If you have never used the LCD's before, the first 2 weeks is like torture, but with some adjustments, you get used to them. I was going to sell my LCD3F because I thought it was impossible to live with, I am sure glad I didn't because it doesn't bother me at all now. I found I had to stretch the headband quite a lot to reduce the pressure on the side of my head and it also reduced the high vacuum effect you get with Audeze leather pads, inserting the foam rings stopped the fazors touching my ears too so no more heat at all now. The carbon fibre headband on the LCD4 should also reduce the hot spot on top. I am not exactly sure what is causing your ears to heat up because when I tested the LCD4, the headband pressure was perfect but it might be too tight on some LCD4's on some people.
So this got me thinking... how does one go about stretching the carbon fibre headband, is it even possible like it was with the steel one?
On the other matter regarding LCD4 driver failures, I hope it is just a glitch in the matrix for a new product. Luckily I haven't had any driver failures thus far but with all the horror stories around here, every time I pick up my LCD3F I am hoping it has not died. I thought upgrading to the LCD4 could have also fixed that feeling for me but with reports of driver failures already and with no feedback from Audeze, sadly I don't have much confidence these days and this could possibly be a repeat of the LCD3 fiasco. I think I will wait a year or so while I still have warranty left on the LCD3F and let the guinea pigs test out the LCD4 first. 1 or 2 failures I could probably put up with on the LCD4 since it is so great sounding but 3, 4 or 5 (as was common with the LCD3) is pushing the friendship. I think it is just too risky to jump in right now for such an expensive hp $6399AUD, maybe I would if I was in the US.