I finally got my Clear Vue CV1800 with 16" impeller up and running. Based on all the forum chatter about noise, I was expecting this thing to scream. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the noise is really not a big deal. It's loud, but not more so than other dust collectors.
I did not build any kind of soundproofed room or install a muffler. My cyclone sits proudly on fully display on one wall of my shop. It is quieter than most of my power tools. Compared to my two prior dust collectors:
1) It is slightly louder than the 2HP Laguna cyclone that the Clear Vue replaced. However, the resonant frequency of the Clear Vue is lower and not nearly as bothersome as the Laguna.
2) It is much quieter than the 1.5HP Jet bagger that was my first dust collector and that screamed at an unpleasant pitch. The Jet was by far the most unpleasant of the three noise-wise.
I have not measured the dBs, but I'm a little perplexed at why people are going to the effort and expense to build separate rooms, etc. We should be wearing hearing protection when we run power tools anyway (I always do), and since it's quieter than most of the tools themselves, I'm scratching my head. So, to future prospective owners of Clear Vue products, don't let all the chatter about the noise scare you off. And don't let anyone trick you into building a separate room or spend lots of time figuring out muffler options without first getting it up and running and seeing whether the noise is really that big of a deal.
I did not build any kind of soundproofed room or install a muffler. My cyclone sits proudly on fully display on one wall of my shop. It is quieter than most of my power tools. Compared to my two prior dust collectors:
1) It is slightly louder than the 2HP Laguna cyclone that the Clear Vue replaced. However, the resonant frequency of the Clear Vue is lower and not nearly as bothersome as the Laguna.
2) It is much quieter than the 1.5HP Jet bagger that was my first dust collector and that screamed at an unpleasant pitch. The Jet was by far the most unpleasant of the three noise-wise.
I have not measured the dBs, but I'm a little perplexed at why people are going to the effort and expense to build separate rooms, etc. We should be wearing hearing protection when we run power tools anyway (I always do), and since it's quieter than most of the tools themselves, I'm scratching my head. So, to future prospective owners of Clear Vue products, don't let all the chatter about the noise scare you off. And don't let anyone trick you into building a separate room or spend lots of time figuring out muffler options without first getting it up and running and seeing whether the noise is really that big of a deal.