This is my third Water Softener. In the early '80's I replaced a different brand softener with GE. I liked it right away. I found it more economical on salt. When I moved to a different place, it did not have a softener. I was spoiled by GE water softener I had that I could not stand the water without a softener. I had one installed. Now I am in my third place. First I did was to have a GE 4000 Water Softener installed.
I found GE 4000 efficient, quiet, reliable and effective. I looked at other brands, spoke with other water softener vendors, I found myself back with GE. While the system is very sophisticated, the programming was made very simple.  In using a water softener, I found that I have to make occasional adjustments on the level of the water hardness. Unlike the previous softener I had, I did not have to pull out the manual every time I need to make adjustments. This is a big plus for me.