As far is I know the Maytag has more cycles over the Duet.
Maytag doesn't have a "Bulky" cycle but adds "Rinse Drain & Spin", "Express Wash", "Soak" and a "Drain/Spin" cycle over the Duet.

Hi there,

I own the wfw9400 whirlpool duet. The differances between the two, from what I understand, (correct me if I'm wrong) Is that the Duet in fact has more cycles. 14 vs 12. This changes with the wfw9600 model. The maytag is missing the clean washer cycle and the bulky wash cycle. Maytag has a rinse hold, Duet does not. The shock abosorbers are tauted as been the same. However, Duet shocks are better from previous model year. Wash cycle times are less with Maytag. This was discussed in another post. The Epic has porcelain top on the 9700 model, Whirlpool dependant on colour choice does not. The paint finish on the Epic is better than Duet. Both have direct inject. The ATC runs on 5 temperatures on the Duet, 4 on the Epic. I believe cold wash is tap cold on Epic. Door hinges are different, but I belive the locking mechanisms are the same.

I think that's it.

Sorry,
To clarify, I was comparing the duet wfw 9400 to the Epic mfw9700 model.

Other models available, the mfw9600 Epic and the wfw9600 Duet have fewer cycles and less options. (prewash and presoak). Not sure if ATC is the same on these models. Porcelain top may not be available in the Epic and they only come in white.

Because of the door handle design on the Epic washer (it extends more than an inch beyond the outer circumference of the door), the Epic door would not be able to be opened all the way in our laundry room. There is a cabinet 54 1/2" from the wall behind where the washer must be placed. The door handle on the Epic would smack into the cabinet, whereas the Duet washer's door, which is opened by a hand-grip toward the center of the door, will clear the cabinet by at least 1/2" and likely by 1".

correction, lol

two other models are Epic 9600 and Duet 9200.

After our 5 yr old Kenmore front-loader's bearings were shot(apparently a common occurrence with that model), we were looking at the Duet and Epic 9700. We ended up going with a white Epic(they do offer black for $100 more). Home Depot was running the 10% off with new credit card + $75 gift card + $50 energy star rebate. Retail price was $899, but net price after discount, gift card and rebate was $685. We couldn't pass up on that price. We've used the machine a week and love it. We also got the pedestal and it is still very quiet(on basement floor). It seems to be built very well, at least compared to the Kenmore.

Just one thought on the Duet/Epic thing. My mom has the Duet 9400, long story short, she wanted the kitchen aid at the time. Since the merger of Whirlpool\Maytag, they just took the kitchen aid machine and re-branded it as the Epic. To the point, the Epic has a more heavy duty door hinge, and the dryer door is reversible, WITHOUT having to BUY a kit to reverse it. Not sure, but i think the warranty is longer, i.e. parts *and* labor for two years on the Epic. If I am wrong on the warranty thing, I'm sure I will quickly be corrected. Anyway, just something to consider.

Update on previous post, I was wrong about the warranty. Seems Whirljunk has lowered its warranty to just one year, period. The Epic does indeed have the cleaning program as do older Duets, it just is not on the knob, its programmable.

Having serviced my mothers machine after having the baffles fall out of the drum, and seeing the interior of the machine and its toy like build quality, I would stay away from both of them!!!

Turns out the screws that hold the baffles in place from the outside of the inner tub were never installed at the factory, I had to disasemble the entire machine to replace them the correct way. Just one month out of warranty, Whirlpool basically said "too bad" the cheap plasic baffles aren't covered, just the stainless.

I'm sure glad I bought a Miele for myself:)!!

Hi sssnetboy26

I cannot recall reading anywhere in the manual regarding programmable cleaning cycle for the Epic. In light of those who are unaware of the clean washer cycle, can you post the program.

regards

sssnetboy, we have a 6 year old Duet. One of the drum baffles cracked after my son washed some sneakers. He had forgotten to remove his treasure (a good size piece of Atlantic ocean coral). To make a long story short, you do not need to take the whole machine apart to replace a baffle.

The top machine panel is removed (3 screws), then a flexible black hose from the dispenser is pulled off the top of the outer tub. From this hole, you access the baffle mounting tab by simply rotating the drum until the tab appears in the opening. Pull up on the tab and slide the old baffle off from inside the drum. Intstall the new part using the included stainless steel screw. Takes all of 15 minutes to replace all three.

You are right, it would be nice if the baffles were formed into the drum, but, I wonder what condition the drum would be in from that rock bouncing around in there? The baffles were a inexpensive and easy fix. What part of your mothers machine did you believe to be "toylike"? My washer weighs a ton and I didn't see anything inside that looked chintzy. This was our 1st problem with the machine after thousands of washings that was an caused by a careless mistake. I guess it depends upon one's viewpoint as to what is considered a problem?

By the way, repair information can be easily found at Whirlpools servicematter.com website.

charlyinfl:

OMG!!! I am an idiot!!! I had no idea. I took the entire front part of the drum off, which included disassembling all the tubes, dispenser, wiring from the motor, etc. The project was a nightmare! If only I had known!?!? Its a good thing I took it apart anyway, there were scrunchies caught in the heater and a literal tool box worth of junk caught in the drain assembly. Next time I will know better.

You have to not mind my opinion, I have a Miele. The counter weights are cast iron rather than cement, the outer tank is stainless, the wiring is very heavy duty, the heater is bolted in as opposed to being just held with a rubber gasket, and I have SS baffles, etc... So for me to see the Duet components was a shock. I paid 1800 for my machine, paid 1400 for mom's machine(GHW9460Pl0) and mine is built 10 times better for only $400 more. I certanly hope the machine lasts her for several years, I can't afford to buy her another one!! LOL

sb-laund:

Yes I can post the sequence which works for *all* full size front loaders *manufactured* by Whirlpool, except for the new Kitchen Aid.
1. Control on
2. Select Rinse\Spin
3. Select Warm\Cold
4. Select Low Spin
5. Select End Signal to Soft(er)
6. Press the Extra Rinse button 4 times in a row within 5 seconds.

You will hear 3 or 4 rapid tones, the machine will sense for a few minutes then display the code Ab. At this time you add 1\3 cup of bleach ONLY to the Main Wash compartment with the detergent divider removed. Voila! The machine will run through a really cool cycle where the drum fills with a high water level, and the drum turns very fast, thereby cleaning the seal, outer tub, etc. I saw all the gunk in there when I took mom's machine apart, and trust me, you want to clean it!!!

It recommends if doing this for the first time use 1 cup bleach, subequent monthly cleanings, you use 1\3 cup.

Hope that does it for you, let me know if it works. Oh I just noticed the above posted link. That should do it!

Thank you for providing the cleaning cycle program sequence.

One of the deciding factors, for us, for going with the Whirlpool was that the Epic did not have the cleaning cycle or bulky wash cycle. I wonder if the salespeople are aware of this program? Probably....Not.