I am a very satisified owner of a 20GB PS3. Mine has worked flawlessly and the fan noise is not an issue for me. However, there are a lot of people that have had issues with this. Instead of arguing back and forth, I am hoping this thread could be used to collect some quantified data. I invite people to list their PS3 model, when bought and the dB level of the noise when holding the SPL meter directly at the highest noise source at the PS3. I guess multiple measurements may be needed (idle, playing game, playing SD-DVD with upscaling, playing BD, folding, etc). If you have other equipment that also have fans like a DLP TV, DVR, etc. post those measurements also. Post with these turned on individually so that we don't get the cumulative effect. I will post my numbers later today. This will give us a complete view of the so-called noise problem. It will be objective rather than subjective.

If this has been gathered elsewhere in this forum, I apologize.

The distance from the PS3 to the microphone on the sound level meter must also be known. The accepted standard is 1 meter (39.37 inches) but measurements made at other distances could be used as long as the distance is stated. For example at 1/2 meter the measured sound pressure level (SPL) will be 6 dB higher than at 1 meter. However, be aware that the cheap SPL meters, such as the $40 one I purchased from Radio Shack a few years ago, does not have a low enough scale to be useful for making the measurement (but works fine for setting up surround sound levels).

i don't have a spl meter, but my 20 gig is whisper quiet no matter what I'm doing with it. i bought it at launch, its a made in china model as well. i keep it in the vertical position. i also use it for everything, BD movies, DVD, ps2 and ps3 games, music player. one thing i did notice, the ps3 was much quieter after i installed the new seagate 160 gig hard drive then it was with the stock 20 gig.

thanks
anthony

This is a thread I started back in Dec of 06 with regards to the PS3 and fan noise. It doesn't give the technical details of dB's that you are looking for, but it gives a rough idea of what fan noise is like for many. There is a poll attached as well.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=770679&highlight=ps3+noise

I just got around to measuring my 20 GB Ps3 noise last night. I did not do it at 1 meter. I did it right at the vents (on the right when horizontal). With it turned on and doing nothing - it was at 58 dB. I had my TV and receiver off so that I don't add to that noise. I could hear the PS3 when everything else is off. I turned on the TV and measured at its fan source (it is a JVC HD-ILA TV). The TV noise was 68 dB. Wow! No wonder the PS3 noise does not bother me at all.

I also have a Sony HD-DVR that will add to the noise (I had it off originally).

Is there any way to do this short of getting a $50 part at radio shack?

I am still struggling with this issue. I really don't want to return my unit (which is 12 days old) with all my downloads and user data going to the wind and start over if our noise expectation is just different than the average poster here. So I like the idea of a quantitative post like this. But I don't own the isntrament to do it myself.

For point of comparison, what is the Db of a typical hair dryer on the low setting? That is comparable to my unit after about 30 seconds on, regardless of what I am doing with it (movie, game or nothing at all). And it never gets more quiet once it cycles up to that.

The bottom line is I will return it within the next week, no question, because the noise level (and heat it generates) is not tolerable. My only issue is if I take the time to try out another unit or not.

Is there any way to do this short of getting a $50 part at radio shack?

I am still struggling with this issue. I really don't want to return my unit (which is 12 days old) with all my downloads and user data going to the wind and start over if our noise expectation is just different than the average poster here. So I like the idea of a quantitative post like this. But I don't own the isntrament to do it myself.

For point of comparison, what is the Db of a typical hair dryer on the low setting? That is comparable to my unit after about 30 seconds on, regardless of what I am doing with it (movie, game or nothing at all). And it never gets more quiet once it cycles up to that.

The bottom line is I will return it within the next week, no question, because the noise level (and heat it generates) is not tolerable. My only issue is if I take the time to try out another unit or not.

While I've only heard 3 PS3 machines in person in a quiet living room setting, I can assure you that anything that can be compared to a hair dryer is NOT normal for regular use.

While I've only heard 3 PS3 machines in person in a quiet living room setting, I can assure you that anything that can be compared to a hair dryer is NOT normal for regular use.

holy crap..... a hair dryer, it better be a whisper quiet one, if it is anything close to the hair dryers ive heard in my lifetime thats way too loud

Citivas something has to be wrong with your ps3

I'm going to try to do an audio recording of the sound tonight and post it so others and hear and decide. What is the easiest way to post the audio file so others can hear it -- .wav doesn't appear to be an accepted file format to attach on the forum.

Since .zip is an accepted attachment format, I zipped the file. It is a 15 second .wav file. It was recorded about 5 feet in front of the PS3.

I just tried my PS3 with the common radioshack SPL meter. Weighting set to C and Fast response to get peaks. (compared with slow as well, same results)

My PS3 had been on all day so was fully hot. I turned it off, then turned it back on. Fans started out slow.
From 1m it wouldn't register. (only goes down to 50dB)
From 1 inch pointed right at the Playstation logo, still nothing. I started up Folding@Home and the fan kicked up a notch. Still nothing registering. After a minute the fan kicked up to its highest setting.
From 1 inch, registered at 55dB.
With everything off I could hear the PS3 fans from the couch at about 9 feet. I could hear the DVR clicking as well. Nothing registered on the SPL meter at that distance.

For shits and giggles I did my refrigerator at 1foot. It registered at 68dB.

My PS3 is a 20gig (upgraded to 120gig) standing vertical with plenty of ventilation on all sides.

I just tried my PS3 with the common radioshack SPL meter. Weighting set to C and Fast response to get peaks. (compared with slow as well, same results)

My PS3 had been on all day so was fully hot. I turned it off, then turned it back on. Fans started out slow.
From 1m it wouldn't register. (only goes down to 50dB)
From 1 inch pointed right at the Playstation logo, still nothing. I started up Folding@Home and the fan kicked up a notch. Still nothing registering. After a minute the fan kicked up to its highest setting.
From 1 inch, registered at 55dB.
With everything off I could hear the PS3 fans from the couch at about 9 feet. I could hear the DVR clicking as well. Nothing registered on the SPL meter at that distance.

For shits and giggles I did my refrigerator at 1foot. It registered at 68dB.

My PS3 is a 20gig (upgraded to 120gig) standing vertical with plenty of ventilation on all sides.


I'll bring my sound meter home from the lab tomorrow and do a test exactly like yours. It will be nice to start getting a few data points.