TonySak, thank you, I didn't know the cleaning would be easier. Since we can do an external blower, that's a plus in that direction. I think that is one we are looking at right now, the Broan Elite 619004EX. The other option is one by Best, model KEX4236SS. There's a big difference in price, so I'm trying to figure out if it is worth it. Links in case anyone is interested: http://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/619004EX.html#BVRRWidgetID http://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/KEX4236SS.html

While we wait for Terrace1919 to respond, I can relate that I have a Wolf Pro Island Hood with their (Broan/Nutone) 1500 CFM (rated) blower on the roof. Duct length from hood to blower is in the 15 - 20 foot range (never measured it). A section of the 10-inch duct incorporates a Fantech silencer. At full power (with MUA path, baffle and other parts pressure losses) flow rate is likely to be around 900 CFM actual through the 10 sq. ft. of hood aperture. One can talk normally around and across the space under the hood. There is noise, mostly baffle hiss due to turbulence, but it is not annoyingly loud for cooking. My blower has some rumble that a re-balancing could help, I suspect. Some of my ducting wears automotive damping material to suppress any conduction of blower noise along the steel duct. This hood fully captures the cooking plume from my 3500W induction wok located under the far end of the hood. Hood height above the counter is about 35 inches. Blower control is via a conventional (at the time) triac/diac circuit above the middle baffle area on the controls side. If you replace the internal blower with an external blower, it would be safest, without evaluating the potential power capability of the existing motor control circuit, to use the same power rating external blower. Otherwise, uprating the embedded blower controller is another possibility, if Wolf is willing or you are an electronics experimentalist. kas

I have a 1000cfm remote blower on the roof about six feet away from my hood. Can I hear it? Yes. Is it as loud as if the blower was in the hood? No. ...so I guess that translates to "as quiet as possible" and "I can still hear the thing because it's not far away"

gemini16, As mentioned above, a "squirrel cage blower works fine for powerful and (relatively) quiet ventilation... a 600cfm internal blower with a squirrel cage and it kicks butt. You are always going to have noise from air movement, no matter where the blower is located... " Just to go back to basics : -- all hoods at a cost higher than the low-end of the market have centrifugal (squirrel cage) blowers. They do a better job than blade fans and are quieter too. -- all air moving makes some noise. Breathe in and out slowly making as little noise as possible and you can still hear "something". In the range of 250 to 400 CFM you may not find baffle filters are quieter than mesh. There are also Other advantages to mesh filters in this range of CFM. At high end of the CFM range, baffles are clearly best. "If i want to vent outside, do I need to purchase an external blower?" - NO, all blowers can send air outside. Some blowers are in-line, halfway between your hood and the outdoors. Most blowers are in the hood. Some blowers can be outdoors ("external") but this is not required in any way. HTH -David