Guardian MAXimus Whisper Quiet Test Results
6 inches / 2 feet
As quiet as a recording studio at a 2 foot working distance!
dB Human Perception of Change:
  • 1 dB = Imperceptible Change
  • 10 dB = About Twice as Loud
  • 3 dB = Barely Perceptible Change
  • 20 dB = About Four Times as Loud
  • 5 dB = Clearly Noticeable Change
Test Parameters
  • Testing was performed in a room with no acoustical treatment with no other persons or devices creating any perceptible background sound.
Two sound level meter positions
  • 6 inches directly behind drive / exhaust fan
  • 2 foot "working distance" in front of the drive
Two drive states
  • Idle: drive not reading/writing. no processing of any kind.
  • Extreme Read/Write: AJA DiskWhakTest reading and writing 4GB of HD video to create mechanical load heat increase and cause the cooling fan to activate.


SPL Loudness Guide
130 dB Pneumatic Drill
120 dB Loud car horn 3 feet away
110 dB Airport
100 dB Alongside railroad
90 dB Inside of bus
80 dB Busy road
70 dB Conversational Speech
60 dB TV quietly on in living room
50 dB Quiet office
40 dB Bedroom
30 dB Recording studio
20 dB Broadcasting studio
10 dB Threshold of hearing
0 dB