We're coming from an older low-model dishwasher that was so loud we had to turn the TV volume up two rooms away whenever it was running, so maybe our starting point is a little skewed.  But we absolutely love how quiet this dishwasher is - it's hard to hear even when standing right next to it.  AND it gets the dishes super clean, which was not something we could say about our previous freight train... I mean, dishwasher.  We also appreciate the many cycle options and have found that the "half load" cycle gets things spotless for most full loads.  Couldn't be happier, especially with the custom panel we installed to match our existing cabinets.