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NorthWolf
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 02/23/09

Loc: Montreal Suburb, Canada

Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes?
#5624345 - 01/15/13 12:52 PM

I really dont like the idea of noise coming out of my mount-telescope, especially in the summer months because I dont want neighbors peaking at 2am and wondering what the heck is this guy doing??

Can someone tell me which of these telescopes would make the least noise when tracking or slewing? Which least noisy mount, for around 500$, used or new, would be a good buy for someone who wants to do mostly visual with an occasional deep sky astrophoto?

1- Nexstar 8SE
2- CPC 925
3- Meade LXD75 mount w/9.25
4- CGE-5 9.25
5- CGE-6 9.25
6- CGEM 9.25
7- Orion XX12GT
8- Orion XX14GT

PS> I read the LX75 has a Quiet Slew mode, do the others have that?

Thanks.

Post Extras:

RTLR 12
Post Laureate

Reged: 12/04/08

Loc: Capistrano Beach, Ca

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: NorthWolf]
#5624394 - 01/15/13 01:19 PM

My CGEM is whisper quiet next to my SE mount. It seems as if the SE will wake the dead some nights. It's louder than my CG-5s. Don't have experience with the others.

Stan

Post Extras:

dennilfloss
member

Reged: 01/06/13

Loc: Ottawa, Canada

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: RTLR 12]
#5624561 - 01/15/13 02:40 PM

I was amazed on videos I've seen at how noisy the Nexstar and iOptron go-to mounts are. Here I was, thinking electric motors would mean they're silent but they sound like grinding gears. Real downer that.:(

Post Extras:

wolfman_4_ever
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/15/11

Loc: El Segundo, Ca, So. Cal

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: dennilfloss]
#5624667 - 01/15/13 03:40 PM

Ya, my nexstar I use to have was pretty loud. Hypertuning the mount really helps a lot.. I had to take my hypertuned CG5 into Celestron (upstairs to Eng!) once, troubleshooting an issue. When the CG5 started to slew, the engineer commented that it was the quietest cg5 he had ever heard..

Post Extras:

fuzzystuff4ever
member

Reged: 11/26/12

Loc: Micco, FL

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: wolfman_4_ever]
#5624786 - 01/15/13 04:46 PM

If you want quiet, try and find an Ultima 2000; you can barely hear it slewing from 10 ft. away.

Brian

Post Extras:

jrbarnett
Eyepiece Hooligan

Reged: 02/28/06

Loc: Petaluma, CA

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: NorthWolf]
#5624891 - 01/15/13 05:57 PM

How about a non-driven alt-az mount for quiet times?

I just ordered a DSV-3 with encoders. With a Sky Commander it should do a nice job with SCTs and refractors, make no sound, and require minimal electricity to operate the DSC.

- Jim

Post Extras:

NorthWolf
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 02/23/09

Loc: Montreal Suburb, Canada

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: jrbarnett]
#5624897 - 01/15/13 06:02 PM

Wow...I never knew all these tracking mounts were this noisy...how the heck am I going to go out at night when I have nosy neighbors..

Post Extras:

NorthWolf
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 02/23/09

Loc: Montreal Suburb, Canada

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: NorthWolf]
#5624912 - 01/15/13 06:12 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij1GwoKt-Nw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiswK0JkCq8&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE_KeTSalpI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5yIh4EBOQY

Wow...I completely forgot about this... No idea how I'm going to view in the backyard after 11pm-4am without neighbors slamming their windows shut in the summer...

I've done the whole star hopping thing with a normal dob and wanted to go auto this time but this is......

Am reading this thread, hopefully there is a solution..perhaps a better mount? http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=lxd55&...

Edited by NorthWolf (01/15/13 06:23 PM)

Post Extras:

cn register 5
sage

Reged: 12/26/12

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: NorthWolf]
#5625023 - 01/15/13 07:29 PM

The Celestron mounts - at least the GEMs - all have a reduced maximum slew rate option, you can make them as quiet as you like.

Chris

Post Extras:

Starhawk
Post Laureate

Reged: 09/16/08

Loc: Tucson, Arizona

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: fuzzystuff4ever]
#5625045 - 01/15/13 07:38 PM

You can barely see it moving, also.

