Not at all. Nor does sound mean a better machine. But a small, quiet Salton at 250 watts is going to take longer to dry than a louder, 600 watt Excalibur simply by means of a smaller fan, different design, etc. On the other hand, a loud Excalibur isn't necessarily more efficient than a smaller Cosori, either. It really comes down to how the machine is made, the power it has, and sound is just a byproduct of design.