Which unit is the quietest?

[quigleyfam]

My Millenniumair KFR-34GW (http://web.archive.org/web/20040821041910/http://uk-airconditioning.co.uk/millennium12inverter.htm) split system (http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49517219232_a2e253ff19_o_d.jpg) from 2005 (http://live.staticflickr.com/97/213548484_f492140895_o_d.jpg) is tripping the RCD (http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49482513046_04c0e91d1a_o_d.jpg) when it rains and I guess I should have it replaced. I use it on minimum fan speed (on dry mode, which keeps the outside unit quiet). I'd like as quiet and efficient a replacement as possible, so the 19db Mitsubishi MSZ-LN, which was awarded the Quiet Mark (http://www.coolingpost.com/uk-news/mitsubishi-m-series-receives-quiet-mark/), seems the obvious choice. However I have found other models which are quieter on minimum fan speed according to their specifications:

Haier Jade, Dawn 15db
Hisense Silentium 16.5db (http://www.coolingpost.com/world-news/r32-takes-centre-stage-at-mostra/)
Samsung Wind-Free Elite 16db (http://www.samsung.com/uk/business/climate/ac-rar-ar09txcaawkn/)
LG Prestige 17db (http://www.lg.com/uk/business/residential-air-conditioner/lg-H09AL.NSM)
Panasonic Heatcharge VZ 18db (http://www.aircon.panasonic.eu/GB_en/product/heatcharge-vz-inverter-r32/)

So my question is, are they actually quieter?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[frank]

Don't you believe the published figures?

[Brian_UK]

Perhaps get the electrical supply cabling checked for faults if it only trips in the rain, sounds like water is entering somewhere it shouldn't.

[quigleyfam]

Don't you believe the published figures?

I believe the figures are useful for comparing the noise levels of models from the same manufacturer, but I think I read on this forum that different manufacturers can measure noise differently, e.g. not from the same distance away, so I'm not sure whether I can trust the figures from different manufacturers to be comparable. For instance, if the specifications are to be believed then the 21db Mitsubishi Electric MSZ-EF, which was also awarded the Quiet Mark, is louder than low end LG models. Is that really the case?

Edit, I found the quote:

But be aware of the quoted noise levels, it's a dark art form and all the manufacturers are measuring in different ways.....

Given that the models I have listed appear to be more expensive, and for most of them presumably I would have to buy them myself from a European retailer, which would leave me in a difficult position in the event of a fault, I want to be absolutely sure that they are quieter before I consider purchasing one of them. Although I never had a warranty for my Millenniumair unit...

Of the models I listed, I have only found the LG on sale in the UK (apart from the Mitsubishi Electric of course). The Samsung and Panasonic are on the manufacturers' UK websites, but I haven't found any UK retailers selling them. Perhaps they are available to the trade? And Haier seem to have abandoned their plans to sell in the UK.

[quigleyfam]

Perhaps get the electrical supply cabling checked for faults if it only trips in the rain, sounds like water is entering somewhere it shouldn't.

The unit is plugged into a socket. I had an electrician look at it, who took the cover off and suggested that he could try replacing a component (I guess it could have been a capacitor, I can't remember) but he wasn't really sure what was wrong. I asked another one, who told me that most problems are caused by the appliance, and gave me a quote for a supply with RCBO, and some help preventing the water getting in. I'm not sure whether the supply would stop it tripping, or just limit the impact when it does... I put a garden table (http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49443765548_c101a040d0_o_d.jpg) over the outside unit which appears to have delayed but not stopped the tripping. Perhaps something like this cover (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Outdoor-Air-Conditioner-Cover-Dust-proof-Anti-Snow-Waterproof-Sunproof-White/184390787440) would be more effective?

[McGuire]

My Millenniumair KFR-34GW (http://web.archive.org/web/20040821041910/http://uk-airconditioning.co.uk/millennium12inverter.htm) split system (http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49517219232_a2e253ff19_o_d.jpg) from 2005 (http://live.staticflickr.com/97/213548484_f492140895_o_d.jpg) is tripping the RCD (http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49482513046_04c0e91d1a_o_d.jpg) when it rains and I guess I should have it replaced. I use it on minimum fan speed (on dry mode, which keeps the outside unit quiet). I'd like as quiet and efficient a replacement as possible, so the 19db Mitsubishi MSZ-LN, which was awarded the Quiet Mark (http://www.coolingpost.com/uk-news/mitsubishi-m-series-receives-quiet-mark/), seems the obvious choice. However I have found other models which are quieter (https://houseweather.org/best-8000-btu-air-conditioner/) on minimum fan speed according to their specifications:

Haier Jade, Dawn 15db
Hisense Silentium 16.5db (http://www.coolingpost.com/world-news/r32-takes-centre-stage-at-mostra/)
Samsung Wind-Free Elite 16db (http://www.samsung.com/uk/business/climate/ac-rar-ar09txcaawkn/)
LG Prestige 17db (http://www.lg.com/uk/business/residential-air-conditioner/lg-H09AL.NSM)
Panasonic Heatcharge VZ 18db (http://www.aircon.panasonic.eu/GB_en/product/heatcharge-vz-inverter-r32/)

So my question is, are they actually quieter?

Thanks in advance for your help.
Do not trust web reviews, especially when they are written by the producers themselves. All modern systems are quiet enough. So it depends on your brand preferences, nothing more