The Samsung washers with VRT should be ok on a second floor. They still may vibrate more than a TL machine though.
My only concern with Samsung is getting service, make sure someone local can handle repairs.

Second floor installations can be tricky, noise is usually not the concern, it is the shacking during the high speed spin that causes issues, like, making pictures fall off of walls. All machines will make about the same noise during the final spin, some may be quieter during the wash cycle.

For a second floor, unless you just built the house and used sistered joists, I would go with a HE TL machine, or the Samsung VRT models that you listed, if you have local service. As with LG, some seem to work fine, others seem to be more problomatic.

Thank you very much for your prompt reply. Are there any models for HE TL models you would recommend?

I guess having laundry on the second floor is not the best solution afterall.

First off, what kind of machine do you have currently? If you have a traditional TL, I would go with a HE TL machine. The Whirlpool Cabrio/Maytag Bravos machines are a 4.5 cu ft HE TL machine that most people here seem happy with. The HE Fisher & Paykel models (Aquasmart WL26cw2 with LCD display and the WL37T26d with a touch panel) are similar to the Cabrio/Bravos models and are a little bit smaller at 3.7 Cu ft. I currently have the Aquasmart WL26cw2 and love it. It is quiet during the wash cycle, and moderately noisy during spin, which is true of all machines that spin fast. It is not annoying at all, my machine is on the main floor (ranch style house) and you can really only hear the final spin, and only if you are close to the laundry room. It is much quieter than my old TL Maytag belt drive unit.

If you currently have a FL machine you may not be that impressed with the HE TL machines. The Whirlpool Duet HT machines seem to be ok on second floors, my neighbor has a duet pair on the second floor and only has balance issues on larger bulky items. I would stay away from the Duet Sport models, my sister ended moving them to the basement, it was the only way to stop them from shaking. FL machines are heavy (some are over 200 lbs) and you get that weight moving in a vertical motion and the wood floor joists flex, and in my sisters older home, caused the 100 year old plaster to crack and start crumbling.

If you have service available in your area, the Samsung models you were first thinking about, may be the best choice, at least vibration wise.

Thank you for your prompt reply.
Currently I do own 5 year old mid-range Whirpool TL washer and I'm happy with it, however it is a little bit noisy and it is the basement. In 2 months I'm moving to a new house and I'll be buying new washer+dryer. My laundry room is on the second floor.

Due to the price difference I might opt for HE TL machine.

I'll look if I can find F&P Aquasmart WL26cw2 or Whirpool Cabrio in my area?

Sorry for asking stupid question, but I will need to buy special detergent for HE TL such as the WL26cw2 or Cabrio?

Thanks for your help.

I believe the HE detergent is recommended on the F/P toploaders. I have read some very bad reviews on the Cabrios. I've been struggling to decide which washer/dryer set to get as well. I'm trying to decide between the Fisher Paykel TL or the whirlpool duet FL. Our laundry room will also be on the 2nd floor. It seems like every appliance I've researched has gotten bad reviews somehow. I'm not sure if it's just because those who are unhappy are more likely to go back and rate the product! Good luck

The F&P Intuitive Eco and Eco Smart washers have a agitator just like your whirlpool and require no special detergent.

The HE TL machines "recommend" the use of HE detergent due to over sudsing. Since the HE TL uses a shower of concentrated soapy water to help clean, too many suds can cut down on cleaning effectiveness. You can just use less detergent as an alternative. I am using Charlie's Soap and love it.

As for availability? I live in Oshkosh WI and six retailers (including Lowe's) carried F&P products. They are very simple to work on and Sears carries parts for F&P. I am very happy with my Aquasmart, and I use it a lot, I just passed 400 washes yesterday. (The machine recommends a "clean me" cycle every 100 washes).

My Aunt has a F&P Eco Smart GWL15 and loves it also, and that machine is probably one of the best bargains in TL machines out there, ~$500-550 IIRC. My other Aunt has a Cabrio (two months old) and is very happy, although I have heard that Whirlpool has done software upgrades to add more water during washes to help clothes rollover and prevent tangling. If that is a concern, I have not heard many complaints about the Maytag Bravos machines.

Granted I wish I could afford a Miele and/or redo the laundry room so I FL machine will fit, but I can't. So I got the best and most affordable machine that would fit, and the F&P Aquasmart fit the bill, and have no regrets.

thank you very much guys... I just wish someone would help me with purchasing the rest of my appliances (another thread)...LOL...

Just like mairin said, I believe there is more people unhappy with the product that are writing reviews.

There is a good thread here about the best machines for 2nd floor- lots of info -I have a Bosch 500 plus and really like it- I think it is as quiet as it could be- and I recheck the leveling often so I don;t have vibration issues. My laundry closet is being built right now and my contactor found some noise reducing 4x8' sheets he is putting on the inside walls-I think it was made by a co. something like Hemasote-Don't know if it will make much of a difference-but thought it was worth a try!

