What is an 'economical' (cheaper) blender that is comparable to Blend-tec and another $400 model?

If the blender is too cheap, the blades are weak and all you get is a smokey smell every time you blend.  Here are the best blenders that are at least somewhat comparable to the Blend-tec, but also @ economical prices.  Good luck, and happy blending!   Out of the 3, my personal suggestion is the Waring HPB 300 Professional 2-speed blender, which I've seen on sale from time to time at Walmart.  So definitely check it out! 

I'm not sure how 'low' you wanted to go, but I have found that owners posting to http://www.Amazon.com mostly agree, saying that the Oster 6684 is a good value blender for a budget price. They like the glass jar and find that it makes smoothies from soft fruit and purees soups with ease. However, both professional reviewers and consumers report that the Oster 6684 blender is noisy and sometimes leaves chunks of ice behind in smoothies and icy drinks. Some find its many buttons, which stick out from the base, difficult to clean. Hope this helps!