I haven't looked at current specs or installation instructions but I did my downdraft install and duct design. First, your inline blower set off sirens in my head. Please have Dacor mail you their specs and confirm that their current spec permits the inline blower. For me it was 6 weeks from receiving specs from them until I purchased the unit and installed the ILB. They changed specs without notice (I found out accidentally) and then it took a lot of calling and arguing to get them replace the ILB with a remote blower. When I did my install, the cutout for the dd adjoined (and was narrower than) the ct cutout. The dd does not come apart. It was lowered straight down through the counter cutout and screwed to the bottom of the cabinet. Mine is in a standard depth cabinet in an island. I ducted through the back of the cabinet and down between the floor joists and then a run to outside to the remote blower. I then installed cabinets behind the island on a platform raised 9". In the 9" space is the ductwork curving into the floor, the gas shutoff valve, the junction box for the oven (undercounter next to the cooktop). All wrapped with house matching panels. So the counter must be installed first. You need to be able to access the front of the unit to anchor it to the cabinet floor. You have to plug it in to the outlet. (My outlet is installed in the far back floor of the cabinet.) You have to be able to access the side that you are going to be attaching to the ducts; I vented through the back but my unit had more than one option. You need the right tools. I had a couple of very large drill bits and what I believe was an electric coping saw to cut the cabinet backs as necessary. You need to be able to access it for servicing. My island back cabinets with house matching panels fit together like a puzzle but removing 4 screws lets you move a cabinet (with attached panels) to expose the the duct attachment. (Removing one screw from a panel for the gas shutoff, another screw from another panel for the oven junction box., I have 18" drawers (standard is 21") under the cooktop that all come out to allow access to the unit.

It's not too loud most of the time, but is noticeable when the room is otherwise quiet. I am staring to get used to the sounds made by the cooktop. They are louder when the pan is cold or empty, and the sizzling or bubbling does effectively cover up the tick-buzz rhythm. It also varies depending on what utensil is being, used with cast iron being the quietest. My Calphalon Contemporary Stainless 10" skillet is the noisiest , but a similarly sized Scanpan non-stick makes only moderate noise as does the 3 qt. Calphalon saute' pan. I guess it has to do with resonant frequencies and the physics of the situation. Since I really like the cooking performance, layout, efficiency and easy cleaning of the stove I will learn to live with the sounds it generates. My only other complaint with the unit is the childproof lock. I have no need for a nanny looking over my shoulder making sure I don't do anything dangerous. The unit doesn't even turn on unless there's a appropriately sized magnetic object on top and shuts off if it gets too hot. There are no locks on other types of cooktops. It is annoying to have to wait for the controls to unlock, but I have found that if I put a wet sponge on the "key", it will enable the controls while I do other things. Is there a way to permanently disable the lock feature for us grown-ups?

We have our first induction cooktop, a Wolf, after cooking exclusively on gas. the cooktop does not make the very annoying noise, but certain pans do. We have only Le Creuset and All Clad, both of which we were told were recommended for induction cooktops. No sound from the Le Creuset, but certain All Clad pans seem to be worse than others. In our experience the frying pans are the worst. Heavier pots and saucepans not as much. And, for whatever reason, one particular non stick pan was the worst of all, so we stopped using it because it was THAT ANNOYING.

I am very happy with both my cooktop and my all clad D5 cookware, kjente. The pots cook like a dream and carry the heat beautifully. We cook a lot of pasta and I love how fast it boils water. It is a breeze to keep clean, so I maintain a sparkling cooktop all the time, unlike my days of gas. The stainless steel framing has stayed on, and there have been no chips or other issues with my JA. All in all, I am a very happy camper! Side note: My bro in law loves to cook, and is really good in the kitchen. He thinks cooktops must be gas to be most effective. He has said that he would be too concerned about shattering the glass with all his banging around in the kitchen. To each his own :-)