On dryers, it seems the bigger the better. As it has been noted, it is possible with the larger washers like Miele W48xx, Duets, HE5t, etc, to actually overload the dryer. I had the Miele T9800 for about 5 months. Some observations. Overall a good dryer. List price is actually reasonable (I paid $1200). A little smaller at 6.4CF than other competitive dryers (7-7.3CF). And limited temp controls and very limited manual timer/temp options. Almost too limited, YMMV. Loud, but bearable (mostly air flow sounds). Nice SS drum, filter, all glass door, and reverse tumble. Normal setting sometimes slightly under dried clothes, but not a big problem. I now have the HE5t matching Kenmore (Whirlpool) dryer. As posted, I returned my Miele W48xx machines. I did considered for a while just keeping (or getting another Miele T9800 dryer) to go with the HE5t. Eventually matching considerations and the ridiculously low price I ended up getting both the HE5t and dryer. The Kenmore high-end dryer as compared to the Miele is bigger (7 vs 6.4 CF), shocking quite (like real quite), seems to dry about the same- time/dry level. Very flexible temp control and timer/temp options. Almost overkill. but nice to have. Digital readouts (including time remaining) instead of Miele status LED indicators. No SS drum nor option to get one. Overall pleased but lack of SS drum is concern. If the Miele dryer was a little larger, a little quieter and had more manual temp/controls, it would be strong contender. The Miele looks like a high quality dryer, the Kenmore looks so-so. Looked at LG, and Samsung dryers. Both had SS drum options, but overall quality level seem to be more in the Kenmore/Whirlpool range and price about the same as Kenmore. Where LG and Samsung lead if a very big 7.3 CF capacity. So far I have not missed reverse tumble. I had it both on the Miele and older Bosch dryers. I don't think you need it on these larger dryer (or need is very reduced). On the Miele T9800, the reverse tumble was actually used very little of the time. It was also interesting on the reverse tumble phase because the dryer suddenly would get very quite- apparently just reduced air flow noise. This indicated the noise was not the mechanics of drum but just motor noise and air flow issues. My gut feel is the Miele could (or should) cut the air flow back for home use. For a commercial dryer, it is probably ok, but most home users would make the trade-off easily. Also, it is sucking your conditioned air out your home at a high rate. So no free lunch on reduced drying time (if any) over other more standard dryers. In a basement- yes. Upstairs- no.

> Fagor makes good machines too, but they need 220 lines They work better, or at least much faster, than any other W/D combo sold in the US for that reason - the powerful 2500 watt internal heater quickly heats the water during the wash cycle for better cleaning, than speeds drying (and reduces wear on clothes) by shortening the dry cycle because it can draw 2500 watts rather than only 1000 watts typical for drying on a 110 volt combo dryer. But Fagor is in financial trouble (bankrupt, with two companies that may or may not buy their assets and honour their warranties) They've pulled their laundry machines from their US website, though several seem to remain in the pipeline. LG is the only manufacturer with a large US presense selling combo W/Ds in America, and the only one selling oversize machines of the size now common in new washers and dryers, that can wash and dry a load almost as big as an old top-load washer could wash. But both their large and small combos are hobbled by 120 volt/15 amp electricals, which can only draw 1/4 of the power used by a standard American dryer and are thus dog-slow.

Over the past 20 years, I have had several Miele electric dryers, one Samsung and one Electrolux. MIELE, MIELE, MIELE!! They are the ONLY one with true reverse tumbling (no wrinkles & �ber soft, fluffy clothes, sheets and towels). The clothes are never over baked (I use Normal + Gentle option) for 99% of all my laundering. Miele is one of the only machines, where the mositure sensor is actually on one of the paddles(fins), so moisture is measured and read very consistently and accurately! I would NOT consider any other brand, after having Miele! On a side note, my Electrolux Wave Touch electric dryer was better than the Samsung I had (Electrolux capacity is awesome), but the build quality is a little suspect! Also, the Miele and Electrolux are not far in price difference! Miele, Miele, Miele!! ;)

Like I've posted a few times before, clothes washers are saving far more energy and water than necessary to earn the Energy Star rating. They're doing it to earn a $250/unit tax credit, paid directly to the manufacturer. In theory, this gives the industry an incentive to build efficient washers that consumers are willing to buy. But just about everyone thinks that today's overly-efficient washers are required by law, so they think they're powerless to reject them. Therefore, the industry gets their tax credit ($250/unit is a lot of money) while letting us think we have no choice. Even the Home Editor of Consumer Reports didn't believe it at first, when I told him how the system works. Now CR knows about it, but won't educate the public by including the facts in their reports.