This vacuum measured 62 dB on low and 68 dB on high at the handle

Someone tested this with a personal sound meter at the handle and got 62 dB on low and 68 dB on high. That’s a useful data point because most manufacturers quote sound levels from a distance in ideal conditions — this is what your ears actually hear. The jump from 62 to 68 dB is noticeable but not jarring; it’s roughly the difference between a quiet restaurant and a busy street. For a stick vacuum, that’s competitive — many cordless models push into the low 70s on max power.