Neither of these vacuums is quiet. But they're not terrible either.
The Roomba j9+ runs at about 65 decibels during normal cleaning, roughly the volume of a normal conversation. You can hear it, but you can talk over it and watch TV without cranking up the volume too much.
The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra is similar at normal settings. It gets louder when you crank up that 10,000 Pa suction. That motor is powerful, and it sounds like it.
Day-to-Day Operation
Both vacuums are fine for daytime use while you're home:
- TV watching without major issues
- Conversations nearby
- Work from home (mute yourself when it's in the same room as your call)
The Roomba j9+ has been praised for sounding "less harsh" than older Roombas. iRobot put effort into making the acoustic profile less annoying.
The Volume Spike: Max Power Mode
If you use the S8 MaxV Ultra's maximum suction regularly, expect significantly more noise. That 10,000 Pa doesn't come free. The motor whine is noticeable.
The Surprise: Self-Emptying Is LOUD
Nobody warns you about this. When either vacuum returns to empty its dustbin, there's a brief but intense suction noise. It only lasts 10-15 seconds, but if you're on a video call when your vacuum empties, your coworkers will hear it.
Can You Sleep Through It?
Running either vacuum in your bedroom while sleeping? Probably not for light sleepers. Both support scheduling, so you can run them while out or sleeping in a different part of the house.
The S8 MaxV Ultra has a quiet mode that reduces noise (and cleaning performance), useful for working from home or noise-sensitive pets.
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How we researched this
Where this comes from: this answer draws on the product's published specifications and the reviews ShopSavvy collected for it, alongside prices from ShopSavvy's price data.
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