The CGEM is pretty quiet and pretty fast. It's completely silent while tracking. The CPCs are surprisingly quiet.

-Rich

Quote:

If you want quiet, try and find an Ultima 2000; you can barely hear it slewing from 10 ft. away.

Brian

Post Extras:

Cliff Hipsher
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 12/31/08

Loc: North Chesterfield, VA

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: NorthWolf]
#5625052 - 01/15/13 07:43 PM

Dude, you have some picky neighbors. I can fire up my Harley at 2 AM and no body cares....

With that being said, just go talk to them. If they are so crabby they won't talk, then who cares?

Post Extras:

fuzzystuff4ever
member

Reged: 11/26/12

Loc: Micco, FL

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: Starhawk]
#5625081 - 01/15/13 07:53 PM

Mine moves and finds objects just fine, thank you.

Quote:

You can barely see it moving, also.

Post Extras:

NorthWolf
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 02/23/09

Loc: Montreal Suburb, Canada

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: fuzzystuff4ever]
#5625124 - 01/15/13 08:25 PM

Is the CPC 925 quieter than an eq mount?

I'll leave it up to you guys to choose a decently silent mount under 700$ used or new. Let me know your top picks if possible, thank you.

Post Extras:

dennilfloss
member

Reged: 01/06/13

Loc: Ottawa, Canada

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: NorthWolf]
#5625140 - 01/15/13 08:32 PM

So noisy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_in7SqLaGTg

Post Extras:

NorthWolf
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 02/23/09

Loc: Montreal Suburb, Canada

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: dennilfloss]
#5625179 - 01/15/13 08:51 PM

Quote:

So noisy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_in7SqLaGTg

There's no way I'd be able to use that in my backyard without freaking people out. Wish I lived in the country or in a neighborhood that's not crammed up the butt with houses.

Post Extras:

RTLR 12
Post Laureate

Reged: 12/04/08

Loc: Capistrano Beach, Ca

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: NorthWolf]
#5625254 - 01/15/13 09:42 PM

My CG-5s were about in the 70db range out of the box. Normal human speech is 60 to 65db. With some adjustment and some tweaking they are down to the 50db range. Custom rate 9 set at 2.68 of 3.00.

Stan

Post Extras:

rigel123
Postmaster

Reged: 06/29/09

Loc: SW Ohio

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: NorthWolf]
#5625276 - 01/15/13 09:53 PM

It's a bit above your price range but an Orion Sirius would meet your noise level needs. Orion's website has a demonstration on both mounts (Atlas and Sirius) and that's about how my Atlas sounds (the big brother of the Sirius)or should I say, there is almost no sound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=VI-jQY1XdSc&feature=endscreen

Post Extras:

CJK
professor emeritus

Reged: 12/05/12

Loc: Scenic SE TN

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: rigel123]
#5625305 - 01/15/13 10:09 PM

I will confirm that the Sirius is very quiet when slewing. Significantly quieter than my Mach1, in fact.

-- Chris

Post Extras:

frozen.kryo
member

Reged: 01/28/11

Loc: East of the Sun, West of the M...

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: CJK]
#5625370 - 01/15/13 10:45 PM

I would say that the CGE, while not really silent, has a more 'agreeable' noise.

Here is a clip from youtube: CGE Mount

Don't mind the RA slew as it's fighting against 50lbs of counterweights. Listen to the DEC slew instead. Mine sounds even quieter than this.

I've no experience with the CGEM, but my CGE is much MUCH quieter than the CG5. My neighbors used to complain about the CG5. Now they don't even hear the CGE.

My experience.

EDIT: Just re-read your post, and no way can a CGEM or a CGE be had for $500.00, used or new.

