I have run a couple original version 346's quite a few hours. They do have better AV and air filteration without a doubt. The AV on the 026 isn't bad enough to cause me any problems as long as its maintained. There is a lot of old 026's the AV buffers have never been changed , the sprocket and chain are not so good that it vibrates worse then a low hour well maintained saw. I wonder how many 026 saws like that are compared to a newer hardly used 346. I bought the 026 woody ported a while back and the first thing I noticed it is way smoother then the 026 pro I had been using, as a matter of fact it feels smoother then my buddies well used 346 I use when I help him in his tree service.I never could tell that either 346 is any more powerful then an average 026. Most the 026's I run were well used and some of them felt significantly stronger then others. Either 1 of the two feel likes a turd to me in comparison to an 034 for power. I myself feel better swinging and reaching with the 026 over the 346. I raced an 346 with an 55 and won 1 of 2 , but I may have had an sharper chain.Raced a differant 1 with a 111 sachs dolmar and it was close but I had my drags filed a little much and couldn't hear my engine well because the 346 exhaust was coming at my ear and couldnt keep the chain from sticking.
I'd have to say whats best for 1 person isn't necessarily best for another, and I will not by either is way better or worse then the other .
