium construction built for years of rebuilds
- Bar studs back off in use — the most-repeated owner fault; the chain can dull itself against the guard before you notice, and owners run thread-locker on the studs or check the nuts every few tanks
- Hot starting is the fault that moves owners to Stihl; it is worst a few minutes after shutdown, and setting the fast idle is the workaround
- $1,349 list and dealer-only — a working tool's price tag
- 1.3 lb heavier than the Stihl MS 462 it battles — 14.5 lb against 13.2, a wider gap than the brochures suggest
- Early-production cylinder issues still color forum sentiment despite the fix
- AutoTune diagnostics require a dealer visit
- Vastly more saw than any homeowner workload justifies