Edited by frozen.kryo (01/15/13 10:49 PM)

Post Extras:

Mike Clemens
Frozen to Eyepiece

Reged: 11/26/05

Loc: Alaska, USA

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: frozen.kryo]
#5625375 - 01/15/13 10:48 PM

my AP http://youtu.be/0zCJjQ9yO6g
is definitely audible by the neighbors

Post Extras:

RTLR 12
Post Laureate

Reged: 12/04/08

Loc: Capistrano Beach, Ca

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: frozen.kryo]
#5625382 - 01/15/13 10:52 PM

The Orion mounts slew at a rate of 3.4º/sec while the CGEM slews at a rate of 5º/sec. If you slow the CGEM down to the Orion speed they are equally quite. Somewhere in the 40db range.

Stan

Post Extras:

NorthWolf
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 02/23/09

Loc: Montreal Suburb, Canada

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: RTLR 12]
#5625457 - 01/15/13 11:38 PM

Yes I definitely need to get it down to the 40db range. Now I need to figure out which mount under say 700$ has an OPTION that can switch targets in SLOW MOTION. No slow motion = forget about it! Also, the hand controller would need to be muted, I hope someoene has thought of that at least.

Post Extras:

dennilfloss
member

Reged: 01/06/13

Loc: Ottawa, Canada

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: Mike Clemens]
#5625613 - 01/16/13 03:30 AM

Here's the noise of a Cube Pro. It's times like this I am so thankful for online videos of gear in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlVoP1IdAG0

Post Extras:

NorthWolf
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 02/23/09

Loc: Montreal Suburb, Canada

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: dennilfloss]
#5625649 - 01/16/13 05:05 AM

Quote:

Here's the noise of a Cube Pro. It's times like this I am so thankful for online videos of gear in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlVoP1IdAG0

I'm sure once my neighbors hear that they'll be excepting a countdow t minus 10..9..8..7..6..5..4..3..2..1.. Followed by somekind of missile to come out shortly after..Forget about that one lol!

Post Extras:

NorthWolf
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 02/23/09

Loc: Montreal Suburb, Canada

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: NorthWolf]
#5625650 - 01/16/13 05:09 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Here's the noise of a Cube Pro. It's times like this I am so thankful for online videos of gear in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlVoP1IdAG0

I'm sure once my neighbors hear that they'll be excepting some kind of countdown afterwards t minus 10..9..8..7..6..5..4..3..2..1.. Followed by a missile coming out shortly after..Forget about that one lol!

Post Extras:

mich_al
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 05/10/09

Loc: Rural central lower Michigan ...

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: Cliff Hipsher]
#5625774 - 01/16/13 08:44 AM

Quote:

Dude, you have some picky neighbors. I can fire up my Harley at 2 AM and no body cares....

I doubt that! How do you know that no one cares? Just because they haven't said anything doesn't mean they don't care.

Kudos to the OP who is a good enough neighbor to care about 'his' neighbors.

Post Extras:

EFT
Vendor - Deep Space Products

Reged: 05/07/07

Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: NorthWolf]
#5625894 - 01/16/13 10:04 AM

I don't know about the Orions, but I would say that the CGE and CGEM are probably the most quiet. However, the key is in the adjustment. The CGE and CGEM are relatively easy to adjust to make more quiet whereas the Nexstar and CPC are more difficult. The LXD75 is just plain noisy.

Post Extras:

gaz-in
professor emeritus

Reged: 12/17/07

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: Mike Clemens]
#5626671 - 01/16/13 05:47 PM

Post Extras:

gaz-in
professor emeritus

Reged: 12/17/07

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: Mike Clemens]
#5626672 - 01/16/13 05:47 PM

Post Extras:

gaz-in
professor emeritus

Reged: 12/17/07

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: Mike Clemens]
#5626673 - 01/16/13 05:47 PM

Post Extras:

gaz-in
professor emeritus

Reged: 12/17/07

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: Mike Clemens]
#5626680 - 01/16/13 05:47 PM

The older Nexstar GPS and Nexstar 8i/5i mounts that were made in the US are MUCH MUCH quieter than the comparable Celestron CPC and Nexstar 8se. Plus the sound they make is (to me) much more pleasant that the new ones. By far my favorite mounts....

I just got an iOptron Minitower and was amazed at how noisy it is. Nice mount.....just noisy!