We've had our Samsung set for a month now and LOVE IT!!!! We bought the 4.5 cubic foot model, the silvercare with steam. It is on our second story, right next to all 4 bedrooms. It is quiet and doesn't vibrate. It cleans wonderfully and I've rescued several items that were on the way to the Goodwill because of stains.

If you can make it work, I would go for the Samsung with VRT - it is an amazing technology. You will have no regrets.

p.s. I had the Cabrio HE Top Loader set for a few weeks and promptly returned it. Hated it. Thought we couldn't have a front loader on the second floor until I researched more and found the Samsungs.

Good luck with your purchase.

Coming in on late with this, but since I have an HE toploader, I thought you might like some input:

I bought a Maytag Bravos MTW6700 in May. It's an Energy Star top loader with the HE advantage - no agitator, huge capacity (4.6 cu ft), very efficient when it comes to water and electricity.

I've not had any problem at all with mold, mildew, or vibration. I leave the top open after I've put laundry into the dryer (as I've always done with any washer); it's only shut when clothes are washing.

Because my washer is a top loader, it can go on either side of the dryer with no problem.

ALL my experiences thus far with this washer have been excellent - far beyond good. There haven't been any cons to this point.

I like it that the washer has a soak cycle, and also a setting for clothes which are stained/very dirty. It also has a handwash cycle, delicates cycle, wrinkle-control cycle, sheets cycle, bulky cycle for comforters, sleeping bags, etc, whites cycle, jeans/colors cycle, and more. There is also a Delay cycle, which means you can load the washer and delay it for up to 10 hours.

The settings are very easy to use. I like it that I can choose water temp, spin speed, everything. It's unbelievably quiet, even when spinning. All I ever hear is water going in or draining out. It's a good thing it has a chime to alert me when a load is finished!

I like the detergent, bleach, and fabric softener dispensers. When I wash towels, I use vinegar in the f/s dispenser, which helps to keep the towels soft and fluffy (there's no residual odor), and also cleans out the dispenser.

I can wash many more clothes or laundry items per load in this washer than in the traditional top loader I had, which had the largest capacity on the market at the time I bought it. I have washed king-size comforters and bed pillows in my washer with no problem. Whereas I used to wash at least one, often two or three, loads each day, now I'm down to washing about five loads each week (for a family of six, including three teens) because I can wash so many things at once.

This washer gets my laundry much cleaner than any other washer I've ever owned, and it is gentle, even with the fast spin. When I wash a load of sheets, they do not tangle nearly as much as they did in my old washer w/agitator, and they dry much smoother, too. I haven't had any problem with my clothes wrinkling. I do get them out of the dryer when the chime sounds (it has a LO or HI or OFF setting) and immediately fold or hang them.

The machine spins so well, laundry dries in much less time than it did with my old washer. The dryer is finished before my next washing is done, which gives me time to unload the dryer before putting the next load in.

I don't use regular laundry detergent, for I've read the sudsing can cause damage to HE machines, as well as invalidate a warranty. I read an article which compared using regular laundry detergent in an HE washer to using regular dish detergent in a dishwasher.

I've used liquid Tide HE w/ bleach for whites and towels. I've also bought Sears HE Detergent w/OxiClean, and it works well, plus is very inexpensive.

I use Sears HE Ultra Stain-Fighter powdered detergent (very inexpensive) for everything else except dress clothes and delicates.

I like liquid Cheer HE ColorGuard for nice dark clothes, and Woolite HE for delicates and light dress clothes.

ALL of these detergents clean very well in my washer, at any temperature.

You said you have little ones: One big advantage of this washer, as compared to a front-loader, is that the controls are on top, in the rear. Children cannot reach the controls or open the door - which means they can't get in the washer, as they could with a frontloader when the door is left ajar to avoid mold/mildew. (Also true for pets)

I hope this helps you in your decision-making. I was right where you are a few months ago. One of my main reasons for getting an HE toploading washer is because I have back issues which would make it difficult for me to do all the bending required to load and unload a frontloader - and the pedestals are expensive.

This washer is sold in a number of places, but the site I've linked below gives detailed information about it, plus a number of reviews.

www.maytag.com also has a good demo of the washer in action.

Here is a link that might be useful: Maytag Bravos MTW6700 washer

You mentioned buying a washer/dryer pair; I bought the matching Maytag Bravos dryer (MED6400). It doesn't have the steam option, as I didn't think I'd need it, but there is one that does.

The dryer is 7 cu ft, holds the big loads easily, and dries in far less time than my old dryer, which of course saves energy. It has sensors, which means it stops when the clothes are dry. I love the Wrinkle Guard feature which tosses clothes with cool air every few minutes 'til I can get to them. I am very pleased with my washer and dryer.

The dryer I've linked below is just like mine, except it has the steam option.

Here is a link that might be useful: Maytag Bravos dryer

Sorry, I just remembered: The MED6400 dryer I bought came with the dryer rack, free of charge, which enables you to dry sneakers or sweaters in the dryer.