The 346xp is the best saw ever, you'll have to pry it from my cold dead fingers, I like when guys say that
.
And don't tell my 550 that
. They are one of my favorite saws to run, but the 550 has some great features that the 346 doesn't. The captured bar nuts is a nice time saver(ever have to find one in the brush or snow
), the fuel gauge window is nice, the side tensioner is great, the fuel economy is outstanding(one of the main reasons I run it over the 346's on jobs), the flippy caps are the best, the return to run on the master control switch is also a time saver, and as derf said out of the box they are much quicker than the 346.
While all the above are true there are a few things that can be done to help the 346 "catch up" in some of these areas, others not so much.
The biggest advantage I see with the 346 is that no dealer support is needed like on the 550.
To bad they went and put that grey paint on it, bring back the all orange, best feature about the early 346!
Edit; I also personally like the primer bulbs on the 346ne and the 550, it's like a fuel system inspection bubble that doubles as a primer, or is it the other way around. It's nice to grab a saw that hasn't been run in a while prime it and to have it fire up just as if you ran it yesterday. If you go to buy one and the primer bulb looks like crap the fuel system likely needs an overhaul.