P.S. The 8i/5i can be had with OTA for around $500 to $700. The Nexstar 8 GPS $800 to $1200. IMHO, the Nexstar 8 GPS is one of the best scope mount combinations ever built.

Edited by gaz-in (01/16/13 05:49 PM)

Post Extras:

NorthWolf
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 02/23/09

Loc: Montreal Suburb, Canada

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: gaz-in]
#5626828 - 01/16/13 07:24 PM

So I think it comes down to getting a new 9.25 with the VX mount (See below), a Sirius EQ-G mount + a 9.25 OTA, or a CGEM mount + a 9.25 OTA... Which would you choose, strictly on noise level? If they all have slow slew speeds, does it really matter?

WOW... this is interesting:

http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=56-18756

Slew Speeds: Nine slew speeds, 4 deg/sec maximum

Was this just announced?

Sirius EQ-G

http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=11882&tb=2

I also found this noise review for the CGEM:

http://www.astronomics.com/celestron-cgem-computerized-equatorial-mount-40-lb...

Motor noise-

The mount has 9 speed settings (1 is slowest, 9 is fastest), and the servo motors on the unit are surprisingly quiet. They were completely inaudible until the 6th setting and then were only whisper audible. Starting with setting 7 the motors became clearly audible and by 9 they were equivalent to say a 9 volt drill on low speed settings. Not at all obnoxious nor anywhere near loud enough to disturb the neighbors during a late night outing, but loud enough you know it's working. So at tracking speeds the motors are completely inaudible and the only time they exhibit sound will be during slewing....

Post Extras:

NorthWolf
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 02/23/09

Loc: Montreal Suburb, Canada

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: NorthWolf]
#5626831 - 01/16/13 07:26 PM

By the way, can I slew at slower speeds or is that for tracking only?

Post Extras:

BPO
sage

Reged: 02/23/10

Loc: South Island, NZ

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: NorthWolf]
#5626869 - 01/16/13 07:46 PM

Of the amateur level EQ mounts I've used, the S-W EQ6/Orion Atlas is arguably the quietest, much more so than a Losmandy G-11.

The Takahashi EM-x00 mounts are also reasonably quiet, and definitely sound the coolest.

Every Meade and Celestron SCT mount was hideous, like marbles in a blender.

Post Extras:

EFT
Vendor - Deep Space Products

Reged: 05/07/07

Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: NorthWolf]
#5627068 - 01/16/13 09:41 PM

Quote:

So I think it comes down to getting a new 9.25 with the VX mount (See below), a Sirius EQ-G mount + a 9.25 OTA, or a CGEM mount + a 9.25 OTA... Which would you choose, strictly on noise level? If they all have slow slew speeds, does it really matter?

WOW... this is interesting:

http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=56-18756

Slew Speeds: Nine slew speeds, 4 deg/sec maximum

Was this just announced?

Sirius EQ-G

http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=11882&tb=2

I also found this noise review for the CGEM:

http://www.astronomics.com/celestron-cgem-computerized-equatorial-mount-40-lb...

Motor noise-

The mount has 9 speed settings (1 is slowest, 9 is fastest), and the servo motors on the unit are surprisingly quiet. They were completely inaudible until the 6th setting and then were only whisper audible. Starting with setting 7 the motors became clearly audible and by 9 they were equivalent to say a 9 volt drill on low speed settings. Not at all obnoxious nor anywhere near loud enough to disturb the neighbors during a late night outing, but loud enough you know it's working. So at tracking speeds the motors are completely inaudible and the only time they exhibit sound will be during slewing....

My vote would be for the CGEM with the C9.25. It will handle the load very well and can take advantage of the Custom Rate 9 (which applies to slewing) to quiet things down if necessary. The VX and the Sirius will almost undoubtably be more noisy and will be more loaded (or overloaded) with the C9.25.

Post Extras:

Pauls72
sage

Reged: 10/28/07

Loc: LaPorte, IN

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: gaz-in]
#5627653 - 01/17/13 09:03 AM

An LXD75 will keep the the neighbors awake and wild life away. Tuning it up will help, but it still sounds like a coffee grinder.

My Atlas is dead quiet.

