Output Noise

We used a high quality CEM-8852 Sound DB Meter that was installed 50 cm away from the NAS for these measurements. The ambient noise in our lab was below 30 dBA while noise measurements were taken.



The KD22 mostly operated in fanless mode during our tests as its thick aluminum casing acts as an enormous passive heatsink, which really improves internal heat dissipation. We couldn't do it justice all the time since ambient noise in our lab never dropped below 29-30 dBA, so we marked 30 dBA down as the KD22's lowest noise-output figure. We did the same for the KD20 since it also features a semi-passive operation.


According to Shuttle, the fan will not turn on when the hard disks’ temperatures are below 55°C. As you can see in the above graph, the system shuts down once the HDDs reach 60°C to protect them, which never happened as we conducted and completed our tough tests.

Output Noise Comparison Graphs

The following graphs show the KD22's output noise, comparing it to that of other units we have tested in the past.



Thanks to their semi-passive mode, both Shuttle NAS boxes are among the quietest we have ever tested. While low noise output isn't as crucial of a factor in a business environment, it definitely plays a major role at home.