Just How Loud Is The BT3000?

[Jim Frye]

A lot of times you see people extolling the sound virtues of the induction motor
and in the same breath stating that the universal motor is too loud. You almost always
see this in relation to the BT3000 (BT3K), which has a universal motor. It’s funny that
you don’t hear people complain that their router or circular saw is too loud, but then no
one makes a router or circular saw with an induction motor. You probably couldn’t lift
one if they did. Only once have I seen, in print, any comparison of the BT3K’s noise
level with other table saws. A couple of years ago, Fine Woodworking Magazine
(FWW), did a comparison test of the contractor type saws on the market, including the
BT3K. The noise levels for the contractor saws ranged from a low of 80 decibels to a
high of 90 decibels. The BT3K tested at 93 decibels. By comparison, my QSP
industrial ShopVac measures 93 decibels when it is connected to the BT3K. The
nosiest contractor saw was the Grizzly G1022 at 90 decibels. So, a stock BT3K is 3
decibels noisier than the saw that is usually touted as being a better buy than the BT3K.
By the way, it is a bit difficult to discern a 3 decibel difference with the human ear.