Post Extras:

groz
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 03/14/07

Loc: Duncan, BC

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: Pauls72]
#5628258 - 01/17/13 03:05 PM

We have a few mounts here, and, have compared them against others over time at star parties.

The EQ6-Pro and HEQ5-Pro (atlas/sirius in orionspeak) are the quietest of the bunch. Our neighbors have never noticed them. The Tak NJP is a close second, altho the prior poster is correct, it sounds much 'cooler'.

Our EQ3 sounds like a coffee grinder.

But, with that said, all of our mounts are substantially quieter than the cg5 and ilk we have seen at various star parties. When those start up, there is no guessing that someone on the field is slewing a telescope. Same can be said of the goto dobs, no question at all when they are slewing.

We've also had them set up beside an AP900, and, in all honesty, I dont remember what it sounded like, so, it must have been reasonably quiet.

As a general rule of thumb, if the motors and gears are hidden behind plastic, it's going to sound like a coffee grinder, or worse. If they are hidden behind metal, it's going to be substantially quieter. This is pretty much an across the board trend.

Post Extras:

EFT
Vendor - Deep Space Products

Reged: 05/07/07

Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: groz]
#5628476 - 01/17/13 05:04 PM

Quote:

As a general rule of thumb, if the motors and gears are hidden behind plastic, it's going to sound like a coffee grinder, or worse. If they are hidden behind metal, it's going to be substantially quieter. This is pretty much an across the board trend.

This is definitely true. The plastic motor housings are great at amplifying sound. Thin sheet metal housing will do the same. When the motors and spur gears are buried down inside the castings it definitely reduces the sound. A CG-5 can actually be quite quiet if you run it without the motor housing on it.

Post Extras:

rockethead26
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 10/21/09

Loc: Indiana, USA

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: EFT]
#5628619 - 01/17/13 06:26 PM

Quote:

This is definitely true. The plastic motor housings are great at amplifying sound. Thin sheet metal housing will do the same. When the motors and spur gears are buried down inside the castings it definitely reduces the sound. A CG-5 can actually be quite quiet if you run it without the motor housing on it.

I'd love to see some nice, trim after-market metal housings for the CG-5. Just a pipe dream ...

Post Extras:

frozen.kryo
member

Reged: 01/28/11

Loc: East of the Sun, West of the M...

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: rockethead26]
#5628972 - 01/17/13 10:02 PM

I sprayed the insides of my CG5's motor housings with rubberized undercoating, and stuffed the open spaces with sound dampening material.

It did help dampen the resonance and 'muffle' the sound somewhat. It was still noisy at max slew though.

I don't think metal housings will help quiet down the CG5 much, if at all.

Edited by frozen.kryo (01/17/13 10:10 PM)

Post Extras:

FaronD
super member

Reged: 03/25/10

Loc: Richmond Hill, Ontario

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: NorthWolf]
#5629031 - 01/17/13 10:38 PM

None of these packages are under $500.00. I would agree that the Eq6 is very very quiet, especially when the gear slop is removed.

Faron

Quote:

I really dont like the idea of noise coming out of my mount-telescope, especially in the summer months because I dont want neighbors peaking at 2am and wondering what the heck is this guy doing??

Can someone tell me which of these telescopes would make the least noise when tracking or slewing? Which least noisy mount, for around 500$, used or new, would be a good buy for someone who wants to do mostly visual with an occasional deep sky astrophoto?

1- Nexstar 8SE
2- CPC 925
3- Meade LXD75 mount w/9.25
4- CGE-5 9.25
5- CGE-6 9.25
6- CGEM 9.25
7- Orion XX12GT
8- Orion XX14GT

PS> I read the LX75 has a Quiet Slew mode, do the others have that?

Thanks.

Post Extras:

rigel123
Postmaster

Reged: 06/29/09

Loc: SW Ohio

Re: Which is the least noisiest of these telescopes? new

[Re: FaronD]
#5631320 - 01/19/13 10:56 AM

Since there were so many discussions about which mount is quiet and which were loud I thought I'd throw in a video of my Altas slewing and what I hear (or don't hear!)

http://youtu.be/61P_Zq2Dh-k

Post Extras:

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