I use it for about a month.
I am not at all agree with the criticism of the preamps, I find them excellent. Zoom has done a good job in isolating the correct four preamps, the XLR is fully covered with copper sheets and those of the MIC are stashed at the bottom of the metal part.

The problem of breath when recording with microphones integrated calm is that these microphones provide themselves with the breath and are not very sensitive.
If you are in a quiet room and you turn up the gain to the max, it's that breath you hear is amplified, not the preamps.
It is also possible that the source impedance is not matched to that of the input.
The breath-induced preamp is very low and very soft, about -90 dB. If the noise is low enough that this breath is embarrassing, it's likely that you are dead.
I said that the mics are a good compromise given the price of the unit, they were intended simply to record concerts, not insects.

I recently did a recording in very quiet environment with DPA 4060 to the MIC jack and I get an impressive dynamic range. When I normalizes silent passages, I hear it's the highway that was 9 kilometers from there, not breathing. I know, these microphones are worth three times the price of the device, but it proves that the preamps are not involved.

I also have a Nagra ARES-PII + and an M-Audio DMP3, ear and I find it difficult to say which of the three has the least wind.

Beware of prejudice, recently I had a great time reading a discussion on the H4, the H4N and the Sony PCM-D50. The guy had provided excerpts of tapes and 8 out of 10 Internet users (who were obviously cracks) agreed that the registration of H4 was rdique m *, while the Sony was excellent. Until someone noticed that both files are exactly alike!

Now, to speak ill of H4N:

I regret terribly the sound of keys. If you use the built-in microphones, prohibition to make any adjustment during recording, not even the headphone volume, unless the optional remote.

One of my current recording has stopped because of the batteries and the file ended up corrupt. I had all the trouble to get it back, for sure it's not very pro.

I have no idea of ​​the utility can reduce the gain to 0.1. Below 1, it only reduces the amplitude. Clearly, with the gain to 0.1, a recording will be saturated at-30dB ... Fortunately, this saturation will still be clearly indicated by the flashing frenzy of entry.

I also regret a little that is slightly too thick to be discreetly stashed in a pocket, and a little heavier than expected. Ah, but that's because it is the quality good sir.

I read some reviews on the SD card door. Yes it is a bit soft, but I do not see how dangerous this may cause.

The supplied windscreen is not transparent, I think you get the best results with a scarf.

On the integrated MP3 compression, there is a lowpass at 16 kHz, certainly classic, but regrettable nonetheless. It's probably psychological, but I can not bring myself to use it.

It is also full of functions, many of which are intended for musicians (filters, tools, etc.).

In short, I bought € 290, and unless you are totally snob, I do not see how one could deny that the price / quality ratio is excellent!