Fire Magic Aurora A660i Review: Specs, BTU & Real-World Cooking
The Fire Magic Aurora A660i is the middle-tier 34-inch built-in grill from RH Peterson Company's flagship line, and it's the model most of our shoppers land on when they've narrowed down from the entry-tier Choice series and don't need the Echelon's premium features. This review walks through the specs, install considerations, and what actually differs from the smaller A540i below it and the larger A790i above.
Note: Fire Magic is a MAP-strict brand. Pricing and any promotional language are set by the manufacturer, not the dealer — we can't quote a sale price here. Availability and current pricing are on the product page.
Full spec sheet
Spec · Value
Cook surface · 660 sq in
Warming rack · 231 sq in (adjustable)
Main burners · 3 × 25,000 BTU cast stainless steel
Total main BTU · 75,000
Ignition · Hot-surface (120 VAC / 12V)
Cook grids · Diamond Sear stainless steel
Cutout width · 31 1/4"
Cutout height · 11 1/2"
Cutout depth · 23 1/2"
Interior lighting · Halogen
Fuel · Natural gas or propane
Warranty · Lifetime cookbox & grids, 15 yr brass valves & manifold, 1 yr electronics
Source: Aurora A660i product page.
What actually differs from the A540i and A790i
The Aurora line runs A430i (2 burners) → A540i (3 burners, smaller) → A660i (3 burners, mid) → A790i (3 burners, larger) → A830i (charcoal). The A660i is where most outdoor kitchens land because 34" is the industry-standard cutout — the same size a Summerset TRL Pro, an AOG T-Series, or a Broilmaster P4 takes.
vs A540i: The A540i is 30" wide with a 540 sq in surface. Same 3 burners, same total BTU (75,000), just squeezed narrower. If you're building a compact outdoor kitchen and the cabinet is already sized for 30", buy the 540i and don't rebuild. If the cabinet isn't finalized, the 660i gives you meaningfully more real estate — you can grill 24 burgers vs 18 without crowding.
vs A790i: The A790i is 40" wide with 792 sq in and 90,000 BTU. It adds a 4th burner and roughly 20% more cook surface. Buy the 790i if you regularly cook for 8+ people or want the extra room for indirect zones with a rotisserie in the middle. Otherwise the A660i is the sweet spot.
What the Diamond Sear grids actually do
Fire Magic uses their "Diamond Sear" grids across the Aurora and Echelon lines. These are heavy stainless steel bars ground to a diamond-cross-section — the top edge is narrow and sharp, which concentrates heat contact into a thin line and produces the crosshatch sear marks people expect from a steakhouse grill.
The practical difference vs. a flat stainless rod: at 600–700°F grid temp, sear marks show up in ~2 minutes on a 1" ribeye instead of the ~4 minutes you get on a rounded grid. Not a magic feature — physics — but the grid geometry matters.
Hot-surface ignition is why this grill starts every time
The A660i uses hot-surface ignition rather than the traditional piezo-spark. That means an electric element (like a small oven's igniter) heats to red-hot and lights the gas as it flows.
Practical implications:
- Wired 120 VAC power required at the install location. A dedicated GFCI outlet inside the island is the standard hookup. Don't discover this after the mason has finished.
- Zero cold-weather misfires. Piezo ignition famously fails below 40°F in humid coastal air. Hot-surface doesn't.
- Fails as a unit if the module goes. 1-year electronics warranty covers replacement; it's a $200 module. Every 5–8 years, expect to replace it.
If you're grilling year-round in a wet climate (Pacific NW, coastal Northeast, Southeast humidity), the hot-surface is worth the extra 20% price over a spark-ignition equivalent alone.
Install notes we run into repeatedly
- Non-combustible cabinet clearances: 6" min on each side, 24" min above (measured from the hood at max height), 4" behind. Combustible cabinet material (wood, plywood, framed drywall) requires the Fire Magic insulating liner installed inside the cutout — factor another 1 1/4" per side.
- Gas line sizing: 75,000 BTU at 5–14" WC requires a 3/4" gas line minimum for anything longer than 25 ft from the meter. Undersized lines are the most common install issue we see — the grill lights, cooks fine for 10 minutes, then loses flame as pressure drops. Have your plumber size the run, not eyeball it.
- Electrical: GFCI-protected 15A minimum. Some builders will try to piggyback on the exterior kitchen lighting circuit. Don't — the surge from the hot-surface element trips the GFCI every time.
What we'd actually buy alongside it
The A660i ships as a "grill head only" — no rotisserie, no smoker box. For most cooks, the two additions worth adding on the same order:
- Rotisserie kit — 12,000 BTU infrared back burner is optional on the A660i (spec it as the "Rotisserie" version). Adds ~$400 to the order but eliminates the retrofit later.
- Analog thermometer replacement / upgrade — the standard analog is fine; the digital upgrade is a nice-to-have but not necessary.
We don't recommend the rotisserie backburner add-on if you don't already own a rotisserie motor and spit — the burner alone is useless without the assembly.
Who should NOT buy this grill
- Renters: the A660i is head-only, no cart. If you might move in 3–5 years, buy the Aurora Portable version instead (same head, cart-mounted, same performance).
- Cooks who prioritize BTU/sq-in: the A660i's 114 BTU/sq-in is mid-pack for premium built-ins. If raw searing heat is the #1 priority, the AOG T-Series or a dedicated infrared like the Solaire lineup outperform here.
- Small outdoor kitchens: in a 30" cabinet the A540i is the correct spec, not the 660i. Don't cram a 34" grill into a 30" hole with a shim.
Verdict
The Aurora A660i is the default answer for a mid-size built-in outdoor kitchen at the $4,000–$5,500 tier. It out-cooks anything under it, ties or slightly under-performs the AOG T-Series at the same price point, and outlasts anything in its class because the cookbox itself is warranted for life.
If your cabinet is 34" and you're building an outdoor kitchen you plan to keep for a decade, this is the grill.
FAQ
Can the A660i run on propane? Yes. Order it as NG or LP; conversion later is possible with an orifice kit but adds ~$150 in parts and 30 minutes of labor.
Does it come with the rotisserie backburner? No — it's an option (the "with rotisserie backburner" variant). Order it configured, don't retrofit.
How does the A660i compare to Summerset TRL Pro 32"? Same cook surface class. TRL Pro is $500–$1,000 less. Aurora has heavier stainless and a longer cookbox warranty. TRL Pro has faster preheat (higher BTU per burner) but shorter overall lifespan expectations.
What's the real difference between Aurora and Echelon? Echelon adds the "Diamond Sear" grids across all models, an interior wind guard, faster preheat, and a magnetic hood catch. Aurora is the same cookbox with fewer accessories baked in. If you shop the Echelon E660i, expect $1,000–$1,500 more for features you may or may not use.
Ready to spec? See the full Aurora A660i on our product page, or browse the whole Fire Magic lineup side-by-side. Every Fire Magic grill on our site ships with RH Peterson's full manufacturer warranty as an authorized dealer.