We went from an over the range microwave to this. There’s no comparison between the two as far as ventilation. We couldn’t vent outside due to the second story above our kitchen so we opted for this model that recirculates the air. Does a much better job venting and looks a lot nicer too. Several people remarked about how loud it is. It is a little loud, but not any louder than our microwave. The lights are very bright too which is a great feature. We purchased the recommended filter separately. Our contractor said it was a fairly easy install. Overall, we’re happy with our purchase.