This blender is great for crushing things to the right consistency and keeping things inside the container. The lid stays on well, almost too well sometimes but that is a good thing. It may be a little bit quieter than some blenders but not enough to notice, and really I do not expect much from a blender on the sound factor. The blender itself is very powerful and works quickly and I love that it comes with the smoothie drink cup. Another great thing is the lid has both a pour spout and ingredient slot. The flat buttons on front make the outside just as easy to clean as the inside. Overall I really like this blender. [This review was collected as part of a promotion.]