I only saw one Ventahood where I could try to figure out if the cleaning or the more raw underside would bother me, and it was not connected to power so I don't know about their sound level. I've heard they are quieter and I've heard they are louder. I think the looks of the cages vs baffles would be more of an issue for me. While I was trying to decide whether that was a bit "raw" looking, I was led to a guy at the place where I bought my appliances who said he'd seen and heard both side by side. He said the Best by Broan was better for sound and operation, so I went with it. Very scientific, huh? Unfortunately, buying a vent is like that. I have a 1200 cfm model with an external blower and got the baffles. The blower sits just above my sink on the opposite side of my kitchen (better than the toilet or shower straight above --LOL) and it is quiet when you are outside. I'm not sure that in my set up the remote blower made that much difference. If I'd have another inch or two, I'd have been able to put in a silencer. Most of the time, I run the vent on the lowest setting or up to about 1/3 power -- rarely over 1/2. At that level, the fan on my ovens is as loud. You barely hear it away from the vent, but you will standing right under it. At full power, you will hear it, but even then it is not as loud as the ineffective downdraft my last cooktop had -- with only one speed. If you turn it on when you first start cooking and run it higher for things like fish, popcorn, bacon, you will not smell them all over the house. I made 120 bags of popcorn, both on the stovetop and in the microwave (bags opened under the vent)one afternoon. I delivered them to the school, came home and could not smell any popcorn. Maybe it could be more perfect, but I'm happy with my choice.

I can only relate the following: Once upon a time, there was a company called NuTone that made a lot of stuff, including various fans. They were all warranted for life. They were also well made. The only failures I ever had were with the QT-110 bathroom fan (but not with the QT-80). There was a problem with loosening fit between the motor shaft and the squirrel cage. NuTone replaced QT-110 fan assemblies for me every 8 years or so. Eventually, Broan brought NuTone, and honored their policy for the next 10 years. (For extra credit, find any other company that has done that.) My last replacement cost me, but the interface design seems to have been revised so it may not fail for a long time. My NuTone kitchen upblast roof fan I use for auxiliary venting has lasted since the 70's. Of three attic ventilation fans, only one has needed a motor replacement over 20 - 30 years, depending on the attic. My 1500 cfm rated Wolf hood blower is actually made by Broan. No failure since my kitchen reno was more or less completed in 2011. kas

Mine is from builder. It is one of Thermolec air heaters ( http://www.thermolec.com/en/productView.aspx?type=product&id=77) plus a separate current triggered flapper. The heater tries to heat the air to 15 C (PWM), activated by the air flow. It is a passive one and connects to the air return of the furnace via a 10 inch duct. It is not as sophisticated and highly performed as Kas's.

One of the main contributors to exhaust noise is the ductwork. That is why you can have two homes with identical hoods, and one is loud and the other isn't. If your duct that goes from the hood to the outside is too small, you will have a noisy hood, regardless if you choose Victory or Kobe. So if you want quiet, I'd look first at what diameter is the duct. It needs to be 8" or 10" diameter depending on how many cfms the hood has. If yours is not that big, and you are doing a kitchen renovation, see if you can replace the duct. If you cannot, you will have to live with a noisy hood.